How To Fix iPhone 13 Not Charging Or Charging Slowly (2026)

Your iPhone 13 is plugged in, but it will not charge, or the percentage crawls upward.

In most cases the cause is the cable, the adapter, the outlet or debris in the port, and all of those are cheap to rule out.

Work through the steps below in order, which follows Apple’s own troubleshooting sequence.

Quick answer: match your symptom to a fix

What you see	Most likely cause	Go to
Nothing happens when you plug in	Cable, adapter, outlet or port debris	Steps 1 to 4
Message about liquid in the connector	Moisture detected in the Lightning port	Liquid alert section
Charging stops around 80%	Optimized Battery Charging or heat	80% section
Message that the accessory is not supported	Dirty port or uncertified accessory	Accessory alert section
Wireless or MagSafe charging is slow	Adapter too weak or wrong placement	MagSafe section
Still dead after 30 minutes and a force restart	Needs service	Service section

Swap power sourceRestartClean and reseatCharge 30 minForce restartService

Step 1: change the power source and inspect the cable

Apple says to try a computer, a power accessory or a wall outlet, and wall outlets are generally the most reliable.

Look for breaks, fraying or bent prongs on the cable and adapter.
Stop using any damaged accessory.
Check that the cable, adapter and outlet fit firmly together.
Try a different outlet if the first one is loose or dead.

Swapping in a different cable and adapter is the fastest way to find out which part has failed.

Step 2: restart the iPhone

Restart the phone normally first, then reconnect the charger.

A normal restart clears minor software glitches without touching your data.

Step 3: clean the charging port and reseat the cable

Remove debris from the charging port on the bottom of the phone, then push the cable in firmly.

Apple’s page does not prescribe a cleaning method, so if lint is packed deep in the port, have Apple or an authorized provider clean it.

Do not push objects into the port if it may be wet.

Step 4: charge for 30 minutes, then force restart

Let the phone charge for 30 minutes, then force restart it if it still will not power on or shows a battery icon.

Quickly press and release Volume Up.
Quickly press and release Volume Down.
Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Charge for another 30 minutes.

If it still will not power on or charge after this, Apple says it likely needs service.

What to do if you see a liquid-detection alert

The phone can block charging until the port is dry and may show messages such as Charging not available or Liquid detected in Lightning Connector.

Unplug the cable from the iPhone and from the adapter or accessory.
Tap the phone gently against your palm with the port facing down, then set it somewhere dry with good airflow.
Wait at least 30 minutes and try again.
If the alert returns, keep it unplugged and retry now and then, since full drying can take up to 24 hours.

Do not use external heat or compressed air, do not push cotton swabs or paper towels into the port, and do not bury the phone in rice.

You can override the alert to charge while wet, but Apple advises against it because moisture can corrode the pins.

Why does my iPhone 13 stop charging at 80%?

This is usually Optimized Battery Charging, which delays the last 20% when the phone predicts a long charging session.

Heat can also hold the charge at 80%, and it resumes once the phone and charger cool down.

On iPhone 13 you can turn the feature off at Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.

The Charge Limit slider Apple describes is for iPhone 15 and later, so it does not apply to your phone.

What if the accessory is not supported or certified?

This message usually points to a dirty or damaged port, a faulty accessory, or a charger that is not designed to charge phones.

Connect the iPhone directly to the charger, with no adapters in between.
Clean debris out of the port.
Restart the iPhone.
Try a different USB cable or charger.
Update to the latest version of iOS.

Why is MagSafe or wired charging slow?

Apple lists the standard iPhone 13 in its up-to-15W MagSafe group, and the 13 mini at 12W.

Model	Maximum MagSafe speed	Adapter Apple recommends
iPhone 13	Up to 15W	20W or higher USB-C adapter, 9V/2.56A or 9V/2.22A
iPhone 13 mini	Up to 12W	At least 9V/2.03A
Any of these, weaker adapter	Slower	At least 12W (5V/2.4A) still works

Plug the charger into power before setting the phone on it.
If you did it in the wrong order, lift the phone off, wait three seconds and set it back down.
Keep the charger on a flat surface, clear of metal objects.
A phone connected to both MagSafe and a cable charges through the cable.

Apple also notes that fast charging may not work when the phone is too cold or too hot, and that results vary by adapter and usage.

When to restore the iPhone in recovery mode

Restoring reinstalls iOS and wipes all data, so back up first if the phone still turns on.

On a Mac, open Finder, or on Windows, open the Apple Devices app.
Connect the iPhone with a USB cable.
Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Connect to computer screen appears.
Choose Restore when the options appear.

Apple suggests trying an update before a restore, and if the software download takes over 15 minutes, let it finish and re-enter recovery mode.

When to get the battery or port serviced

If nothing above works, the phone likely needs service, which you can start at Apple Service and Repair for iPhone Battery.

Option	What Apple says
AppleCare plan	Battery replaced at no extra charge if capacity falls below 80%
Standard warranty	Does not cover batteries that wear from normal use
How to start	Use Get started on the repair page, then visit a Genius Bar or authorized provider, or mail the phone in with a prepaid box
Price estimate	Apple lists no iPhone 13 price on that page, so use its estimate tool

To check wear first, open Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.

On other models, see our guides for iPhone 16 not charging and iPhone 17 wireless charging.