A dead iPhone that refuses to charge is a nightmare scenario. For owners of iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air, that nightmare became reality over the past two months.
Apple's fix is already here. The company released iOS 26.5.1 on Monday, a point update that specifically targets a wired charging bug affecting the iPhone 17 lineup and iPhone Air. According to Apple's release notes, the update "addresses an issue for a small number of users that may prevent wired charging on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models when the battery is nearly drained." The bug first drew widespread attention in April after affected users reported a terrifying scenario. An iPhone would completely run out of battery, and when plugged into a wired charger, it would show no signs of life.
No charging indicator. No powering back on. Just a dead phone connected to a dead cable. Some users discovered a workaround: connecting to a MagSafe charger appeared to revive the phone after 10 to 15 minutes, at which point wired charging would work again. But a software fix is obviously preferable to hunting for a wireless charger in a panic.
iOS 26.5.1 is available now through Settings > General > Software Update. The download is sizeable.
Forbes contributor David Phelan reported the update clocked in at 17.44GB on his iPhone 17 Pro Max, though the size varies depending on how long since your last update. The timing is notable. Apple kicks off WWDC 2026 on June 8, where iOS 27 will take center stage.
This makes iOS 26.5.1 one of the final maintenance releases before Apple's attention shifts entirely to its next-generation operating system, which is expected to arrive in a public beta by July and a wide release in September.
Apple also shipped macOS 26.5.1 alongside the iOS update, fixing an issue where M5 Macs could unexpectedly shut down under certain workloads.
