Can You Charge an iPhone from Another iPhone Wirelessly?

No, you can’t charge an iPhone from another iPhone wirelessly. Apple’s support pages describe iPhone wireless charging only as a way to receive power, and they do not describe any setting that sends power out through the back of the phone. Putting two iPhones back to back does nothing.

What does work is a cable. Apple says an iPhone 15 or later can charge another small device through its USB-C connector at up to 4.5 watts. Connect the two phones with the right cable and the phone that needs power can get a slow top-up. It is an emergency measure, not a replacement for a charger.

The cable details in this guide come from Apple’s support article Charge and connect with the USB-C connector on your iPhone. Apple’s wording covers AirPods, Apple Watch, and “another small device that supports USB Power Delivery” (USB Power Delivery is the standard that lets USB-C devices agree on how much power to send). Apple does not name a second iPhone in that list, so details about phone-to-phone behavior that Apple does not publish are marked as such below.

What You Need

• A giving phone that is an iPhone 15 or later. These models have a USB-C connector. This includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 17, and iPhone 18 families.
• A USB-C to USB-C cable if the phone that needs power also has USB-C. The cable that came in the box with an iPhone 15 or later works.
• An Apple USB-C to Lightning cable if the phone that needs power is an iPhone 14 or earlier. Apple names this cable for charging a device that has a Lightning connector.
• Enough charge to spare. Every percent the other phone gains comes out of your battery, with some lost along the way.

An iPhone 14 or earlier cannot be the giving phone. Apple lists the feature for iPhone 15 and later only.

How to Charge an iPhone From Another iPhone With a Cable

Before you start: this drains the giving phone. If that phone is the one you rely on for calls, maps, or a ride home, decide how much battery you are willing to give up and unplug when you reach it.

1. Check both charging ports. The giving phone must have USB-C (iPhone 15 or later). Look at the port on the phone that needs power: a small oval port is USB-C, and the older, slightly narrower flat port is Lightning.
2. Pick the cable. USB-C to USB-C for two USB-C iPhones. USB-C to Lightning when the phone that needs power is an iPhone 14 or earlier.
3. Plug the USB-C end into the giving iPhone. Push it in firmly until it seats.
4. Plug the other end into the iPhone that needs power. There is no switch to turn on and no setting to change. Charging should begin within a few seconds.
5. Confirm it is charging. On the phone that needs power, look for the charging icon in the status bar at the top of the screen, or lock the phone and check the battery indicator on the Lock Screen.
6. Unplug when you have enough. Pull the cable from either phone to stop. Nothing needs to be turned off afterward.

Which phone charges which?

With a USB-C to Lightning cable the answer is simple: the Lightning iPhone can only receive, so the USB-C iPhone is the one giving power.

With two USB-C iPhones, Apple does not publish how the direction is chosen, and there is no documented control for picking it. Accessory makers and Apple-focused sites commonly report that the phone with the higher battery level charges the one with the lower level. Treat that as a likely outcome, not a guarantee. After you connect the cable, look at both screens. If the wrong phone shows the charging icon, unplug the cable so you do not drain the phone you were trying to help.

How Fast Is It and How Much Battery Does It Cost?

Apple gives one number: up to 4.5 watts. For comparison, Apple recommends a 20W or higher USB-C power adapter for faster charging of an iPhone, so phone-to-phone charging runs at well under a quarter of that rate.

Apple does not publish how many percent you will lose or gain. Third-party estimates vary widely, and all of them agree on the direction: the giving phone loses noticeably more than the receiving phone gains, because iPhone batteries are large and some energy is lost in the transfer. Plan for enough charge to make a call, send a message, or pay for something. Do not plan on a full recharge.

Small devices are a better fit. Apple’s article specifically mentions AirPods and Apple Watch, which have much smaller batteries than a phone.

Why iPhones Can’t Charge Each Other Wirelessly

Wireless charging on iPhone uses Qi, an open charging standard, and MagSafe, Apple’s magnetic version of it. Apple’s article How to wirelessly charge your iPhone says you need an iPhone 8 or later and a charger that is connected to power. Every step in it has the iPhone sitting on a charger and taking in power. There is no step for sending power to another device.

Some Android phones have a feature that turns the back of the phone into a small charging pad, often called reverse wireless charging or wireless power sharing. Apple does not document a feature like that for any iPhone. The only way Apple describes for an iPhone to charge something else is the USB-C connector.

What about the hidden setting some sites mention?

You may find guides telling you to open Settings > Battery and turn on a reverse wireless charging or power sharing switch, sometimes naming the iPhone 8 or iPhone 12. Apple’s documentation does not describe any such switch, and none of the Battery settings Apple documents (Power Mode, Battery Health, and Charging) send power to another device. If you cannot find the switch, that is expected. Updating iOS will not add it.

If the Other iPhone Doesn’t Charge

• Check the giving phone’s model. If it is an iPhone 14 or earlier, it cannot charge another device. Swap roles if the other phone is an iPhone 15 or later and has charge to spare.
• Reseat both ends of the cable. Apple’s charging advice is to check for firm connections and to remove any debris from the charging port, then plug the cable in firmly.
• Inspect the cable. Apple says not to use charging accessories that show damage. Try a different cable if you have one. Apple also notes that cables that do not comply with the USB-C standard might not work as expected.
• Use the right Lightning cable. For a Lightning iPhone, Apple specifies an Apple USB-C to Lightning cable. An old USB-A to Lightning cable will not fit the USB-C port on the giving phone.
• Look for a charge limit. On iPhone 15 and later, Settings > Battery > Charging can stop charging at a limit between 80 and 100 percent. If the receiving phone is already near its limit, it will not take more.
• Let warm phones cool down. Apple says software might limit charging above 80 percent if the battery gets too warm, and that charging resumes when the temperature drops.
• A completely dead phone may need time. Apple suggests letting a device that will not turn on charge for half an hour before trying anything else. At 4.5 watts or less, a wall charger is the better tool for a phone that is fully drained.
• Restart. If neither phone reacts to the cable, restart both and try again.

If the receiving iPhone still will not charge from a wall adapter either, work through Apple’s steps in If your iPhone or iPod touch won’t charge.

Better Options When Your Battery Is Low

Borrowing power from a second phone leaves you with two low batteries. These options usually serve you better.

• Turn on Low Power Mode. On iPhone 15 and later, open Settings, tap Battery, tap Power Mode, and turn on Low Power Mode. On iPhone 14 and earlier, it is directly under Settings > Battery. Apple says it reduces background activity and turns off again once the phone charges to 80% or higher. Our guide to Low Power Mode on iPhone explains what it changes.
• Use a portable battery pack. A power bank with a USB-C port charges an iPhone 15 or later with the cable from the box. Apple lists external battery packs among the devices the USB-C connector works with. Apple’s own iPhone Air MagSafe Battery attaches magnetically, but Apple says it was designed to pair only with iPhone Air.
• Plug into a computer. Apple says you can charge an iPhone by connecting it to the USB-C port on your computer.
• Use a wireless charger that is plugged in. Any Qi-certified pad, including the ones built into some cars, cafes, and airports, works with iPhone 8 or later. Note that Apple says an iPhone will not charge wirelessly while it is also connected by USB.
• Borrow a charger instead of a phone. A friend’s USB-C power adapter and cable will charge your phone far faster than their iPhone can.

If your battery runs low most days, the cause may be the battery itself or an app working in the background. See how to check iPhone battery health and what drains it, and consider turning off Background App Refresh for apps that do not need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an iPhone 14 or older charge another iPhone?

No. Apple lists charging other devices as a feature of iPhone 15 and later, which are the models with a USB-C connector. An iPhone 14 or earlier can still receive power from an iPhone 15 or later through an Apple USB-C to Lightning cable.

Does MagSafe let two iPhones share power?

No. MagSafe on an iPhone is documented only for receiving power from a MagSafe or Qi charger and for attaching accessories. Two iPhones held together by their MagSafe magnets do not charge each other.

Can my iPhone charge my AirPods or Apple Watch?

Yes, with a cable on iPhone 15 and later. Apple says you can connect a device that has a USB-C connector, such as an AirPods case, with a USB-C cable. For an Apple Watch, connect an Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable directly to your iPhone and set the watch on the puck. You cannot charge either one by resting it on the back of the iPhone. To see how much charge your earbuds have, read how to check AirPods battery life.

Can an iPhone charge an Android phone, or the other way around?

Apple says an iPhone 15 or later can charge another small device that supports USB Power Delivery, and it does not limit that to Apple products. Whether a particular Android phone accepts power from an iPhone, or sends power to it instead, depends on that phone and its USB settings. Check the phone maker’s support pages for its USB charging options.

Is it bad for the battery to charge one iPhone from another?

Apple documents charging other devices as a supported use of the USB-C connector and does not attach a battery warning to it. What Apple does say in general is that all rechargeable batteries age with use, and that temperature and charging patterns affect how quickly. Occasional emergency top-ups are the intended use. Using your phone as a daily power bank adds charge cycles to it for little gain.

Do I need to turn on a setting first?

No. Apple’s instructions are only to connect the two devices with the correct cable. There is no power sharing switch to find in Settings.

Next Step

If you have an iPhone 15 or later, keep the USB-C cable from the box in your bag so a wired top-up is possible when you need it. For everything else, a small power bank is the more dependable backup. You can also show the battery percentage on your iPhone so a low battery does not catch you by surprise.