Wireless chargers are a simple modern way to charge your iPhone without needing to worry about wires and plugs. Unfortunately, like all technology, wireless charging can sometimes bring technological difficulties.

If your iPhone isn’t wireless charging, there are 7 things you can check to get your device back on track. These things include checking your:

  • iPhone model
  • iPhone position
  • Phone case
  • Phone reset
  • Charger cleanliness
  • Charger’s functionality
  • iOS updates

We’ll talk about how to check each of these things below. To learn more and get your iPhone charging wirelessly again, read on!

Check the iPhone You Have

The first thing you should check when your iPhone won’t charge wirelessly is your iPhone’s model. Older iPhone models, specifically iPhone 7 or earlier, are not physically capable of wireless charging.

If you have an iPhone 8 or later, your phone should be able to wireless charge. Continue on for some additional things to check. 

Change Your iPhone’s Location on the Charger

Sometimes, your iPhone may be picky about where it’s located to get it to charge properly. If your iPhone is off-center on the charging dock, it may not be able to charge.

Make sure your iPhone is perfectly in the center of your wireless charging dock. As long as it’s in the middle, it should be charging properly. If not, there may be another issue at hand.

Take Off Your Phone Case

Wireless charging works thanks to magnetic fields. If the magnetic field is blocked by something, namely your case, your charger won’t be able to charge your phone’s battery.

Make sure your iPhone case is compatible with wireless charging. These cases are made of special materials that allow magnetic fields to pass through easily so wireless charging can occur.

If your phone case isn’t compatible with wireless charging, it isn’t the end of the world. You just have to remember to take your case off before charging. 

Make sure you remember to put your case back on when it’s done charging so you don’t accidentally damage your phone!

Restart Your iPhone and Charger

Sometimes, a simple solution is the best. Try restarting your iPhone and your wireless charger to see if that does the trick to fix your charging issue.

Turn off your phone for at least a minute before powering back on and trying to charge. While waiting, you should also unplug your wireless charger and re-plug it to reset the device. 

This reset may be enough to get your iPhone charging again. 

Clean Your Phone and Charger

Dirt and debris is not only gross, but it can also potentially interfere with wireless charging. 

If you haven’t cleaned either of your devices recently, you may want to give them a quick clean to see if that fixes your problem. 

You should also make sure your iPhone and charger aren’t wet at all. Wipe them down with a dry microfiber cloth to remove any dust, dirt, or wet residue on either surface. 

Then, try to charge your phone again. This simple cleaning could get things working again.

Check Your iPhone Updates

An iPhone update may be able to fix your iPhone charging issue. Check your settings to see if you have an iOS update in the queue. 

You can update your phone by:

  • Going to Settings
  • Checking for “Software Update Available” below your Apple ID card
  • Tapping Software Update Available
  • Tapping Download and Install
  • Allowing your iPhone to update and restart

If you don’t typically get pop ups for your iOS updates, make sure “Automatic Updates” is toggled on in your settings. This can keep you informed when another software update is uploaded onto your phone. 

Once your phone is updated, try charging again to see if that fixes the issue. 

Try Your Charger With Another Phone

If none of the above solutions work, you may have to check to see if your wireless charger is working in the first place. 

Try using another device, such as an iPad or a friend’s iPhone to see if the dock is charging at all.

If the dock is indeed working, the issue is with your phone. You should take your phone to your local Apple store to get it checked for more serious battery issues.

If the dock itself is not working, you should contact the manufacturer to inquire about a refund, replacement, or other fix for the device.

Conclusion

Your phone being unable to charge can be annoying, but there are luckily several things you can do to fix this frustrating issue. Hopefully, checking each of these was able to help resolve your problem.

If your iPhone still isn’t able to wirelessly charge, make an appointment with the Genius bar at your local Apple store. They can take a look at your phone to see if there’s a more serious issue with your battery.

When in doubt, don’t be afraid to turn back to normal charging with a charging cord. This can keep your device charged while you find a solution to your wireless charging woes.