iPhone 12 Not Charging With Cables: Easy Ways To Fix The Problem

FACTS CHECKED BY  Jose George​

Receiving an alert that your specific iPhone 12 accessory is not supported can be very frustrating, especially if it is a new device. In fact, over the last couple of months, several reports from various iPhone 12 users claim that their devices are not charging.

Therefore we must look at ways you can fix an iPhone 12 not charging with cables or one that is doing so very slowly.

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iPhone 12 Is Not Charging or Doing So Very Slowly

Below are some methods you could use if your iPhone 12 is not charging or is charging too slowly.

1. Check the Lightning Cable and USB Adapter

A damaged iPhone charging accessory could be why your device is not charging. Using a USB or non-Apple-certified charger not designed to charge different iPhone devices can also result in such an issue. 

Check the lightning cable and USB adapter to ensure there’s no damage. If your cable is defective, you will need a new one. However, make sure you get your accessory from an authorized Apple dealer. 

2. Try a different power source

You can charge your iPhone from a separate power source and see if it is charging. The other option would be to set it up using a power bank, a PC USB hub, or a MacBook thunderbolt port. 

Also, the highest input rating for an iPhone 12 is 2.0 Amp and can reach levels of 9V. Therefore, you can charge the device if you have a power source of a similar rating. 

3. Clean the Lightning port

A dirty lightning port will likely result in charging issues. Connectivity blockages can affect a device’s power circuit. You can avoid these problems by regularly inspecting your charging port and removing debris. Some items you can use for cleaning include toothpicks or toothbrushes.

4. Force restart your iPhone 12

This method is an easy hack that can help fix several minor faults that could have accumulated over time. If your device is not charging with the MagSafe wireless charger, you can rapidly press and release the volume up and down buttons and then press and hold the side button. You should continue to do this until the Apple logo appears on the phone screen. Once the device reboots, see if it charges. 

5. Turn Off Your iPhone and Charge

Sometimes, the solution for an iPhone 12 that is not charging is to turn it off and try to start it up again. The system may need a small break to get things going again. 

6. Put your iPhone 12 in recovery mode

As you may already know, the kind of software used in iPhone devices is the primary element of how they charge. Therefore, if you have tried all the recommended solutions and your device still refuses to charge, it could be time for you to do something more suited to dealing with software-related issues. 

For instance, the software crashed in the background while on standby mode, preventing your device from charging. To resolve such a problem, prepare a Windows or Mac computer and install the latest iTunes. You should also ensure that your machine runs on the latest iOS system, which is compatible with your iPhone. After you have all these things in place, link your device to the computer and Apple authenticated or lightning cable. From this point, allow iTunes to sync with your phone and other backup files. Afterward, ensure the backup process is complete. 

The following steps will help put your iPhone 12 in recovery mode and ensure you restore iOS in iTunes. 

  • Rapidly press and let go of the volume up button quickly and repeat the process with the volume down button.
  • Continue by pressing and holding the power or side button once you receive a request to connect to iTunes. Ensure you don’t leave the control button when the Apple symbol is still displayed since you will need to enter recovery mode. 
  • Once you enter the recovery mode, an update or restore option will come up. 
  • Pick the restore option you wish to reinstall and get the iOS on your device, but don’t erase data. 
  • Throughout the process, please do not disconnect your device phone until it’s done.

7. DFU Restore iPhone 12

DFU (Device Firmware Update) reloads the software and firmware of the device. Therefore, it is a more in-depth recovery mode than recovery mode.

To perform a soft or DFU reset, you will need to:

  • Press down on the power or side button and one of the volume buttons, which needs to happen simultaneously and for a couple of seconds. 
  • Let go of both buttons simultaneously as soon as you see the slide to power off prompt on your screen. 
  • Move the power off slider to the right to shut down your phone. 
  • Once 30 seconds are up, press the power or slide button again until the Apple logo appears. 

8. Reset All Settings

Certain third-party apps and other minor software issues can sometimes lead to conflicts affecting the charging speed. Therefore, if your device is not charging fast enough, doing a factory reset can help fix the problem. 

You can do this by:

  • Going to your device settings
  • Tap on the general tab
  • Go down to and click on Transfer or Reset iPhone 
  • Choose to erase all content & settings
  • From there, enter your lock-screen password to finish the process 

The entire factory resetting process can take around 2 to 3 minutes. You should avoid doing anything with the phone until it finishes. Once done, place your device on your wireless charger and use the lighting cable to see if things are okay. 

iPhone Settings Icon

Caption: iPhone Settings Icon

How To Fix iPhone 12 won’t Charge Past 80%?

Below are the two ways to fix an iPhone 12 that doesn’t charge past 80%.

1. Disable Optimized Battery Charging

Your lithium-ion battery can lose its power-holding capacity due to overheating. To help prolong your battery’s lifespan, Apple availed an optimized charging feature on its devices and MacBooks. This extended feature can evaluate your charging patterns and push the Charge once the battery level reaches 80%. Your iPhone 12 may be at this rate. 

Disabling the optimized battery charging option on your device settings is also a good way of bypassing the problem. 

2. Cool down Your iPhone

High temperatures can damage lithium-ion batteries. Apple protects its products by enabling users to determine temperature ranges. Also, if you are the type of person who plays games for prolonged periods, your device may experience overheating. However, the Apple Bionic chip will prevent any charging activity and help extend the battery’s lifespan. Nonetheless, your device won’t charge fully during the process. You can leave your iPhone for a couple of minutes to cool down. Once it returns to an average temperature, put in the charger to see if it works.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you found the above guide helpful. Any user-facing iPhone 12 charging issues can be quickly resolved by correctly implementing the abovementioned techniques. 

However, if you have tried all the methods but your device is still not charging, you can contact Apple’s technical support team to see if they can assist you. They will most likely schedule an appointment at your nearest Apple Care Center.