Revision to iPhone Slow Charge
| There is a certain anxiety in knowing your phone is nearly dead. This can only be made worse by adding the complication that your iPhone takes an eternity to charge up. Battery life and charging might seem simple, but the chain has many links, and any could be at fault. Luckily, most reasons for slow charging don't require a toolkit, just a little investigating. | |
| - | == |
| + | == The Basics == |
| Before undertaking any of the more time-consuming solutions below, these are a few fundamentals to get you started. | |
| == Debris in Lightning Port == | |
| - | Think about how often you put your phone in a pocket or bag daily. What else is in that pocket, or that bag? Even if it’s your dedicated phone pocket, it is bound to have lint. To lint, the Lightning Port may as well be a giant magnetic crevice. If the speaker and microphone grilles at the bottom of your phone are clogged with dust, your charge port is, too. |
| + | ***Solution:*** [guide|164631|Clean the charge port] |
| + | |
| + | Think about how often you put your phone in a pocket or bag daily. What else is in that pocket, or that bag? If the speaker and microphone grilles at the bottom of your phone are clogged with dust, your charge port is, too. |
| * Inspect the port using a flashlight. It is common for bits of lint or rubbish to get caught and compress into the back of the port. | |
| ** Check the fit of your cable. Does the lightning plug sit flush with the bottom of the phone? It should. If it sits askew, or there’s a gap where you can still see the metal of the charger, a good cleaning is in order. | |
| - | ** This may limit the amount of contact the charger makes with the port. |
| ** If your charge port has signs of burn or corrosion, skip to the [[iPhone Slow Charge#Section_Faulty_Lightning_Port|Faulty Lightning Port section]]. | |
| - | * If there is debris in the port, [guide|164631|clear it with a toothpick|new_window=true] or other [product|IF145-523|non-conductive probes|new_window=true]. Insert the point straight to the back and gently scrape out residual debris. Be mindful of the pins and pay attention to the corners. |
| - | * If a toothpick is too large, try splitting the tip with a knife. Half a toothpick can usually reach the most recessed crevices of a charge port. |
| + | * If there is debris in the port, [guide|164631|give it a good clean]. The [guide|164767|"custom cotton swab"] method is sure to get anything tucked into corners. |
| == Buggy Software == | |
| * Be sure to source replacement [parts|iPhone|charge port assemblies|itemtype=cables] from reputable vendors or splurge for higher-quality parts. Substandard third-party replacements are rampant. | |
| - | == |
| + | == Battery Fault == |
| Unlike the Alkaline batteries you put in your TV remote, the battery in your iPhone is a little more complex. In addition to the battery cells, where all the energy-generating chemistry occurs, the battery also contains a management board. Certain types of failures within this board could cause slow charging. | |
| * If you are not convinced your battery is in good health, get a second opinion. For years, Coconut Battery has been [guide|113409|used by iFixit|new_window=true] forum regulars to get more battery info. You will need a Mac to run it, but it gives far more detail. | |
| - | == |
| + | == Damaged Tristar == |
| The [product|IF126-039|Tristar chip|new_window=true] (or Hydra in the iPhone 8 and newer) on an iPhone logic board is responsible primarily for USB-related functions. But it is also integral in the charging process. It detects items connected via the Lightning port and has electrical lines of communication to the charging chip. It is also the chip most commonly damaged on the board. | |
| ** This issue is so common that [link|https://tristartester.com/|there are tools] designed solely to test the functionality of this chip. They are a bit pricey for one-time use but handy if you are a serial fixer. | |
| - | == |
| + | == Logic Board Malfunction == |
| The logic board is the hub for most of an iPhone's functionality. Any number of the small components on the board may have failed or become damaged, and it is a safe assumption of cause if nothing else on this page has worked. | |
| * Contrary to popular belief, the board itself can be repaired. However, it requires specialized tools and micro-soldering know-how. If you’re feeling curious and want to know more about getting into micro soldering, here’s some [link|https://www.ifixit.com/News/6911/micro-soldering-mom|good reading] and some [link|https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4INaL5vWobD_CltiZXr7K46oJ33KvwBt|good watching] to get you started. | |
| [comment]conclusion[/comment] | |
| - | |
| - | == Related Pages == |
| - | |
| - | * [[iPhone Battery Draining Fast|iPhone Battery Draining Fast|new_window=true]] |
To undo the changes made by this version, click 'Revert Changes.' This will automatically restore the previous version of this guide.