The iPhone 12 is a fantastic device, but without power it becomes useless. Many users have experienced problems with their iPhone 12 not charging, even while it’s plugged in. We put together this post to show you how to fix it.
It’s no good if your iPhone 12 doesn’t charge to 100%, doesn’t charge while plugged in, doesn’t charge Wirelessly or doesn’t fast charge. Take a look at our suggestions below to find out what you can do to fix it.
See also: iPhone 12 Not Booting Up? Fix it Here!
Why is iPhone 12 Not Charging?
No electricity
If you find your iPhone 12 not charging, check if the socket is switched on or try a different plug socket. It’s an obvious one, but one that comes across quite often (!), so always check if electricity is actually flowing when you plug in your Apple device.
Issues with charging components
This is a very common issue. As we keep our iPhones in our pockets or handbags and our lighting cables travel with us too, they can get damaged quite easily. Whether it’s a crumb stuck in your charging port or a broken lightning connector, even a small amount of damage can prevent your iPhone 12 from charging, so make sure you take good care of your device and accessories.
Water damage
If your iPhone gets wet, it can cause charging issues. Why? The charging port is one of the few places that has exposed electrical components, so there is a lot of potential for corrosion.
Software issues
It’s down to the version of iOS on your device to determine whether it needs charging as it manages the battery health. If you’re experiencing software issues or your newly updated iOS wasn’t installed properly, your iPhone 12 might fail to charge, even if there’s no physical damage.
Overheating
Is your iPhone 12 not charging past 80%? According to Apple, if the battery gets too warm, iOS might limit charging above 80 percent until your device cools down.
How to fix iPhone 12 not Charging?
Use the troubleshooting steps laid out below to fix problems with your iPhone 12 not charging or not charging to 100%. Not all the steps are necessary, and they increase in severity, so make sure you test your iPhone again after each step.
If you find the solution that works for your iPhone 12 let us know what it was in the comments at the bottom of the page. That way we can keep working to improve this guide.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
Solution #1: Force restart your iPhone
The first solution you should try if you find your iPhone 12 not charging when plugged in is to perform a force restart. Here’s how:
Quickly press and release the Volume Up button then the Volume Down button, then hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
Solution #2: Update iOS
As we already mentioned, many charging problems for iPhone 12 users are actually the result of software bugs. This was particularly true for iOS 14 users, who experienced a wide range of battery-related problems.
Apple releases small updates all the time to fix bugs like this. Update your iPhone 12 to the latest version of your operating software to ensure you aren’t suffering from old bugs.
- Use Wi-Fi to connect your iPhone to the Internet.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Wait for your iPhone to check for new updates, then download and install them.
Solution #3: Use an appropriate power adapter and outlet
Apple makes a range of power adapters for its devices. The primary difference between each adapter is the wattage delivered: 5W, 12W, 20W, for example. Using the wrong adapter might be why your iPhone 12 doesn’t charge or charges slowly.
Only use accessories that have the certified “Made for iPhone” logo on them.
Connect your power adapter to a wall socket, instead of charging your iPhone 12 from a computer’s USB port. If your iPhone 12 still doesn’t charge, test a different accessory from the same socket.
Solution #4: Inspect the cable and port for damage
Apple’s lightning cables are notorious for breaking, and the new USB-C cables might not be much better. Any damage might explain why your iPhone 12 is not charging. Inspect your cable for things like:
- split or frayed sections
- kinks and wrinkles
- scorch marks
- naked wiring
- bent or cracked connectors.
Make sure the charging cable you use is Apple certified. If possible, try charging a different device from the same cable. Or try charging your iPhone 12 from a different cable.
Damaged cables might be the reason your iPhone 12 isn’t charging.
Finally, use a flashlight to inspect the lightning or USB-C port on your iPhone 12. Use an antistatic brush or compressed air to remove any debris such as dust, lint, or dirt. Be very careful not to damage the metal pins when you do this.
Solution #5: Reset or restore your iPhone 12
Having tested your charging accessories, it’s time to reset the software on your iPhone. But before you do that, you should make a backup of your device using iCloud, iTunes, or Finder.
We suggest you try resetting the network settings first. This is the least destructive option and has proven effective for some users.
Back up your iPhone so you can’t lose important content or settings.
If that fails, reset all your settings. This affects things like your Notifications, Alarms, Apple Pay, Home Screen Layout, and more. But it doesn’t delete your actual content, such as photos, videos, apps, or notes.
If your iPhone 12 still charges slowly or doesn’t charge at all, you should restore it using DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode. This is the deepest level of restore possible; it reinstalls every piece of software and firmware on your device.
How to reset the network settings on your iPhone 12:
- On your iPhone, head to Settings > General > Reset.
- Select ‘Reset Network Settings.’
- Confirm you want to ‘Reset’ your network settings.
Don’t reset your network settings unless you know your Wi-Fi password.
How to reset all the settings on your iPhone 12:
- On your iPhone, head to Settings > General > Reset.
- Select ‘Reset All Settings.’
- If asked, type in your iPhone’s passcode.
- Confirm you want to ‘Reset’ all settings.
Resetting all your settings doesn’t delete any content, but changes many other settings.
How to restore your iPhone 12 using DFU mode:
When you restore your device using DFU mode, it erases all the content and settings on your device. Anything you don’t have another copy of is lost forever. Make a backup before you begin.
Steps to Doing a DFU Restore
- Make sure you have a valid backup in iTunes.
- Using an USB cable, connect your iPhone to the PC with iTunes installed.
- Press Volume up and release.
- Press Volume down and release.
- Press and continue holding the Side button for 10 seconds.
- While still holding the side button, press and hold the Volume down button for 5 seconds.
- Release the Side button and continue holding the Volume down button for an additional 10 seconds.
When you successfully enter DFU mode, your iPhone should remain on a black screen, (if not start the process again from the beginning.)
Speak to Apple Support
The troubleshooting suggestions we detailed above are a great start, but some problems can’t be fixed at home. If your iPhone 12 is still not charging properly, it must be due to a hardware fault. You need to speak to Apple to repair this.
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