Your smartphone not charging is one of the biggest frights you can experience in this busy world. And if it’s an iPhone, there’s no telling how far your frustration level will reach.
So, what happens when your iPhone charges for a second, then stops charging? No matter how ominous it may sound, the reasons are often as trivial as broken cables, faulty ports, third-party chargers, overheating, software glitches, and such.
Let’s explore these issues further and find out how you can effectively resolve them.
10 Things to Do When Your iPhone Charges for a Second, Then Stops
As we’ve said, your iPhone charging on and off randomly may just be a reflection of minor hiccups, which you can easily resolve yourself most of the time. Here are some steps you can take based on the possible causes.
Restart/Force Restart Your iPhone
Despite how simple it may sound, whenever you’re troubleshooting an electronic device, you should shut it down and turn it back on before anything else.
It’ll help your iPhone clear up any temporary glitch it might have suffered. Just do a simple restart while it still has some charge left and see how it goes. But if that doesn’t help, you should try force restarting it.
To force restart, press the volume buttons one after the other, before releasing them quickly each time. Then, hold the side button down and release it only after the Apple logo pops up.
Be Sure If the Charging Has Really Stopped
Are you sure your iPhone has stopped charging after a second? Often, it’s easy to mistake thinking so, especially when the phone battery drains out completely just in the nick of time.
You can check this by plugging your iPhone as usual, whether through the AC adapter, the USB port in your computer, or wirelessly. Leave it there for around two hours if you suspect the battery’s long been dead.
Now, when checking it back, look for a lightning bolt sign on your iPhone’s display, around the battery icon to be more precise. If you see none, you indeed have a charging problem.
Avoid Wireless Charging
Wireless chargers are all the rage these days, but they are often the culprits when it comes to inconsistent charging.
So, if your iPhone stops charging after a second when using one, why not rule out such possibilities by avoiding it for a moment?
Just remove your iPhone from the wireless charging stand and plug it into your wall socket with the provided lightning cable. If it starts charging just fine, the problem is with the wireless charger rather than your phone.
Clean Out Your iPhone’s Lightning Port
With wireless charging issues out of the way, let’s focus on the other casual charging methods, starting with the lightning port.
That small pit at the bottom of your iPhone is a magnet for dirt, dust, lint, and debris, all of which can impede charging.
To clean it, unplug your iPhone first. You can use a toothpick, a safety pin, or a compressed air cleaner. Be careful not to damage the internal components. After dislodging any visible dust or debris gently, you can try charging your iPhone again and see if it helped.
Examine Your Charging Cable and Adapter
One of the common causes of charging issues is a faulty charging cable or an adapter. Check your cable for any physical damage – frays, kinks, cuts – that may interfere with the connectivity. If there’s visible damage or your cable is old, consider getting a new one.
Likewise, examine your power adapter. Try charging your iPhone with a USB port on your computer. If it works fine, but the adapter doesn’t get a new adapter. We always recommend using the original iPhone charger, as third-party chargers can sometimes be the source of such problems.
Don’t Let Your iPhone Overheat
Is your iPhone overheating while facing this issue of sudden halt in charging? Excessive heat can indeed prevent normal charging or slow down charging speed.
When overheating, your iPhone’s built-in software will stave off any potentially damaging processes, including battery charging.
Ideally, you’ll want the temperature between 32º and 95ºF. So, if you think it’s gone beyond that range, switch the phone off and let it cool off before charging it again.
Update Your iOS
Let’s move back to software-related matters. It might be easy to ignore software updates, but they often patch glitches and reinforce your iPhone’s performance. That’s why updating might fix any software bug hindering the charging process.
To update your iOS manually, tap on Settings on your home screen, choose General, and then select Software Update. If an update available, tap ‘Download and Install.’
Factory Reset Your iPhone
When every other solution fails to solve an issue with your iPhone, it often helps if you factory reset it. This rolls back every single change your iPhone has encountered since you purchased it and sets up the factory defaults.
Notably, it also wipes out all your content, so be sure to back them up before proceeding. And once ready, you can factory reset your iPhone from Settings >> General >> Transfer or Reset [Device].
Seek Apple’s Assistance or Professional Help
After factory resetting, if your issue with sudden charging stops continues, you’re out of options. The only thing to do now is to seek professional help.
If your iPhone’s still under warranty, take it to the Apple Store or an authorized service center. Remember to have all the necessary documentation required. However, if you’re out of the warranty period, consider hiring a trusted third-party professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have further queries regarding your iPhone’s sudden halt in charging issue? The below list of commonly asked questions and their answers might be of help.
My iPhone always stops charging at 80%. What should I do?
This is nothing to worry about as it’s one of Apple’s battery optimization features. It usually happens when charging causes overheating. When the iPhone reaches 80%, it stops charging to preserve battery lifespan and hardware integrity.
Why does my iPhone say it’s charging, but the battery percentage isn’t going up?
This could be due to the battery being severely degraded, or a software glitch. Try recalibrating the battery by running it down completely and then recharging to 100%. If this doesn’t work, you might consider getting the battery replaced.
Why does my iPhone charge slower than usual?
Several factors can impact your iPhone’s charging speed. These include the charger used, the condition of the charging port, or even the temperature. Most often, you can solve this issue by cleaning the lightning port, using an appropriate charger, and making sure the phone isn’t overheating.
Conclusion
Having an iPhone that stops suddenly while charging can be frustrating. But as you’ve seen, it’s pretty much possible to trace the culprit and fix the issue. From cleaning charging ports to updating the software, these simple steps could make your life much easier.
On a final note, always use the original charger provided by Apple. Third-party chargers, although seemingly compatible, often cannot provide consistent power.
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