My iPhone 6 Won't Charge! Here's The Real Fix.

David Lynch

JANUARY 12, 2018

Your iPhone 6 is not charging and you don't know what to do. Charging issues are fairly common when dealing with older iPhones, but we're here to help you fix the problem. In this article, I'll explain why your iPhone 6 won't charge using a simple step-by-step guide.

Does My iPhone 6 Need A New Battery?

At this point, we can't be certain whether or not there's something wrong with your iPhone's battery. There are four main components of the charging process, any of which could be causing the problem. These components are:

  1. Your iPhone's software
  2. Your iPhone's charging port
  3. Your iPhone's charging cable
  4. Your iPhone's charger

If one or more of these components isn't working properly, your iPhone 6 won't charge.

However, natural wear and tear is common among batteries in older models of the iPhone. If you work through this article and your iPhone still isn't charging, it may be time for a replacement.

We highly recommend Puls, an on-demand repair company that will come to you at work or at home and fix your iPhone immediately. If your iPhone 6 is still covered by AppleCare, you may want to try bringing it in to your local Apple Store.

The First Step Towards Fixing Your iPhone 6

The first thing we need to do is determine whether or not a software problem is the reason why your iPhone 6 won't charge. To do this, we'll try performing a hard reset on your iPhone.

If a hard reset fixes the problem, your iPhone was actually charging the entire time! The software crashed on your iPhone, making it appear like it wasn't charging because the screen was completely black.

If the hard reset doesn't work, I'll walk you through how to inspect the other components of the charging process so you can fix your iPhone 6 charging problem as soon as possible.

If you or someone you know doesn't have an iPhone 6, check out this article which covers what to do when any model iPhone won't charge.

What To Do When Your iPhone 6 Won't Charge

3 Steps Total
1.

Inspect Your iPhone Charger

There are many different ways to charge your iPhone — plugging it into your laptop, wall adapter, car charger, and more. As a precautionary measure, the software of your iPhone will prevent charging if it detects fluctuations from the power source.

How Do I Inspect My iPhone Charger?

  1. Charge your iPhone with multiple different power sources. If you normally use your wall charger, try using a USB port on your laptop, and vice versa.
  2. If your iPhone charges with one power source but not the other, then you know that the charger is causing your problem.
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2.

DFU Restore Your iPhone

A DFU restore has the potential to fix software problems by completely erasing the code which may be causing your problem. The code is rewritten as if your iPhone is brand new, so the software problem may get solved.

Think of it like a house that has cracks in the foundation. Rather than try and fix the cracks, we are building an entirely new foundation.

If you can, back up your iPhone before completing a DFU restore. Any time you do a restore, it erases everything from your iPhone. However, after the restore is completed, you restore all your backed up data back onto your iPhone.

How Do I DFU Restore My iPhone?

How To DFU Restore An iPhone SE, 6s, Or Older

  1. Using a Lightning cable, plug your iPhone into a USB port on your computer.
  2. Open iTunes if you have a PC or Mac running Mojave 10.14 or earlier. Open Finder if you have a Mac running Catalina 10.15 or newer. It doesn’t matter if your iPhone is on or off.
  3. Press and hold the Home button and the power button simultaneously.
  4. After 8 seconds, release the power button, but continue to hold the Home button.
  5. Let go of the power button when your iPhone appears in iTunes or Finder.
  6. Your iPhone’s display will be completely black if you’ve successfully entered DFU mode. If it’s not, try again from the beginning.
  7. Restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder.

How To DFU Restore An iPhone 7 Or 7 Plus

  1. Using a Lightning cable, plug your iPhone into a USB port on your computer.
  2. Open iTunes if you have a PC or Mac running Mojave 10.14 or earlier. Open Finder if you have a Mac running Catalina 10.15 or newer. It doesn’t matter if your iPhone is on or off.
  3. Press and hold the power and volume down button simultaneously.
  4. After 8 seconds, release the power button, but continue to hold the volume down button.
  5. Release the volume down button when your iPhone appears in iTunes or Finder.
  6. You'll know your iPhone is in DFU mode if the display is completely black.
  7. Restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder.

How To DFU Restore An iPhone 8 Or Newer

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a charging cable.
  2. Open iTunes (PCs and Macs running macOS 10.14 or older) or Finder (Macs running macOS 10.15 or newer).
  3. Quickly press and release the volume up button.
  4. Quickly press and release the volume down button.
  5. Press and hold the side button until the screen goes black.
  6. When the screen goes black, press and hold the volume down button while continuing to press and hold the side button.
  7. Hold both buttons for five seconds.
  8. After five seconds, release the side button while continuing to hold the volume down button.
  9. Keep holding the volume down button until your iPhone appears in Finder or iTunes.
  10. Restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder.
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3.

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

  1. Visit Apple's support website to begin the online mail-in repair process.
  2. Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

  1. Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)
  2. When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.
  3. Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.
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Now You're In Charge!

Your iPhone 6 is charging and you can start using it again. Next time your iPhone 6 won't charge, you'll know exactly how to fix the issue. Feel free to leave any other questions you have in the comments section below!

  1. Inspect Your iPhone Charger
  2. DFU Restore Your iPhone
  3. Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Applies To: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus

AUTHOR

David Lynch

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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