Ever had your iPhone refuse to charge, leaving you frantically swapping cables and power banks? Before you blame your charger (or panic-browse Black Friday deals for a new phone), there's a simple culprit to consider: your charging port. That tiny gateway to power is a magnet for everyday debris, from pocket lint to mysterious desk-drawer dust.
Even the very best iPhones can fall victim to this sneaky problem. While we're all busy learning how to clean iPhone speakers or how to clean a clear phone case, our charging ports are silently collecting enough lint to knit a tiny sweater. And when that build-up prevents your cable from making a proper connection, no amount of cable-wiggling will help.
Let's walk through how to safely restore your phone's charging capabilities without any fancy tools or risky moves.
What you'll need
- Flashlight
- Toothpicks
- Compressed air (optional)
Why is my charging port dirty?
You might question how so much gunk has actually built up in your charging port in the first place. It’s not surprising really when you consider that most of us carry our phones around in our pockets and bags.
There’s all sorts of lint and debris that can get caught up in the recesses. Every time you plug in your charger, this dust also gets pushed further into the port and so it will inevitably build up.
Step 1)
First things first, switch off your iPhone if you haven’t already done so. Next, grab a flashlight and have a look at what you’re dealing with. It’s a good idea to do this after each step as well so you can see your progress.
Step 2)
Apple doesn’t recommend using compressed air to clean iPhones. However, it's a well-known, successful method, so we’ve provided directions for those who choose to use it.
Using a can of compressed air, such as Falcon Dust, hold it upright and give the port a few short blasts to clear away any dust. Afterward, try plugging in your iPhone to see if the problem is resolved. If not, proceed to the next step.
Step 3)
You can try to dislodge any visible debris using a toothpick, but you must do so very carefully as the charging point is easily susceptible to damage. Some recommend wrapping a toothpick in cotton, but this can potentially add to the debris in the port, so we suggest sticking to the toothpick.
Insert the toothpick very gently and move it side to side without applying pressure to see if it picks up any debris. If you find debris, wipe it off with a dry cloth or use a new toothpick. Periodically try plugging in the phone to see if the issue is resolved.
If there's still no response, gently scrape the toothpick against the port's walls. Regularly check the toothpick for gunk. Apply only light pressure to avoid damaging the port. Be cautious around the sides of the port, as the anchors are very sensitive.
Step 4)
If you’ve opted to use compressed air, you can also give the port a couple of blasts between toothpick insertions. You shouldn’t insert anything other than a toothpick as metal tools will cause damage and result in the whole port needing replacing — not ideal.
Step 5)
You can continue this cycle of cleaning until the iPhone responds. If there’s no luck, you will need to take it to an Apple service center.
We also have plenty of other iPhone tutorials to help you get the most out of your Apple device, so why not start with our guides on how to save battery life on iPhone, how to identify plants on iPhone and how to change ringer volume using side buttons on iPhone.
