iPhones not charging with Apple cables after iOS 26.3

"I’m facing exact same issue on 14 pro.."

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To the OP and All:

This seems to be catching on. So, do you part and report it to Apple:

Report this to Apple:

Do your Part: Provide Apple with feedback on this, letting them know about this issue.  Apple may not get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what is occurring, and what bug fixes to include in updates to come. Apple will know nothing of this, if you don't report it to them.

1. Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Comment: that this all began after installing an update. Include the URL of this thread.
4. Proceed from there as necessary

OK, the iPhone 15 was made for China, Hong Kong and Macao. The 16 Pro was made for just mainland China.

I suspect what the issue is a combination of dirty power. Brown Outs are fairly common in Belarus. Apple chargers are universal and designed for 200 to 240 volt 50/60 Hrz. However, the IC’s in both the charger and cables can be damaged by dirty power. Poor quality power strips can also be the cause.

Discontinue use of probable damaged chargers and cables. Discontinue use of any power strips and try to charge off external power such as charging bricks. If you must charge off mains charge only when chances of brown out is minimized.

I was reading the iOS 26.3.1 charging with great interest. I too have the same problem. Apple originally placed some high accuracy resistors in their chargers. These were placed across the 5v supply and placed a very accurate voltage on the data wires within the charging cable. The software within the phone checked this voltage and if it was not correct it would put up the unauthorised accessory message. So it was very much software controlled. In recent years the accepted value of the voltage was widened which allowed third party chargers to be used. I can therefore only assume that the latest iOS versions have tightened up on this voltage measurement and that’s why they won’t charge the phone.

Him4enko wrote:

Yes, I am aware that online diagnostics can only check some basic aspects of charging. I acknowledge that there may be a defect in my charging adapter or cables. However, I performed an experiment by borrowing a known working charger block and iPhone cable from a friend. After connecting them to my phone, the same problem still occurred.

That logically proves the phone has hardware problem, probably the ports. Whatever rogue device you plugged into one phone you provably plugged into the other and damaged it.

The probability that two different charging blocks and three different cables are all defective is very low. Therefore, the issue is likely either software-related or caused by a physical defect of the charging port or the power management controller in the iPhone.

More likely to be port damage, i know of no software defect that could cause some cables to work, some not to work.

If it were a physical hardware defect, this behavior would likely occur with any cable and any charger, whether original or third-party. If it were a power controller defect, the problem would be specific to my device. However, since the issue appeared after a system update, it seems more likely that this is a hardware-related failure triggered by system configuration changes or the OS update itself.

Hardware failure due to thermal stress of an update is indeed common. However affecting both phones in a household at the same time is far less likely than the rogue damaging cable theory.

I have an iPhone 12 Pro Max, which uses the lightning connector. It won’t charge while turned on when connected using a USB-A port with a 2.4A power source. It will charge when turned off or when connected to a USB-C PD port. I noticed the change immediately after updating. I verified the cable is good and the port has power, but even with a brand new cable and plug the phone will not charge when connected to a USB-A powersource.

If this were a software issue caused by iOS 26.3 I would expect these forums to be overrun with complaints. Yet you are the only one reporting this issue on multiple devices you own. The BIG thing is that you state that your iPhones charge as expected when using a third party cable.

You state that you have tried third party cables but haver you tried a different power adapter yet?

This solution worked for me: Turn off “Optimized Battery Charging”. Plug the USB-A end of your charging cord into a usb 3.0 or 3.1 port (they’re the ones that are sometimes blue or red inside) on your computer that is trusted and then the lightning connector end into your phone. Allow the PC access to phone. Phone should start charging. Disconnect the big usb end from the PC. Plug it into the old 2.4A plug. Phone should start charging.

At least that’s what worked for me. I think it’s just a matter of finding a usb plug and port that delivers more power to get iOS to recognize its plugged into something, so if you don’t have a PC or other device with a blue/red usb 3 port, maybe try plugging it into a “fast charging” usb-a plug and port?

You cannot downgrade. Don't try it despite what the internet suggests,

You already said you have used third party cables. I never plug anything into my valuable devices that is not made by Apple because, as with your phones, they can damage sockets. The one-way-round phenomenon proves that is what has happened in my opinion.

If the plug works one way round only, either the plug or the socket/charge circuitry is broken. Remote diagnostics will not show that.

You seem to have "researched" the subject and want to blame software, so go from there. If that's what you believe, carry on.

Apple tend not to do business with countries aligned to Russia.

Yes, someone with basic electrical skills can test cables and chargers. Also a good way to kill yourself if don’t know what you’re doing. So testing is not impossible. Both cables and chargers can be tested at an Apple Store.

One factor is AirPod charging would be unaffected by a change in iOS. You’re alleging iOS 26 destroyed a cable. That’s not possible. You’re alleging iOS destroyed a charger. How exactly does that happen? Bottom line is it can’t. But issues with mains and power strips are a big issue.

I would discontinue use of both charger(s) and cables and follow my advice for future charging. Good luck.

If you want to troubleshoot further. Borrow an Apple Charger and cable and go to a different house etc. Test your devices and if the devices charge, it’s most likely an issue caused by mains, poor grounding in the outlet or building where they are charged, poor quality or damaged power strip.