6 ways to fix the situation if your iPhone won't charge above 80%

iPhone users often complain that their phones won't charge above 80% despite being plugged in. And this is a fairly common problem. Why is this happening and what to do?

According to the SSPDaily website, starting with iOS 13, Apple introduced a new battery optimization feature called Optimized Charging. By default, it slows down iPhone charging to reduce battery wear.

However, besides optimized charging, there may be other reasons why your iPhone stops charging after reaching a certain level. For example, too high a temperature, a faulty charger, cable, battery or software issues.

Here are 6 ways to solve these problems.

Turn off optimized charging

The iPhone uses machine learning to understand your daily charging pattern and predict if it will be plugged into the charger for a long time. In this case, it can slow down the charging and wait for the right moment to complete the operation at 80%.

This approach can extend the battery life, but the algorithm is not always correct and can keep the battery at 80% for several minutes or hours, even if fast charging is required.

Fortunately, it can be turned off.

To do this:

• Open Settings on your iPhone.
• Scroll down and tap Battery - Battery Health
• Turn off the Optimized Battery Charging switch
• Click Turn Off Until Tomorrow or Turn Off.

When you select "Turn Off Until Tomorrow", optimized charging is turned off until 6 a.m. the next day. Another option is to turn it off permanently, but it's better not to if you want the battery to last longer.

Remove the 80% charging limit on the iPhone 15

The new iPhone 15 with USB-C has the "80% Limit" feature built in. If you accidentally turn it on, here's how to disable it.

• Open Settings on your iPhone.
• Scroll to the bottom and select Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
• Tap Charging Optimization and change the setting from "80% limit" to "None".

Your iPhone should now charge up to 100% without any issues.

Cool down your iPhone

Is the indicator stuck at 80% even with optimized charging turned off? The problem may be that the iPhone gets hot during charging, so the battery protection function is activated and stops charging.

To resume charging, keep iPhone plugged in as soon as the temperature returns to normal. If it gets very hot, unplug the charger and wait for it to cool down. You can also use the following tips to reduce the temperature of your iPhone while charging:

• Charge iPhone in a ventilated or air-conditioned area.
• Make sure it's not in direct sunlight, such as on a car dashboard.
• Remove any case or other accessories attached to iPhone.
• Do not use iPhone while it's charging.

Also remember that wireless charging heats up the device more than wired charging.

Check the Lightning cable and charger

The next thing to check on your iPhone if you have a problem with charging freezes is the Lightning cable and the charger itself. Make sure you're using original accessories or Apple-certified third-party products. If you see the message "This accessory may not be supported", the charger or cable may be defective or not certified by Apple.

Try using a different charging cable and jack to find the source of the problem. If you don't have them, use your computer's USB output, but it will be slower than usual.

Clean the Lightning port

Another reason why your iPhone won't charge or says "not supported" could be that the port is dirty. If this is the case, use a soft brush to clean the Lightning port (or USB-C on newer models) of any debris or dirt, then plug in the cable and see how it works.

Check the condition of the battery

Like any other lithium-ion battery, your iPhone's battery degrades over time due to constant charging and discharging cycles.

If your iPhone is too old, a battery failure could be the reason why it's not charging at 80% or below.

You may also see other signs: bloating or bulging on the back of your phone, rapid or sudden battery drain, or unexpected disconnects.

To check your iPhone battery, do the following:

• Open Settings on your iPhone.
• Scroll to the bottom and select Battery.
• Tap Battery Health to see its current maximum capacity.

If the battery level is above 60-70%, its capacity is decreasing and you may notice a decrease in peak performance. In this case, contact an authorized service center to have the battery replaced.