IPhone Keeps Connecting and Disconnecting

If your iPhone keeps connecting and disconnecting from your computer or charger, it can be a frustrating experience. This issue can be caused by various factors, including software glitches or hardware problems. In this article, we will walk you through some troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the issue. We will also discuss two permanent solutions: resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and resetting the Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory (NVRAM) on your iPhone.

Troubleshooting Steps

Before proceeding with the permanent solutions, it’s important to go through some basic troubleshooting steps. Follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check the cable and adapter: Ensure that you are using a genuine Apple cable and adapter. Faulty or third-party accessories may cause connectivity problems.

2. Try a different USB port: Connect your iPhone to a different USB port on your computer. Sometimes, a faulty USB port can cause connection issues.

3. Restart your iPhone and computer: Restart both your iPhone and computer to refresh their systems. This can resolve temporary software glitches that may be causing the problem.

4. Update your iPhone and computer: Make sure your iPhone and computer are running the latest software updates. Outdated software can sometimes cause compatibility issues.

5. Reset network settings on your iPhone: Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Reset” > “Reset Network Settings” on your iPhone. This will reset all network-related settings, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and VPN configurations. Note that you will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks and reconfigure other network settings after performing this reset.

6. Disable USB selective suspend (Windows): If you are using a Windows computer, follow these steps to disable USB selective suspend:

   • Press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
   • Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.
   • Right-click on each USB Root Hub and select Properties.
   • Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck the option that says “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”.
   • Repeat this for all USB Root Hubs listed.

7. Try a different computer or charger: Connect your iPhone to a different computer or charger to see if the issue persists. This can help identify if the problem is specific to your current setup.

If the issue still persists after trying the troubleshooting steps mentioned above, you can proceed with the following permanent solutions.

Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

Resetting the SMC can help resolve various hardware-related issues on your iPhone, including connectivity problems. Follow these steps to reset the SMC:

1. For iPhone models with a Home button:

   • Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake (Power) button simultaneously.
   • Continue holding both buttons until the screen turns off and the Apple logo appears.
   • Release the buttons when the Apple logo appears. Your iPhone will restart.

2. For iPhone models without a Home button:

   • Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
   • Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
   • Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
   • Release the button when the Apple logo appears. Your iPhone will restart.

After performing the SMC reset, check if the connectivity issue is resolved. If not, proceed to the next permanent solution.

Resetting the Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory (NVRAM)

On macOS, NVRAM (also known as PRAM or Parameter RAM) is a small amount of memory that retains settings and data even when your Mac is powered off. Sometimes, resetting NVRAM can help resolve issues like:

• Forgotten login passwords
• Display settings not saving
• Keyboard shortcuts not working
• System preferences not applying

To reset NVRAM on your Mac, follow these steps:

Method 1: Using the Power Button

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Locate the power button (it’s usually on the top or side of the laptop).
3. Press and hold the power button for exactly 10 seconds.
4. Release the power button and turn on your Mac as usual.

Method 2: Using a Keyboard Shortcut

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Immediately press and hold the Command (⌘) key along with the Option (⌥) and P keys.
3. Hold these keys for 10 seconds.
4. Release the keys and turn on your Mac as usual.

Method 3: Using System Information

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Restart your Mac while holding the Shift key.
3. As soon as you hear the boot chime, release the Shift key.
4. Immediately open System Information (you can find it in the Utilities folder).
5. Click on the NVRAM tab.
6. Click Reset NVRAM to confirm.

After resetting NVRAM, your Mac may take a few seconds longer to boot up due to the process of reinitializing system settings. Once you’re back in macOS, you’ll need to reset your login password and any other settings that were stored in NVRAM.