How to Know If Dead iPhone Is Charging: a Simple Guide for iPhone Users

How to Know If Dead iPhone Is Charging: a Simple Guide for iPhone Users

If you are an iPhone user, you probably know how frustrating it can be when your phone runs out of battery and shuts down. You may wonder if your phone is charging properly when you plug it in, or if there is something wrong with your charger or your phone. How can you tell if your dead iPhone is charging or not? In this article, we will show you some easy ways to check if your iPhone is charging when it is dead or turned off. We will also give you some tips on how to troubleshoot common charging issues and extend your battery life.

Check the Battery Icon on the Screen

The simplest way to tell if your dead iPhone is charging is to look at the battery icon on the screen. When you connect your iPhone to a power source, such as a wall outlet, a computer, or a wireless charger, you should see a battery icon with a lightning bolt in the middle. This indicates that your iPhone is charging. If you don’t see the icon, it means that your iPhone is not charging or that the screen is too dark to see it.

If your iPhone is completely dead, it may take a few minutes for the battery icon to appear on the screen. This is because your iPhone needs to have a minimum amount of charge before it can turn on the screen. According to Apple, you should wait at least 10 minutes before checking the battery icon. If you still don’t see the icon after 10 minutes, you may need to try a different power source, cable, or charger.

If your iPhone is turned off, but not dead, you can also check the battery icon on the screen. To do this, you need to press the power button briefly to wake up the screen. You should see the battery icon with the lightning bolt in the upper right corner of the screen. You can also see the battery percentage if you have enabled it in the settings. To turn off the screen, press the power button again.

Observe the Charging Indicator Light

Another way to tell if your dead iPhone is charging is to observe the charging indicator light. This is a small LED light that is located near the charging port of some iPhone models, such as the iPhone 12, iPhone 11, iPhone XR, and iPhone SE (2nd generation). The charging indicator light can help you determine if your iPhone is charging when it is dead or turned off.

The charging indicator light can have different colors and patterns depending on the charging status of your iPhone. According to Apple, here is what the charging indicator light means:

  • Green: Your iPhone is fully charged or has more than 80% battery.
  • Amber: Your iPhone is charging and has less than 80% battery.
  • White: Your iPhone is charging wirelessly or with a MagSafe charger.
  • Flashing green: Your iPhone is not charging properly and you may need to reposition it on the wireless charger or the MagSafe charger.
  • Flashing amber: Your iPhone is in low power mode and is charging slowly.
  • Flashing white: Your iPhone is not compatible with the wireless charger or the MagSafe charger and you may need to use a different one.

To see the charging indicator light, you need to look at the bottom edge of your iPhone, near the charging port. The light may be dim or bright depending on the ambient light. If you don’t see the light, it may mean that your iPhone is not charging or that the light is not visible in the dark.

Troubleshoot Common Charging Issues

If you have tried the methods above and you still can’t tell if your dead iPhone is charging, you may have a problem with your charger, cable, power source, or iPhone. Here are some common charging issues and how to fix them:

  • Your charger or cable is damaged or not compatible. Make sure you are using a genuine Apple charger and cable, or a certified third-party accessory. Check for any signs of wear and tear, such as frayed wires, bent connectors, or loose connections. Replace any damaged or incompatible charger or cable with a new one.
  • Your power source is not working or not sufficient. Make sure you are using a wall outlet, a computer, or a wireless charger that is working and has enough power to charge your iPhone. Avoid using power strips, extension cords, or car chargers that may have low voltage or unstable current. Try a different power source if the one you are using is not working or not sufficient.
  • Your iPhone is too hot or too cold. Extreme temperatures can affect the battery performance and charging ability of your iPhone. According to Apple, the ideal temperature range for your iPhone is between 16°C and 22°C (62°F to 72°F). Avoid exposing your iPhone to temperatures below 0°C (32°F) or above 35°C (95°F), as this can damage the battery and prevent it from charging. Move your iPhone to a cooler or warmer place if it is too hot or too cold.
  • Your iPhone has a software or hardware issue. Sometimes, your iPhone may not charge properly due to a software glitch or a hardware malfunction. To fix a software issue, you can try restarting your iPhone, updating your iOS, resetting your settings, or restoring your iPhone. To fix a hardware issue, you may need to contact Apple support or visit an Apple store or an authorized service provider.

Extend Your Battery Life

If you want to avoid the hassle of charging your dead iPhone, you can try to extend your battery life by following some simple tips. Here are some ways to make your iPhone battery last longer:

  • Turn on low power mode. Low power mode is a feature that reduces the power consumption of your iPhone by limiting some functions, such as background app refresh, automatic downloads, mail fetch, and Siri. You can turn on low power mode by going to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode, or by asking Siri to do it for you. You can also add a low power mode toggle to your control center for easy access.
  • Adjust your screen brightness and timeout. Your screen is one of the biggest battery drainers on your iPhone. You can save some battery by lowering your screen brightness and setting a shorter timeout for your screen to turn off. You can adjust your screen brightness by swiping down from the top right corner of your screen and using the brightness slider, or by going to Settings > Display & Brightness. You can also enable auto-brightness, which adjusts your screen brightness according to the ambient light. You can set your screen timeout by going to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock, and choosing a shorter time interval.
  • Turn off unnecessary features and apps. Some features and apps on your iPhone can use a lot of battery, especially if they run in the background or use location services, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular data. You can turn off some of these features and apps by going to Settings > Battery, and checking the battery usage by app. You can also swipe up from the bottom of your screen and close any apps that you are not using. You can also turn off some features by swiping down from the top right corner of your screen and using the control center, or by going to Settings and toggling off the features that you don’t need.

Conclusion

In this article, we have shown you how to know if your dead iPhone is charging by using some simple methods, such as checking the battery icon on the screen, observing the charging indicator light, and troubleshooting common charging issues. We have also given you some tips on how to extend your battery life and avoid running out of power. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!

Maya Lin-Takahashi
Author

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.