Wireless charging is not really cordless but still offers a convenient way to charge your iPhone without plugging it in. The iPhone Air has wireless charging capabilities that work with Qi-certified chargers. You can also use a MagSafe charger with iPhone Air. Some users have reported their iPhone Air won’t charge wirelessly with a Qi-certified charging accessory. In this article, I explain how you can fix the problem when wireless charging is not working on your iPhone Air. There are three common complaints with this problem:
- Sometimes, the iPhone Air doesn’t charge wirelessly at all.
- Sometimes charging occurs, but very slowly.
- Sometimes charging starts (you see the lighting icon on your iPhone), but then stops after some time, usually seconds.
Before you start troubleshooting, make sure your wireless charger is plugged in. An unplugged wireless charging pad could be the reason why your iPhone Air is not charging wirelessly. Please also make sure that your iPhone Air is not connected to a power source via a USB-C port. Your iPhone Air won’t charge wirelessly when connected to USB. If your iPhone is connected to your computer with USB, or if it’s connected to a USB power adapter, your iPhone will charge using the USB connection.
1. Try a Different Position and Remove Your Phone’s Case
The charging coils of your iPhone and your wireless pad must be perfectly aligned for wireless charging to work properly. This is particularly important if you’re pairing your iPhone Air with an older wireless charger. To position your iPhone correctly, try either of these steps:
- Keep moving your iPhone clockwise on the pad until you hear the charging sound.
- Drop your iPhone onto the wireless charger from a height of no more than 1.5 inches.
- If your iPhone Air isn’t charging wirelessly or is charging slowly and your iPhone has a thick case, metal case, or battery case, try removing the case before placing it on the charging pad.
2. Let Your iPhone Cool Down and Clean the Charging Pad
Wireless charging may also be hampered if your iPhone Air is overheated. So, let your device cool down if it feels warm to the touch before placing it on the pad once again.
Dust and dirt on the charging pad might also interrupt the connection. So, make sure the pad is clean and unobstructed. You can use a soft, lint-free, slightly moist cloth to clean the surface and brush off any visible dust. Once cleaned, try using the charger again to see if it works as intended.
3. Isolate the Culprit
You can easily identify if it’s your iPhone Air that’s at fault or the wireless charger by following these two steps:
- Use the wireless charging pad to charge another device and test whether the charger is working.
- Charge your iPhone Air with a different wireless charger. You can borrow one from a friend or family member to see if your iPhone charges properly.
4. Force Restart Your iPhone
Your iPhone Air might not charge wirelessly if iOS is buggy. Many software-related glitches and problems can be solved by performing a force restart.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo. If you see the Power Off slider, ignore it. When you see the Apple logo,
5. Update Your iPhone
Apple continuously releases software updates to resolve any iOS-related bugs and system glitches. And the iPhone Air wireless charging problems might be caused by an iOS bug.
You can update your iPhone Air to the latest iOS version by heading to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap Update Now. You may be prompted to enter your device passcode to initiate the update process.
6. Restore Your iPhone
As a last resort, you can conduct a factory reset on your iPhone Air. However, you should first back up your iPhone before you proceed with this troubleshooting step since a factory reset will wipe all the information and settings on your device.
To reset your iPhone Air to factory settings, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone and choose Erase All Content and Settings. Then, tap Continue to confirm and enter your device passcode when prompted.
Wirelessly Charge Your iPhone Air Again
It can be frustrating when you’re unable to charge your iPhone Air wirelessly. But as you can see, you can fix this problem by following the troubleshooting steps we discussed above.
However, if your iPhone Air still won’t charge wirelessly, it may be experiencing a hardware issue. A drop on a hard surface of exposure to water could have damaged some of your iPhone’s internal components, preventing it from being able to wirelessly charge. Take your iPhone into the Apple Store and see what they can do for you. It wouldn’t hurt to bring your wireless charging pad too! We recommend scheduling an appointment before you go in, just to make sure someone is available to help you as soon as you arrive.
