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Why Do My iPhone Chargers Keep Dying? (5 Causes and How to Fix Them)

As an iPhone owner, I know how frustrating it can be when your charger stops working. I recently found myself in this exact situation, so I decided to do some research and testing to find out what was causing the issue. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my findings and explaining the five most common causes of charger death, as well as how to fix them. Whether you’re experiencing this problem or would just like to know more about it, this post will provide you with valuable information and insights.

SolutionDescription
Roll Your Charger ProperlyWrap the cable properly to avoid bends and kinks. Use a cable winder/organizer or cable protector to prevent damage. Consider having a charger at each frequently-visited location to reduce the need for rolling and packing.
Change the Wall Adapter or OutletCheck if the issue is due to the wall outlet, and try using a different one. Replace the wall adapter if it’s loose or incompatible. Avoid charging through a computer or extension socket’s USB port, as it may result in slower charging.
Close All AppsClose all background apps, especially power-intensive ones. This helps preserve battery life and ensures your phone can charge properly.
Check For Water DamageIf your iPhone has been exposed to water or moisture, thoroughly dry the charging port and other openings. Corrosion or rust in the charging port can cause charging issues.
Check for Pin DamageInspect the gold pins on the charger’s lightning end for damage due to water, dust, or debris. Improper care can lead to slower charging or charger failure.
Note Charger LifespanUnderstand that chargers typically last around 1 to 2 years, with deterioration and eventual failure after about 3 years. Take steps to extend the lifespan, but be prepared for eventual replacement.

Why Do My iPhone Chargers Keep Dying?

The reasons your iPhone chargers are dying or that your phone may not be charging are quite plenty, and here are the main things to look into:

  1. The cable has accumulated cuts and bends.
  2. The wall adapter has deteriorated.
  3. Multiple power-intensive apps are running.
  4. Your iPhone has suffered water damage.
  5. The gold pins have suffered damage.

How to Fix iPhone Chargers that Keep Dying?

Now that we’ve got the causes for iPhone chargers faltering covered, let’s look into how you can fix, or better yet, avoid them.

  1. Roll Your Charger Properly

When you’re moving from one place to another, and you’re packing your charger to go, make sure you roll it properly. Ideally, you want to wrap it the way it was when it came out of the box, or you can use other quicker yet protective methods.

Moreover, you can use a cable winder/organizer to make sure your cable won’t bend incorrectly, causing internal damage to the wires. Once the internal wires have a kink or two in them, the performance of your charger starts deteriorating very quickly.

Not only that, but you can also use cable protectors that keep the most delicate parts of your cables safe from the inevitable bending that happens when you pack the cable up. Some even come in fun shapes and characters.

Finally, if you move a lot between two locations, the best choice would be to have a charger at each spot to eliminate any need for rolling and packing.

  1. Change the Wall Adapter or Outlet

The wall outlet can sometimes be the reason your phone isn’t charging. Try changing to another one and see if the issue is resolved.

If neither the cable nor outlet is the problem, you might want to start looking into the wall adapter itself. Typically, the port on the adapter would loosen up as time passes. 

Moreover, if the adapter isn’t an original one, you might have plenty of incompatibility issues. 

That’s why a simple adapter change might fix your charging issue.

Not to mention, if you’re using a computer’s or an extension socket’s USB port, your phone is bound to charge much slower.

  1. Close All Apps

It’s very important to close any background apps that you aren’t currently using.

This isn’t because of how much of the battery life they take away. Not only that, but also because if there are plenty of power-intensive apps running, your phone may not be able to charge at all.

So, make it a habit to close any app after you’re done using it and to regularly check if any are left open.

  1. Check For Water Damage

While more recent iPhones come with a degree of water-resistant, it’s not just exposure that could incur water damage. If you don’t thoroughly dry your phone’s openings, the water that sits in the ports might lead to the metal around that area rusting or corroding.

If that happens to be the charging port, it could lead to your iPhone not charging at all. That’s why you should always hasten to dry the port if your iPhone displays a warning for wetness.

  1. Check for Pin Damage

The little gold pins on your charger’s lightning end are as prone to damage as any other part of the charger.

If they’re exposed to water or if too much dust and debris accumulate on them, they might cause issues charging.

However, if you don’t take proper care of those pins, they might suffer irreversible damage that leads to slower charging. In extreme cases, the charger may completely stop working.

Read more: Why does my iPhone say SSL error?

How Long Do Chargers Last?

It’s important to set realistic expectations of your charger and realize that chargers typically last around a year or two at max. After that, it starts deteriorating eventually until it probably stops working after three years.

Final Words

Read more: Why do iPhones die so fast?

When all is said and done, you can’t expect your chargers to stay alive for as long as you have your phone. With the average lifespan of a smartphone estimated at 2.5 years, you can’t expect your charger to last a lot more than that.

Still, there are always ways that you can extend the lifespan for as long as you can to make the best use of the money you’ve paid instead of wondering, “Why do my iPhone chargers keep dying?” every couple of months.