Why is My iPhone Wireless Charging Not Working?

Wireless charging is a simple, convenient way of powering your iPhone. This is why it can be incredibly frustrating when your wireless charging stops working. But there’s no need to worry – there are a few different reasons why your iPhone might not be wirelessly charging, and many have an easy fix. Read on to find the solution to your wireless charging problem.

Not every iPhone supports wireless charging. The iPhone 8, and all models released after it, will have wireless charging capabilities, and it can be assumed that all future models will continue to have this convenience.

An easy way to check is to look at the back of your iPhone – if it’s made from glass, it will charge wirelessly. This is because wireless charging doesn’t work through aluminum or other metals with which Apple made the older models.

As of 2022, the following iPhone models support wireless charging:

• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
• iPhone X
• iPhone Xs and Xs Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2^nd and 3^rd Generation)
• iPhone 12 and 12 Mini
• iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 and 13 Mini
• iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max

If your iPhone is one of the more recent models that supports wireless charging, but it still isn’t charging on your wireless charger, there are a few things to try.

Test with another wireless charger

The first thing to do when your iPhone wireless charging isn’t working is to determine whether the issue is with the phone or the charger itself. If you have another wireless charger, test your iPhone with this to see if it works. Or you could try another device that supports wireless charging on the original charger, such as AirPods or another phone. If your phone doesn’t work with another charge, or if another device does work on the original charger, you can assume the problem is with the phone.

You could also try testing your iPhone’s charging with a cable. Whilst cabled charging and wireless charging work differently, you’ll be able to at least see if the battery display is working as it should.

Restart your iPhone

Sometimes, an easy fix for issues with your iPhone is simply to restart it. Fully turn your iPhone off, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on again. This can often prompt your iPhone to fix any glitches or software issues that might be preventing it from wirelessly charging.

If your iPhone is frozen and you can’t turn it off the usual way, you may need to force a restart. How you do this will differ depending on which model you have. Apple’s user guide can help you to force your iPhone to restart if you’re unsure how to do it.

Check if your iPhone needs an update

Wireless charging needs the software to be working properly in order to function. If your iOS is out of date, it might need an update to support wireless charging.

You can check whether your iPhone needs a software update by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If there is an update available, there will be an option to “Download & Install”. Select this and let the update install before checking your iPhone on the wireless charger again. If no update is available, the menu will say “Your iPhone is up to date”.

Reset your iPhone

Resetting your phone will erase all your data, so you should make sure you’ve backed up your iPhone before you do this. Once your data is backed up, you can go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, and follow the onscreen instructions. You can then restore the phone when the reset is complete.

Visit the Apple Store

If you’ve tried all the above routes to fix wireless charging on your iPhone and it still doesn’t work, there may be an issue with the hardware. If this is the case, an Apple store may be able to find the issue and recommend the right solution. It might be a good idea to take your wireless charger with you to the Apple store so they can test it there too.

If you’ve tested your iPhone with another wireless charger and it works fine, the issue will likely be with the original charger. In that case, there are a few things you can try to fix it.

Check the wireless charger has power

Sometimes the solution to your iPhone not wirelessly charging could be as simple as the charger is not plugged in. Check the cable hasn’t come loose, both from the back of the charger and also the plug in the outlet. If your wireless charger is portable, check that it has power. MAGFAST power banks have handy LEDs to indicate how much battery they currently hold – if your wireless charging power bank doesn’t have these, try giving it a boost of power and then putting your iPhone on it.

Check the quality of your wireless charger

iPhones are Qi-compatible, which is the universal standard for wireless charging technology. This means they should work with all Qi wireless chargers. If your wireless charger is not Qi-enabled, it might not be compatible with your iPhone.

Low-quality wireless chargers will be more likely to become defective, whether with a hardware or software issue. You should always make sure to use a premium wireless charger, like MAGFAST. We use state-of-the-art Qi wireless technology and the highest quality components for a durable, reliable, high-performing wireless charger.

Center your iPhone on the wireless charger

The charging coils in a wireless charger will only transmit power to the iPhone across an area of a few millimeters. This means that your iPhone will have to be positioned correctly on the charger so it can power up correctly. Your iPhone should be face up and in the center of the charger. Sometimes you may need to move your iPhone around a little on the charging pad to find the right spot.

Try removing the case

Many iPhone cases are suitable for use with wireless chargers. However, if the case is too thick or made from the wrong type of material, it could interfere with the wireless charging. Keeping items in your phone case, such as a bank card, can also prevent wireless charging from working. Wireless charging functions using electromagnetic fields, and the magnetic strip on a bank card can prevent it from working.

If your iPhone isn’t wirelessly charging, try removing the case and any items from the back of the phone to see if this helps.

Check the temperature of your iPhone

If your iPhone is too hot, the protective features will shut down its ability to charge. This is in place to stop your iPhone from overheating and being permanently damaged. Your iPhone can sometimes overheat from charging, especially if you’re using it at the same time or if you’re using a low-quality charger. Its temperature can also be affected by the temperature in the room, so you might need to move it out of direct sunlight.

Often your iPhone will display a message on the screen when the temperature is too high, instructing you to stop using your phone because it is too hot. Leave your phone to cool down before attempting to charge it again.

Wipe the iPhone and wireless charger

Dirt or dust on the back of your iPhone or the surface of the charger can prevent wireless charging from working. Liquids on the charger or phone will also stop wireless charging. You should try giving your iPhone and charger a wipe with a soft cloth to remove any particles that are interfering with the charge.

Unplug any cables from the iPhone

You may have plugged your iPhone into a computer with a USB cable to make changes to the phone. However, this will also charge your phone and you won’t be able to use wired charging and wireless charging at the same time. Cable charging will take precedence, so if you’ve tried to place your iPhone on a wireless charger whilst the phone is plugged in, the wireless charger won’t be able to work. Make sure your iPhone doesn’t have any cables plugged into it when you’re wireless charging.

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