Battery empty, iPhone dead: USB-C bug annoys users
Users of the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air face an annoying problem: If the battery drops to zero percent, the devices often no longer charge via USB-C. The only solution for now is to switch to MagSafe or old USB-A cables.
Black screen when battery is empty
Users of current Apple smartphones are currently complaining about an annoying technical problem. As soon as the battery capacity drops to zero percent and the device switches off normally, some models refuse to restart. This particularly affects the new iPhone Air and the entire iPhone 17 series. If you connect the phone to a conventional power supply, absolutely nothing happens.
The charging process does not start. The display remains completely black and doesn’t even show the usual empty battery symbol. Even restarting using key combinations or connecting directly to a computer does not help. The user quickly gets the impression that the smartphone is completely defective. However, the problem does not occur with every discharging process, but occurs irregularly.
MagSafe as a saving alternative
How 9to5Mac reported, fortunately there is a reliable solution to the phenomenon. In such cases, those affected should place their phone on a wireless charger. After waiting about 15 to 30 minutes on a MagSafe accessory, the operating system will usually start up normally again. Even Apple employees in the Californian manufacturer’s stores use the procedure as a first step to resuscitate the phones.
USB-C Power Delivery as the cause
The cause apparently lies in the communication between the completely empty battery and modern chargers. Power supplies with the standard USB-C power delivery check the power requirements of the connected device before the actual charging process. If the phone no longer responds because the battery is completely empty, there will be no power at all for safety reasons.
The intelligent charging control blocks the process completely. An older cable with a classic USB-A port can also get around the problem. With these older standards, the current is transmitted unregulated, which gives the battery the initial boost it needs.
Software update is still pending
According to users, the error has been occurring more and more since certain software updates. The reports show that devices from the iPhone 17 series and the iPhone Air are primarily affected. Some models of the older iPhone 16 series and systems with iOS 26.4 or the beta of iOS 26.5 also exhibit this behavior.
