How to Fix iPhone Charger

iPhones, Troubleshooting

Most of us have probably lost count of how many iPhone cords we have purchased over the years. It’s easy to complain about a broken charger, but let’s be honest—we don’t exactly treat the cords too nicely. We constantly throw them around, plug and unplug our phones infinite times per day, and sometimes leave them sitting underneath a ton of heavy objects inside bags for days on end. It’s no surprise these cables break from time to time. It’s easy enough to buy a new cable, but they most often break when we are 200 miles from the nearest Apple Store or at 2 am on a Sunday night.

So, we’re going to help you understand if your cable is actually broken and if you can fix it. Follow these easy steps on how to fix iPhone charger.

Is Your iPhone Charger Broken?
Damaged iPhone cable

It’s helpful to understand there are two main components to an Apple charger—the power adapter (what you plug into the wall) and the lightning to USB converter cable. In the cases of older iOS devices, you have the larger, dock cable instead.

So if you have everything plugged in and aren’t getting any juice to your phone. Here’s what you need to check to see where you might have a problem.

1) Is your wall socket or surge protector functioning? Try using a different plug instead or plug something else into the socket. You may have blown fuse and might just need to simply reset the power breaker.

2) Is a problem with your iPhone or iPad? If you have another iOS device handy (or anything that uses lightning interface) connect that with same cable and adapter. If that works, then you may have a problem with your iOS device which unfortunately can be much more serious and costly to fix.

3) Is the cable functional? Use a different USB cable such as a speaker cord and plug into the adapter. You can also try plugging your iPhone into your compatible. If the devices sync then the cable is working.

4) If you have gone through these steps confirming the power isn’t with the plug, the iPhone, or cable then it has to be the power adapter. You can check this by using a different power adapter to charge your iPhone.

Now we’ll dive into how to fix iPhone charger depending on which part of your charger might be broken.

Repairing Broken iPhone Cables

Broken iPhone Cable

After heavy usage, lightning cables have a tendency to weaken and eventually fray over time preventing power from reaching your iPhone. Oftentimes, the wires get twisted at this endpoint and the plastic coating wears out. 

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You can use electrical tape to try to fix the connection. If you have a soldering iron, you can actually repair the wiring though this can be quite difficult if you’re not particularly handy. In this case, you might be best off purchasing a more rugged lightning cable from a third party vendor.

How to Repair a Broken iPhone Power Adapter

Apple Power Adapter

Unless you are highly skilled, you really should not attempt to open the Apple power adapter. The USB end of your lightning cable is compatible with any USB charger so just used instead. You can even upgrade to a higher watt USB power adapter to help you charge faster. You don’t want to open the Apple power adapter because it is full of tiny parts glued together that can easily break. Overall, it’s not worth the headache when you probably have several other options around your house. In a pinch, you can always charge from your computer, television, or other devices you have around.

Don’t Forget to Clean Your Lightning Port

iPhone lightning portIn some cases, you might not have a broken iPhone charger. Instead, there may be an obstruction or other issue preventing your device from charging. In this case, use a new toothbrush to gently clean your lightning port. Do not use a cotton swab or anything that may get lodged inside the port. Never use anything metal, however, as this can short the connection and destroy your iPhone. 

You can also try gently wiggling the cable around inside the lightning port. This can help make the connection particularly on more damaged cables/damaged ports. Dirt and debris accumulate over time so it’s a good idea to clean all your ports once a month.

How to Fix iPhone Charger Quickly and Easily

Charging iPhoneWhen it comes to fixing iPhone chargers, there’s not much you can do unless you know your way around a soldering iron. If you are suffering from problems, first isolate the issue to see whether its the wall plug, lightning to USB cable, or power adapter. More likely than not, the USB cable on the lightning port end will be the problem. If this is the case, your best option is to buy a new one. As great as Apple is, you can find both tougher and cheaper cables online through any major retailer. 

If it turns out your cable isn’t the problem, then you may have a more serious issue on your hand. If this is the case, try first to carefully clean out your lightning port. If you’re still having issues, you may need to take your iPhone into your local genius bar and see if they can help you there. If your phone is out of Applecare coverage, it might not be worth it to repair the phone. If upgrading your iPhone is your best option, check out how much you can get from your phone here. 

You can learn even more essential iPhone tips on our blog. We have everything you need to know how to fix a broken home button to troubleshooting GPS errors. Head on over now!