james993

Q: Iphone 5 won't charge unless I wiggle the cable around to fine a spot where it works. It's not the cable/charger as it works perfectly in other iPhone 5's. I haven't even had it a year so it's still under warranty and the phone is in very good condition

Iphone 5 won't charge unless I wiggle the cable around to fine a spot where it works. It's not the cable/charger as it works perfectly in other iPhone 5's. I haven't even had it a year so it's still under warranty and the phone is in very good condition and has never been abused/dropped etc. I'm taking it into apple tomorrow for an appointment. Has anyone had this problem? if so, what happens? thanks

iPhone 5, iOS 6.1.4

Posted on Jun 12, 2013 2:27 PM

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Q: Iphone 5 won't charge unless I wiggle the cable around to fine a spot where it works. It's not the cable/charger as it works perfe ... more

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  • by Bonesaw1962,

    Bonesaw1962 Bonesaw1962 Jun 12, 2013 2:37 PM in response to james993
    Level 4 (1,260 points)
    Jun 12, 2013 2:37 PM in response to james993

    As you've mentioned it sounds like the connector.  You could try very lightly brushing it out...but you are still under warranty.  I think as long as there is no drop or water damage, or self-inflicted damage to the phone you have a very good shot at getting a warranty replacement.  Apple is great to work with at the stores.  Just be sure to tell them how you have swapped out cables and tried them with other devices. 

  • by GeekBoy.from.Illinois,

    GeekBoy.from.Illinois GeekBoy.from.Illinois Jun 12, 2013 5:26 PM in response to james993
    Level 4 (2,805 points)
    Jun 12, 2013 5:26 PM in response to james993

    You mention trying your cable with multiple phones, have you tried other cables with your iPhone?  If not, what happens when you do?  If you have, what happened when you did?

     

    Considering that your iPhone is less than 1 year old (it was first released on 21 Sept, 2012) it should still be under Warranty, so I would suggest that you consider making an appointment at your local Apple Store Genius Bar and see what they have to say.  If it is your iPhone, and it does not have accidental damage, or water damage, they will probably replace it for free.

  • by chase35,Helpful

    chase35 chase35 Feb 12, 2014 6:58 AM in response to james993
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 12, 2014 6:58 AM in response to james993

    I had the same problem and took my iPhone 5 into the Apple store.  What happened was a little embarrassing.  The genius took out a "special tool" (a paper clip) and began digging out an unimaginable amount of lint from the lightning connector port.  After that I was able to connect the cord and charge without any issues. 

     

    A few days after, I realized that my problems associated with the remote/mic not working on my ear pods might be due to the same issue.  (The volume and action buttons on the ear pods sometimes were not responsive)  I grabbed a paper clip and began digging.  Again, a large wad of lint came out of the headphone port and my ear pods have worked perfectly since. 

  • by kdyck,

    kdyck kdyck Feb 19, 2014 8:28 PM in response to chase35
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Feb 19, 2014 8:28 PM in response to chase35

    I was having the same problem until I read this!

     

    I got my own "special tool" and now my phone charges again! Awesome!

  • by MikeXiL,

    MikeXiL MikeXiL Mar 20, 2014 9:26 AM in response to james993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 20, 2014 9:26 AM in response to james993

    Ok i had to sign in just to reply! I too could not charge my iPhone 5 unless it was at an angle. Unitl i read about this "special tool', i grabbed one and a HUGE lint ball came out! and now its charging perfectly again! thank you thank you thank you!!!

  • by jbuss112,

    jbuss112 jbuss112 Mar 21, 2014 7:58 AM in response to james993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2014 7:58 AM in response to james993

    Signed in just to say thank you for this information everyone! Had the same problem so I grabbed a paper clip and WOW did I pull out a bunch of dust/lint balls. Lightning connector locks in perfectly now. Thanks again all! 

  • by ccsx24,

    ccsx24 ccsx24 Apr 22, 2014 6:06 AM in response to james993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2014 6:06 AM in response to james993

    I had the same problem for 3 frustrating weeks. I thought my iphone port was bad but I was wrong. It was all of the compacted lint that kept the chargers from having good contact with my phone. I used a paper clip to clean out my port and I was surprised at how much lint came out! Now my iphone charges like new. Hope this helps the next person.

  • by joshschuety,

    joshschuety joshschuety May 15, 2014 2:24 PM in response to james993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2014 2:24 PM in response to james993

    I, too, am strictly signing in to say that the paperclip worked amazing! I've been struggling for weeks to try and charge my phone. It never occurred to me that it could be as simple as a huge lint ball in the base of my charging port! Huge thank you to chase35!

  • by BenjaminFrancisT,

    BenjaminFrancisT BenjaminFrancisT Sep 23, 2014 9:44 AM in response to james993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2014 9:44 AM in response to james993

    ive literally had the same issue, I tried the paper clip trick a couple of times and nothing worked, so got a bit more worried.... Tried it once more, but decided to be much firmer, and out pops about 4 or 5 little lint balls, i flicked them all out for a few minutes and tried the cable again and it fixed everything!!! Paper clips are the way forward !!!

  • by captaintoader,

    captaintoader captaintoader Aug 20, 2015 3:38 PM in response to james993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 20, 2015 3:38 PM in response to james993

    Paperclip!

  • by alfromrochester,

    alfromrochester alfromrochester Oct 11, 2015 12:42 PM in response to james993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 11, 2015 12:42 PM in response to james993

    Don't miss this opportunity to dig with the paperclip.  I saw the post, and was disappointed to see only a little lint coming out with a fair amount of effort, with no change in the charging status.  I kept looking and poking, and then at one point, the whole apparent back end of the charging port began to show seismic movement with repeated paperclip bullying... then the whole back end popped out in one big chunk, leaving nothing but shiny metal underneath.  The cord slid in with a satisfying click, the likes of which... well, I'll spare you the life metaphors.  I have no doubt that, if you're completely reckless, you could hurt your phone with the paperclip - but that said, don't expect to find nothing but whimpy lint in the port... that stuff eventually takes on a plaster of paris consistency, and requires commensurate pressure and aggressiveness on your part to remove it.

  • by RiceyEFC ,

    RiceyEFC RiceyEFC Oct 20, 2015 7:41 PM in response to james993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 7:41 PM in response to james993

    I Would like to thank you all for this advice as it has successfully worked for me but I didn't use a paper clip cause I couldn't find one, so ill tell you what I did just in case some of yous haven't got a paper clip, get a some paper and rip the corner off and fold it so its small enough to fit in and have some movement and just wiggle it and then pull it out and then put the other end in what you haven't use and the paper collects the lint and then it should work, once again thanks I thought I had to send my phone off to get fix        

  • by dreamwires,

    dreamwires dreamwires Nov 6, 2015 7:28 AM in response to chase35
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 6, 2015 7:28 AM in response to chase35

    Gross.

    And yes! The special tool worked for me too. Thought maybe the phone was just getting a little old but new lease on life.

    I snapped a photo of the amount of lint that came out of mine.

    http://postimg.org/image/6jn3q81pp/

  • by anna_marie0408,

    anna_marie0408 anna_marie0408 Nov 6, 2015 8:22 AM in response to james993
    Level 1 (55 points)
    Nov 6, 2015 8:22 AM in response to james993

    It could be a couple of things. Like the person above me stated it could be lent stuck inside of the charging port, OR it could be damaged port. Since you have the insurance, take to apple and get them to look at it and see what needs to be done.

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