Do This When Your Device Is Not Charging
For a while, our appliances ran on rechargeable batteries, which was great, until we plugged in the device and found that it wasn’t charging. Alternatives like wireless charging can help, but a non-functioning charging port on any device is no fun. But if the charging port on your iPhone, Android, computer, Switch or whatever isn’t working, there’s a simple solution that can save you a trip to the repair shop.
Most “broken” charging ports aren’t really broken.
While an incompatible port can affect any device, it certainly affects your smartphone the most. Whether you have an iPhone or Android, your phone is likely to move in and out of your pockets or purse all day, every day. Along the way, your phone interacts with a lot of dust and debris, and some of those particles will inevitably end up in the port.
At first, this will not cause much problems. But over time, dust and debris can build up to the point where it seriously blocks the port. Telltale sign: When you plug in the charger, the “click” is not as strong. Further, it takes longer to charge than it should. As a result, it does not charge at all. If you’re using a USB-C or Lightning audio output port, you’ll notice that you can’t play anything on your headphones. (The headphone jack was also subject to the same problem at one time – RIP 3.5 mm.)
Your device will not tell you that there is something wrong with the port. Instead, it simply won’t charge. When I worked at the Apple Store, customers came up with this exact problem all the time. Heck, I even took my phone to the Apple Store once because of this. But we could all save ourselves a trip.
Fix a broken port by cleaning it
Don’t waste time and money when you don’t need to. Whether it’s your iPhone, Android, Nintendo Switch, or another device with a bad port, just try cleaning it first. You will probably be shocked to see how much junk has accumulated over the years and how much better the connection between your charger or ported headphones has become.
You must be careful when clearing a port. Whether it’s Lightning or USB-C, it features thin pins that provide a connection between the cable and your device. If you’re not careful, you can bend or damage these pins, which can break your port. Many in the tech world like to use a SIM eject tool like this one to clean ports because the thin metal on the end is great at picking up dust and debris. However, using metal can be risky. As Insider Tech has shown , it’s safest to use a toothpick. Anything made of plastic will do.
To clean the port, gently insert a tool into it and move it carefully to pick up anything inside. Be especially careful with USB-C devices, as these ports have an extra piece running down the middle. You may have to remove the tool (and any debris), clean it up, and repeat the process a few times to get it all. You can use a can of compressed air to shake stubborn dirt out of the port, but this is probably overkill; I’ve always needed a tool just to physically remove the dust.