iPhone 5S Won’t Charge? Here’s How to Fix It
If your iPhone 5S isn’t charging when plugged in, it could be something as simple as a dirty port—or as serious as a hardware fault. The good news is that most charging issues can be resolved at home with some simple checks and troubleshooting steps.
Here’s a complete guide to help you figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it.
1. Make Sure the Charger Is Working
Your charging setup has two parts: the USB cable and the adapter. Either of these can go bad.
Try this:
- Use a different charging cable.
- Use a different wall adapter.
- Try both with another iPhone (if available) to confirm they’re working.
Also avoid cheap third-party chargers—they’re often unreliable and can damage your phone.
2. Plug Into a Different Power Outlet
It sounds obvious, but sometimes the wall outlet is the problem.
Try these steps:
- Plug directly into a different wall socket.
- Avoid extension cords or power strips for now.
- If you’re using a surge protector, switch to a plain outlet temporarily.
3. Inspect the Charging Port on Your iPhone
Dust, lint, or moisture in the charging port can block the connection.
To clean it:
- Shine a flashlight into the Lightning port.
- Use a dry toothbrush, toothpick, or a can of compressed air to gently remove any debris.
- Don’t use liquid or poke hard metal objects inside.
If the port looks wet, leave the phone in a cool, dry place for a few hours.
4. Try Charging via a Computer USB Port
If the wall adapter doesn’t work, plug your iPhone into a computer using the USB cable.
- This can help confirm whether the issue is with the charger or the phone.
- Keep in mind that charging through a computer is slower.
If it works here, your iPhone’s fast charging pin might be damaged or dirty.
5. Force Restart the iPhone 5S
If your iPhone is stuck or frozen, it might not respond—even when charging.
To force restart:
- Press and hold the Home button + Sleep/Wake button at the same time.
- Keep holding for about 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo.
Now try plugging it in again.
6. Perform a Factory Reset via iTunes (Last Resort)
If the phone still won’t charge, you might try resetting it using iTunes.
⚠️ Warning: This will erase all data. Make sure to back up your phone if possible.
To reset:
- Turn the phone off.
- Hold down the Home button while connecting the USB cable (plugged into a computer running iTunes).
- iTunes will detect a device in recovery mode.
- Click OK > Restore iPhone > Restore and Update.
Wait for the process to complete. Then check if the phone charges.
Still Not Charging? It Might Be Hardware
If you’ve tried everything and your iPhone 5S still won’t charge, you could be dealing with:
- A faulty battery
- A damaged charging port
- Internal logic board failure
In this case, your best move is to take it to an Apple Store or authorized repair shop for diagnostics and possible repairs.