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iphone 12 Pro Max 2 seconds charging delay

Been having this issue ever since the first day I received my brand new iphone 12 Pro Max. Using the USB C to Lightning cable that came with the package, and pairing it with Apple 20W USB-C power adapter, when I plug it in there's like a 2 seconds delay before my iphone recognizes it and vibrates and charging symbol appears. I'm now using iOS 14.3, same issue. It definitely takes longer than normal to recognize and start the charging. Checked charging port, it's clean no dust or debris. Tested plugging directly into the wall outlet, same issue. Used an Apple 29W charger brick, same issue. Tried shutting down and restarting my iphone 12 Pro Max, same issue. Tested my iphone 12 Pro Max with an Apple 5W charger brick and the charging starts instantly. Plugged in with my lightning cable in my car, and the charging was instantaneous. What could be causing this issue? is this a software issue?

iPhone 12 Pro Max, iOS 14

Posted on Dec 20, 2020 2:57 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 23, 2020 9:02 AM

I guess I wasn’t clear enough. The 20W USB-C adapter negotiates with the phone to determine the voltage and current that the phone needs; that takes a second or two. USB-A adapters have only one current and one voltage setting, so they don’t need to do that. But you have to allow time for the phone and the adapter to choose the right parameters if you are using a 20 Watt USB-C adapter.


Try charging the 12 using the charger that came with your iPhone 8. I’m willing to bet there will be no delay because it doesn’t need to negotiate the charging parameters.


If the 2 second delay really bothers you don’t use the 20 watt adapter, and there will be no delay.

36 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 23, 2020 9:02 AM in response to perfectworld9

I guess I wasn’t clear enough. The 20W USB-C adapter negotiates with the phone to determine the voltage and current that the phone needs; that takes a second or two. USB-A adapters have only one current and one voltage setting, so they don’t need to do that. But you have to allow time for the phone and the adapter to choose the right parameters if you are using a 20 Watt USB-C adapter.


Try charging the 12 using the charger that came with your iPhone 8. I’m willing to bet there will be no delay because it doesn’t need to negotiate the charging parameters.


If the 2 second delay really bothers you don’t use the 20 watt adapter, and there will be no delay.

Dec 23, 2020 7:50 AM in response to perfectworld9

Hello perfectworld9,


It sounds like you're experiencing some issues with charging your iPhone. We will be happy to help.


You have done some excellent troubleshooting so far. You mentioned that you had tried another lightning cable in your car and that it was instantaneous. Have you tried another USB-C cable to see if that helps?


Do the steps in this article help? If your iPhone or iPod touch won't charge


After the two seconds and the charger is recognized, do you experience any other issues charging?


Please let us know.


Regards.

Feb 18, 2021 7:00 AM in response to Brightexz

As you didn’t bother to read the thread you posted to, it is normal. The iPhone 12 is different from other models in that it has 7 different charging options*. When you connect it to a charge source it must identify the source, then tell the source what voltage and current the phone wants from the source. This “negotiation” takes a couple of seconds.


  1. USB-A, 5 watts to 12 watts (or more, but the most it can use is 12 watts)
  2. USB-C with 13 watt charger
  3. USB-C with 20 watt Apple charger (has special mode for the 12 series)
  4. USB-C with any other USB-C power source (61 watt, 90 watt, etc)
  5. Qi 7.5 watt wireless
  6. Qi 15 watt wireless
  7. Apple MagSafe


Each of these has different charging requirements.

Mar 20, 2021 4:59 AM in response to perfectworld9

Hi! So I just upgraded my phone from iPhone XR to iPhone 12 Pro and I happen to run in the same issue: experiencing 2 second delay upon plugging my charger to my device. As I scan through the comments, I was also on chat with Apple Support and sent them this thread for review.


They told me it was perfectly normal and that this is nothing to be worried about.


Attaching a screenshot of our conversation for everyone’s peace of mind.



Hope this helps!

Dec 23, 2020 9:00 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I have the same problem with my 12 pro. I use the exact same charger from my iPhone 7 that I had before upgrading to the 12 pro. The iPhone 7, when I plugged the charger in, buzzed and showed the charging symbol instantly- with the 12 pro, it has that 2-second delay. I use the same charger, so it isn't the charger, and it charges fine so there really isn't an issue for me, just kind of annoying.

Jan 2, 2021 1:08 AM in response to perfectworld9

I have the same problem. I just purchased a iPhone 12 pro max 3 days ago. It takes around 2 seconds for the charger to identify the phone. When I had my iPhone 7 Plus and recently my iPhone 11 pro max it would instantly charge it without a delay.


I am using the iPhone brand charger that I used for my 11 pro max. This is frustrating because I paid over 1,000 for this phone. I do not care how small this is. It shouldn’t be doing this.

Jan 2, 2021 7:44 AM in response to OroroStorm

Let’s try again: Your iPhone 7 only worked with one kind of charger (a USB 3.1 standard 5 volt 1 amp or more power source), so when you plugged it in it started charging. An iPhone 12 works with several different kinds of chargers. When you plug in a charger (or connect to a wireless charger) the phone must figure out what kind of charger it is, configure the phone for the specific power source, then “tell” the charger what voltage and current to supply. In addition to a standard 5 volt USB power source, it works with three types of wireless chargers (7.5 watt Qi, 15 watt Qi and Apple’s MagSafe 15 watt), with a 13 watt to 19 watt USC-C power source, a 20 watt Apple USB USB-C power source specifically designed for the iPhone 12 series, and higher power MacBook power sources. Each of these USB-C power sources can supply several different voltage/current pairs. So the phone needs to take a couple of seconds to configure the charging protocol. If the delay before it starts charging is the most important feature of the phone for you then get rid of the phone and get one that only works with one kind of power source. Which is becoming increasingly difficult, as all current generation phones from all manufacturers work the same way.

Jan 2, 2021 7:49 AM in response to OroroStorm

That is perfectly correct. Your 11 and your iPad only support two charging protocols, the 12 and iPad support 6. But as I said in another post, if the 2 second delay in starting to charge is the most important feature of the device for you then get rid of it and go back to your 11.


BTW, your 11 came with a 13 watt charger, not a 20 watt.

Jan 12, 2021 3:11 PM in response to OroroStorm

So now I know I'm not alone, a lot of people if not everybody is experiencing this charging delay problem with the iPhone 12/12 Pro Max. I really wonder if iOS 14.4 will address this issue if this is even a software issue to begin with. A $1200 phone should not be doing this as many people said. Apple needs to fix it, as it's really annoying waiting for the phone to recognize the charger.

Jan 24, 2021 8:51 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

I have the same issue on plug charge delay on my iphone 12 pro max. And, I have issued with iPhone 12 Pro Max for a few times when I charged my phone and it shown charged. After a several minute without doing anything the phone discharge with minor vibration indicator. I immediately checked my charge status, it shown discharge. I further check power brick and cable maybe it loose or something but everything fine. At first time, I have unplugged and plugged it again and it charged until full. At second time, it happened again, but I didn’t unplug. I suddenly lock screen of the phone. Immediately, it charged continuing.

iphone 12 Pro Max 2 seconds charging delay

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