To know if an iPhone is charging when it is dead (completely out of battery and off), look for the following visual indicators on the screen after plugging it into a charger:
- When you connect the charger to a dead iPhone, the screen should display a large empty battery icon in the center. This means the iPhone is charging and will power on shortly once it has enough charge.
- If you see the empty battery icon without a charging cable or lightning bolt symbol next to it, the iPhone is charging properly.
- If the icon shows an empty battery with a charging cable or plug next to it, this indicates the iPhone is not charging correctly, and you should check the cable, charger, or power source.
- Sometimes, if the battery is extremely drained, the screen may remain black for a few minutes before the charging icon appears. Be patient and allow several minutes of charging.
- Once the iPhone has enough charge to turn on, the battery icon in the top right corner of the screen will show a green battery with a lightning bolt, confirming active charging.
If no charging icon appears after several minutes, try using a different cable, charger, or power outlet to rule out hardware issues. Summary of charging indicators on a dead iPhone:
Screen Display| Meaning
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Large empty battery icon (no cable symbol)| Charging, will power on soon
Empty battery icon with cable/plug symbol| Not charging properly
No icon after several minutes| Check charger, cable, or outlet
These cues help confirm if your iPhone is charging even when it is dead and the screen is off initially
