Phone Charging Port Not Working? Causes and What to Try First

A phone that will not charge, charges slowly or only works when the cable is held at an angle is one of the most common problems we see. The charging port is often the culprit, but not always. Before you book a repair, these quick checks can help narrow it down.

Common causes of charging problems

• Lint and dust in the port: pocket fluff builds up and stops the cable seating fully.
• A worn or damaged cable or plug: cables fail more often than ports.
• A loose or damaged port: from drops or years of plugging in.
• Liquid damage: corrosion on the port or the board behind it.
• A worn battery: the phone charges, but the battery cannot hold it.
• Software: occasionally a glitch stops charging until the phone restarts.

Safe checks to try at home

1. Try a different cable and plug, ideally ones you know work with another phone.
2. Restart the phone.
3. Look into the port with a torch. If you can see lint, power the phone off and very gently remove it with a wooden toothpick. Never use metal objects, and never push hard.
4. Try wireless charging if your phone supports it. If wireless works but the cable does not, the port is the likely problem.
5. Check for software updates.

Do not use compressed air at close range or liquids in the port, as both can push debris further in or cause damage.

Signs you need a charging port repair

• The cable feels loose or falls out easily
• Charging only works at a certain angle
• Your phone shows a liquid or accessory warning
• Data transfer to a computer also fails
• Cleaning the port has not helped

Some phones have the charging port on a separate part, while on others it is joined to the main board, so the repair varies by model. We check the fault first and tell you the price before we start.

Charging port repairs we offer

We repair charging ports on iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel and iPad. If the battery turns out to be the real problem, we will tell you.

If your phone has been in water, read what to do if you drop your phone in water before plugging it in.