Some iPhone XS and XS Max Units Won't Start Charging While Screen is Turned Off [Fix Coming in iOS 12.1]

[MacRumors]

A number of iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max owners in the Apple Support Communities and MacRumors Forums report that the devices fail to start charging when a Lightning cable is plugged in while the screen is turned off.

As with many crowdsourced issues, experiences vary. In most cases, the iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max begins charging once the user wakes the device by tapping or raising the screen. However, some users report having to both wake the iPhone and disconnect and reconnect the Lightning cable to get a charge.

In rarer cases, the iPhone stops responding entirely at some point after a Lightning cable is plugged in while the screen is turned off.

Lewis Hilsenteger demonstrated the issue on his popular YouTube channel Unbox Therapy today by plugging a Lightning cable into one iPhone X, four iPhone XS, and four iPhone XS Max units. While the iPhone X began to charge, it appears two of the iPhone XS units and three of the iPhone XS Max units did not.

Unbox Therapy's video uses the hashtag #ChargeGate​

Affected customers have documented the issue in at least a dozen discussion threads across the web, including the Apple Support Communities, MacRumors Forums, Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, and other forums and platforms. It's unclear how widespread the issue is at this time, but not everyone is affected.

Some users have speculated the issue could be related to USB Restricted Mode, introduced in iOS 11.4.1, which prevents an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from communicating with USB accessories via the Lightning connector if one hour or longer has passed since the device was last unlocked.

However, while USB Restricted Mode is enabled by default in iOS 12, Hilsenteger and others say disabling the feature does not help. Apple also has a support document that ensures "your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch charges as usual when it's connected to a USB power adapter" with the feature toggled on.

In the YouTube comments on the Unbox Therapy video, some users claim to be experiencing the same issue on older iPhones and iPads, so there is a decent chance this is a software issue that could be addressed in a future iOS 12 update. In the meantime, there does not appear to be a workaround.

If you are affected by this issue, we recommend contacting Apple Support. Apple frequently passes on device information and diagnostics to its engineering teams to address potential bugs like these, so all feedback helps.

Apple did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but we'll update this article if we receive any information.

Update: Apple has confirmed that this issue will be addressed in iOS 12.1.

Article Link: Some iPhone XS and XS Max Units Won't Start Charging While Screen is Turned Off [Fix Coming in iOS 12.1]

 

[KPandian1]

An Alpha test revelation that Apple did not identify.

 

[yes3sir]

Someone please invite this guy to the next Apple event so he can shut up.

 

[AJAAY]

I'm experiencing this issue. But not really a big deal for me as I just exclusively use wireless charging anyway.

 

[aaronhead14]

Absolutely ridiculous. Especially considering the price of these things. If Apple charges a premium, they need to deliver on the premium experience.

 

[Meicyn]

Unbox Therapy's cringy thumbnails are eye cancer. Dude's so desperate to repeat the views for bendgate.

 

[Nanotyrns]

I was able to plug in my Lightning cable and not have it indicate it was charging until I tapped the screen but was only able to get it to do that once. I don't think I noticed this before because at night I have it AirPlay music to my HomePod while I sleep so it's not 'asleep' that whole time. Hmmmm...

P.S. I love the dark, disturbing music in the background of this video. I was expecting something to explode or one of the phones to accuse someone of murder.

 

[walex19]

Will be patched very soon I'm sure. This dude won't shut up! And as usual, the fandroids will flood to the comments to bitch about a phone they don't even have.

 

[Enclavean]

Simple software bug that could be fixed in 12.0.1? Another “gate” is perhaps an overreaction here

 

[coolbreeze2]

Mine works fine. No problems charging.

 

[yes3sir]

He's trying so hard to get the same glory of 'Bendgate' back.

 

[JohnApples]

So glad I passed on this unfinished product!! The 2019 iPhone is the one to go with as all these bugs will be worked out. Good luck beta testers! /s

In all seriousness, I’m sure this is a relatively minor issue that can be easily fixed through a software update.

EDIT: Because people keep quoting me: I had no idea that so many people were unaware of what the “/s” tag meant.

This post is sarcastic and not meant to be taken literally. I was merely poking fun at those who were calling the X a beta product last year when a small bug was discovered.

 

[iamMacPerson]

'Serious problem'. It's a bug lol. Talk about clickbait. I'm not a huge Apple defender, but this guy is desperate.

 

[Kulfon]

What did you expect from Tim Cook?

 

[JFK1979]

No issues on 12.1 beta 1

 

[ersan191]

Does the type of cable matter in any of these cases? Maybe it’s those $1 lightning cables with no MFi chip?

 

[FlyGuyDEN]

I’ve experienced this with my Xs Max.

 

[Delgibbons]

An Alpha test revelation that Apple did not identify.

Understandable for a $1200 phone

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Does the type of cable matter in any of these cases? Maybe it’s those $1 lightning cables with no MFi chip?

I've had it with using the Apple cable out of the box.

 

[yes3sir]

So glad I passed on this unfinished product!! The 2019 iPhone is the one to go with as all these bugs will be worked out. Good luck beta testers! /s

In all seriousness, I’m sure this is a relatively minor issue that can be easily fixed through a software update.

Neither is this an unfinished product nor a beta. Technology has bugs, even if it costs a lot you cannot possibly predict the behavior of a gadget on such a larger scale use. Plus, millions of iPhones are sold in weeks (on launch) so it is inevitable that some issues surface however they get blown more out of propotion just because the press and YouTubers get more clicks/views with thumbnails and captions that are against Apple even if a few hundred out of millions are facing it. Plus, Apple cares and has a 14 day replacement and an exchange policy if you face any issues which is highly rare. To top it all most of these issues like the WiFi/LTE reception issue, beauty mode issue and charging problem will be solved in the next software update. Last year a lot of people called the screen unresponsiveness in iPhone X a hardware issue and it turned out Apple fixed in within the second week of announcement. Remember?

 

[nfl46]

Be lucky you don't have an Android phone. You'd have to visit XDA to find out a fix. Apple will probably patch this next week.

 

[nviz22]

Definitely seems like a software issue. UnboxTherapy is an abrasive channel though.

 

[zombierunner]

Curb your bugs.

 

[lax28]

I have been unable to duplicate the problem on my phone, my wife phone (both new Xs Max). Had almost a dozen others try, other family and work colleagues and fortunately none of them have the issue either. I hope that a software fix is out soon for anyone who does have the issue, but in my experience I wouldn't call it wide spread. Maybe just a full clean reinstall of the iOS would help. IDK, I will just be double checking to make sure my phone is in fact charging every night.

 

[Flight Plan]

So glad I passed on this unfinished product!! The 2019 iPhone is the one to go with as all these bugs will be worked out. Good luck beta testers! /s

In all seriousness, I’m sure this is a relatively minor issue that can be easily fixed through a software update.

I'm cornfused by your post.

I’ve experienced this with my Xs Max.

Under what circumstances? How often, and can you "make" it happen, or is it mostly randomish?