Why iPhone Not Charging But Turns On When Plugged In?

When the phone battery is connected to a power source, the lightning symbol is displayed on the screen, but the percentage does not increase. After connecting your iPhone to a power source, it comes on, but it doesn’t retain its charge for long. As soon as you remove the phone from its charging station, it shuts off automatically. In this case, the battery, charging port, or power management IC chip is either damaged or dysfunctional. It is possible that a variety of factors are contributing to this problem. Each problem and its solution will be discussed in detail in the following sections.

A Problem in the Charging Port

Your iPhone’s charging port should be thoroughly cleaned before use. It’s possible that garbage or dust has gathered in the area. Consequently, the charger is unable to establish a reliable connection. With a toothpick, tweezers, or bobby pin, clean the charging port to ensure that it is free of debris. When cleaning the port, take care not to damage it.

Emptied Battery

Another explanation might be that the battery has reached the end of its useful life cycle. Consequently, the iPhone requires more time to boot up and charge than it should. After removing the charger from the device, leave it connected for at least 30 minutes. During this time, you should refrain from doing any functions.

Continue to monitor the battery’s percentage over time to see whether it increases or decreases as time progresses. In the event that everything is functioning properly, the home screen will appear. Check to see that your iPhone is completely charged before you start using it. Following that, the charger should be unplugged from the wall socket. If the phone continues to malfunction, you will need to get in touch with a technical assistance staff. 

Defective Button

Check the functionality of your iPhone’s sleep/wake button to ensure that it is functioning properly. It’s conceivable that something isn’t operating correctly. By simply looking at a button, you can determine whether or not it is functioning properly. On rare occasions, the button can become extremely loose and be pushed completely into the body of the button. There is no response from the button when you press it. As a result, you should take your iPhone to a service center to get it repaired.

Check LCI

The iPhone is equipped with a Liquid Contact Indicator that is immediately apparent (LCI). It informs you whether or not your iPhone has been damaged by water or other liquids. It is possible to find this button on the iPhone’s right, left, or bottom side, depending on the particular model. In order to assess the condition of LCI, a magnifying glass and a projector should be used in conjunction with each other.

The LCI is typically silver or white in color, but when it comes into contact with water, it turns red. As a result, if the LCI indicator on your iPhone is illuminated in red, it indicates that the device has been harmed by water. As a result, the charging system is slowed down significantly.

Restart your iPhone

Restart your iPhone

It’s possible that there’s a problem with the software application. Consequently, your iPhone slows down and has trouble when it is being charged. Many problems can be resolved by just restarting the computer. After that, let’s have a look at how to restart the various iPhone models.

Restarting iPhone X, 11 or 12

  1. Press and hold the volume up or down buttons for a few seconds to bring up or decrease the volume. When the ‘power off’ slider displays, press the release button to exit the menu.
  2. The power off slider must then be pulled to the left to complete the process. Your iPhone will shut down on its own after 30 seconds of inactivity.
  3. After a few minutes of waiting, turn on your smartphone and start typing something. Press and hold the side button down until the Apple logo displays on the screen, and then release the pressure.

Restarting iPhone SE, 6, 7 or 8

  1. When the “power off” slider appears on the screen, press and hold the side button until the slider disappears.
  2. Drag the power off slider all the way to the right and wait 30 seconds for the phone to turn itself off.
  3. Simply press and hold the side button for a few of seconds, until the Apple logo appears on the screen, and then release the button.

Restarting iPhone SE 5 or older versions

  1. Then, while holding the top button down, wait for a power off slider to show on the screen before releasing it.
  2. The device can be turned off by dragging the slider to the left.
  3. To turn on the device, press the same button that you used to turn it off on its top. Continue to hold down the top button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

Defective Battery

Defective Battery iphone

An incorrectly charged battery is suspected to be at the root of the problem. This means that the battery’s life may have reached the end of its usefulness. Because of water or moisture seeping inside the device, it’s possible your iPhone’s battery has been destroyed. It is recommended that you contact Apple for assistance if your machine is still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. The Apple Store can still provide you with a replacement battery, regardless of whether or not your warranty has expired. Another solution is to use a third-party battery in place of the original battery in the device.

Final Words

We discussed six possible remedies to the iPhone’s charging issues in this article. Please make all necessary preparations before replacing the battery, as outlined in the following section: Purchasing a genuine battery from a reputable source or straight from Apple is the best way to ensure that you are getting what you paid for.

In the event that your iPhone will not charge but will turn on when plugged in, I hope this information may be of use.

Lance Ulanoff is a renowned tech journalist, commentator, and on-air expert with over 36 years of experience. He has held esteemed positions including Editor in Chief of Lifewire and Mashable, where he delved into the impact of technology on daily life. Lance's expertise has been featured on major news programs globally, and he has made appearances on Fox News, CNBC, and the BBC.