If your iphone not charging is the problem that brought you here, this page gives you the simple, real steps that solve most cases at home and it also shows you when to stop burning time and walk into G1 Tech Dallas in Dallas, TX for a straight answer and a same-day cash offer. The goal is clarity: quick tests you can try now, plain reasons why iphone not charging happens, and an honest way to move on with G1 Tech Dallas if repair costs more time and money than you want to spend.
Quick wins first
Try these in order, slow and steady, one change at a time so you can see what actually solved it and keep that fix in your back pocket
- Plug the charger into a different wall outlet, not a power strip
- Swap to a known-good cable and a known-good power adapter
- If you are using wireless, try wired, and if you are using wired, try wireless, this splits the problem in half
- Force restart your iPhone while it is connected to power, then leave it for 20 to 30 minutes before you decide it is still not taking a charge
- Inspect the charging port and the cable tips under a bright light, look for lint, bent pins, burn marks, or greenish buildup
Related link: Apple’s “If your iPhone won’t charge” page is short and straight to the point. Apple Support
Why an iPhone is not charging
Bad cable or brick
A huge share of iphone not charging complaints come down to tired cables or bargain bricks. Use a real, spec-compliant cable and a clean USB-C PD adapter. If you do not have spares, G1 Tech Dallas keeps known-good test gear on hand and can show you the difference in seconds.
Related link: Apple’s battery and charging basics cover good habits and heat. Apple
Lint in the port
Pocket lint pushes deep into Lightning or USB-C and stops the plug from seating. If iphone not charging started after a week in jeans or a dusty bag, shine a light inside the port. Gently lift lint with a dry plastic pick or a brand-new dry toothbrush. Avoid liquids and metal tools. If you see green or white crust, bring it to G1 Tech Dallas before more pins corrode.
Related link: Apple explains why moisture and residue around the connector cause trouble and what to do if you get a liquid alert. Apple Support
The phone is stuck and needs a kick
Sometimes your phone is not “dead,” it is just in a weird state where the screen is off and the system is grumpy, a force restart while connected to power will often wake it up and restore charging, follow the button sequence for your model, wait for the Apple logo, then let it sit on the charger for a bit before judging the result.
Related link: Apple’s official force-restart steps by model. Apple Support
Stalling at 80 percent by design
If your iPhone keeps pausing around 80 percent, that may be on purpose, not a failure, iPhone can slow or pause charging to help the battery last longer or because the phone is warm, you can change the setting when you need a full top-off, then set it back later if you like how it preserves the battery over time.
Related links: Apple on Optimized Battery Charging and charge limits, plus the Batteries page that explains the 80 percent behavior under heat. Apple Support
Wireless charging quirks
MagSafe and Qi pads are great when alignment is clean and the case is friendly, they are not great when a thick case, a metal plate, or a card sits between the coil and the pad, or when the puck is under-powered, remove the case, place the phone carefully, make sure the USB-C power adapter is strong enough, and consider a newer Qi2 pad for better magnetic alignment if your phone supports it.
Related links: WPC’s Qi2 overview and news updates on the faster Qi2 25W rollout. Wireless Power Consortium
Liquid alert pops up
If you see the liquid detector warning, stop, unplug, and let it dry, do not override unless you are absolutely sure everything is dry, because electricity plus moisture eats the tiny pins in the port fast, and what could have been a minor scare turns into a dead connector if you power through the warning.
Related link: Apple’s liquid-detection guidance for Lightning and USB-C iPhones. Apple Support
Weak power source
A sleeping laptop port, a bus-powered hub, or a travel adapter that lies about its wattage can all lead to slow or no charging, the test is to use a wall adapter you trust, then a powered USB-C hub or dock if needed, and only after that try a computer.
Related link: USB-IF’s page explains how USB Power Delivery negotiates power so both sides get a stable, safe level. USB Implementers Forum
Battery wear or hardware wear
If the phone needs a wiggle to begin charging or stops when you set it down, the port may be worn, if it heats up and still does not climb, the battery might be on its last legs, and if it fails to wake or keep power, the problem could be deeper on the board, at that point you are weighing repair versus sale and the right move depends on your model, condition, and time.
Related link: Apple’s “won’t charge” and “won’t turn on” pages help separate simple from not-so-simple cases. Apple Support
USB-C, Lightning, PD, Qi, and what really matters
Newer iPhones use USB-C, older ones use Lightning, both want a stable, clean supply from a spec-compliant adapter and cable, the phone will ask for what it needs and a good USB-C Power Delivery charger will deliver that without games, which is why grabbing a real brand with clear PD support beats saving a few dollars on a no-name brick that lies about wattage.
Related links: USB-IF’s USB Charger PD overview and the current PD spec package. USB Implementers Forum
Wireless pads got an upgrade with Qi2, which brings magnetic alignment and better efficiency, and you will notice it most at the couch or the nightstand when a light bump used to stop the charge but now the magnets keep it centered and the session continues without a surprise dead phone in the morning.
Related links: WPC’s Qi standard page and a clear magazine explainer. Wireless Power Consortium
Step-by-step fixes you can do at home
1) Rule out accessories fast
Grab a cable you trust and a 20 to 30 W USB-C adapter from a real brand, connect, watch the icon, leave it for ten minutes, swap pieces one at a time to isolate the offender, and remember that a cable can pass data or a trickle and still fail under load, which is why charging tests beat “but it worked yesterday”.
Related link: Apple’s “won’t charge” steps call out damaged accessories and restarts. Apple Support
2) Clean the port the safe way
Shine a light into the port, you will often see dust packed at the back, use a dry, soft plastic pick or a new dry toothbrush to loosen and lift, tilt the phone so gravity helps, do not jab at the pins, do not add liquid cleaners, and if you see green or white crust, stop and seek service because that is corrosion.
Related link: Apple’s liquid detection page explains why patience here saves the port. Apple Support
3) Force restart while on power
With the cable connected, run the force-restart sequence for your model, wait for the Apple logo, then let it rest on power for 20 to 30 minutes, this clears a lot of strange states that make people think the battery or the board is gone when the phone just needed a reset while seeing stable power.
Related links: Apple’s force-restart guides. Apple Support
4) Test wired vs wireless
If wired fails and wireless works, the port or cable path is suspect, if wireless fails and wired works, the pad or alignment or case is suspect, and it is not rare for a hungry pad plus a weak wall adapter to be the whole story, so test with a better adapter before you write off the pad.
Related links: WPC on Qi2 and alignment basics. Wireless Power Consortium
5) Check the 80 percent behavior
If the phone stalls near 80 percent, open Settings and check Battery Health & Charging, you may have a limit on, or the phone may be pausing because it is warm or because it learned your routine and plans to top off later, you can lift the cap or turn off the pause when you need a full tank for travel or a late night, then switch back later.
Related links: Apple’s Charge Limit and Optimized Battery Charging pages. Apple Support
6) Watch for heat or smell
If the back gets hot and the level does not move, unplug, that points to a failing cable, an under-specced adapter, a blocked port, or a tired battery, none of which you want cooking at your desk, cool the phone, swap parts, and if it repeats, think repair or sale.
Related link: Apple’s Batteries page talks about temperature and charge limits. Apple
When to stop tinkering and sell
There is a point where you have tried a real cable and adapter, cleaned the port, confirmed it is not the 80 percent behavior, tested wired and wireless, and the phone still refuses to take power or charges only if you hold the plug at a weird angle, that is likely a worn port, a battery that is done, or board work, and this is where you decide whether to book a repair or sell iPhone for a fair cash offer with G1 Tech Dallas in Dallas, TX.
If you do not want to ship a phone and wait, or you are already planning an upgrade, walk into G1 Tech Dallas and we will test it right then and there, tell you the score, and give you a real number, if a quick repair makes more sense for your model we will say so, we play the long game and we want you to come back next time too.
Why sell iPhone to G1 Tech Dallas
We are a neighborhood shop in Dallas, TX that buys iPhones every day, we keep the process simple so you are not standing around guessing, and we pay on the spot, cash or your preferred method:
- Fast check-in and on-the-spot testing
- Clear pricing that reflects storage, carrier status, and real resale market data
- Help with sign-out, Find My, and secure wipe while you watch
- No pressure if you need time to think
- Options to trade toward something else if you want an upgrade
If you message us ahead with your model and a note like “iPhone 13, won’t charge unless I hold the cable,” we can give you a range before you make the trip, and once you are here we finalize after testing and you are on your way.
Repair vs sell
Lean repair
- Recent model in good shape that stopped after a drop or visible lint build-up
- Works with a fresh cable and adapter but is picky with old gear
- Battery health still decent and no heat spikes
Lean sell
- Older model with a tired battery, port play, or intermittent charging
- Needs multiple parts or has signs of past board work
- You are upgrading anyway and would rather turn time into money via a local cash buyer
Clean your port
Grab a bright light, tilt the phone so gravity helps, look into the port, if it looks like a tiny felt rug is living in there, that is lint, use a dry plastic pick or a brand-new, dry toothbrush to gently lift and sweep, short strokes, zero pressure on the pins, no liquids, no metal, then re-test, if you see green or white crust, that is corrosion, stop and get service.
Wireless charging in 2025
Qi2 is rolling out more widely, the magnets help the phone sit right on the coil which means fewer wake-up surprises at 7 a.m., if your pad is older and finicky or you need to nail the placement just so, consider a Qi2 pad with a proper USB-C adapter, and take thick cases and metal plates out of the picture.
USB-C PD myths
- You do not need a massive brick for an iPhone, you need a clean, compliant USB-C PD adapter
- A “smart” adapter that drops voltage under load can look like a bad phone, when it is really a bad brick
- Cables matter, a weak cable will waste your time and make you blame the battery
- Charging from a sleeping laptop is hit-or-miss, use a wall adapter for tests
The eco-friendly exit in Dallas, TX
If you decide not to repair and not to sell, please recycle right, Dallas, TX has drop-off points and the city partners with certified processors so your device does not end up in the wrong place.
Related link: City of Dallas electronics recycling page with locations and details. dallascityhall.com
Data safety checklist before you bring it in or sell it
- Back up with iCloud or via Finder on a Mac
- Sign out of iCloud and iMessage
- Turn off Find My iPhone
- Erase all content and settings
- Remove your SIM or manage your eSIM
If your phone will not turn on at all, we can still help with proof of ownership and secure handling, and we can perform the wipe after testing while you are present so you leave with peace of mind.
Extra tips
- Keep one “known good” cable and brick in a drawer just for testing
- Every few weeks, shine a light in the port and check for dust build-up
- If you use a car charger, avoid super-cheap adapters that spike when you start the engine
- For wireless, skip stacked credit cards or metal plates behind the case
- If you see the 80 percent pause and you need 100, change the setting for the night and switch back in the morning
FAQs
Why does my iPhone only charge to 80 percent
Most of the time it is the phone protecting the battery or the phone being a bit warm, you can adjust the setting under Battery Health & Charging and go back later.
MagSafe worked yesterday and fails today
Check the case, remove metal plates or cards, clean both surfaces, confirm the USB-C adapter is solid, then re-center, if it is still fussy, try a newer Qi2 pad or go wired for the night.
The phone is black, no response, no logo
Force restart while connected to power, give it time, if that does not work try a computer and see if it is detected, after that you are likely dealing with hardware.
Do I need an Apple-branded charger
No, you need a real, spec-compliant charger and cable, MFi for Lightning and USB-C PD for newer models, cheap copies cause the strangest problems.
Can a power strip cause problems
Yes, bad strips or crowded ones can drop voltage, test on a wall outlet first, then move back to the strip if it passes.
Call or walk in, get a real offer, get paid today
If your iPhone not charging problem keeps coming back, bring it to G1 Tech Dallas in Dallas, TX, we will test it while you wait, explain what we see in plain language, and give you options, if you want to sell iPhone we will appraise it on the spot and pay you fast as your local cash buyer, and if a low-cost fix makes sense for your case we will say so, either way you leave with a plan and not a mystery.
G1 Tech is your trusted technology partner located in Dallas, TX, specializing in purchasing used MacBooks, iPhones, tablets, and other electronic devices for competitive cash offers. With a reputation built on reliability, transparency, and exceptional customer service, G1 Tech has earned its place as a leading name in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex for those seeking to sell their devices quickly and securely.
Proudly serving Dallas and surrounding areas, including Mesquite, TX · Pleasant Grove, TX · Richardson, TX · DeSoto, TX · Fort Worth, TX · Arlington, TX · Garland, TX · Duncanville, TX · Lancaster, TX, G1 Tech is committed to providing fast, hassle-free service. Whether you’re in Dallas proper or nearby communities, G1 Tech ensures competitive quotes, immediate payments, and a seamless selling experience.
As a trusted local business, G1 Tech is passionate about helping individuals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area get the most value from their tech while delivering top-notch customer care.
If you’re ready to turn your old device into cash, contact us at G1 Tech today — we’re here to help.