TnD1w
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Q: Iphone 5 lightning port charging problem - SOLUTION!

Just wanted to share a solution to my charging problem.  Very quickly my phone developed a problem where I couldn't get it to charge.  The connector didn't feel sloppy, but if I twisted it to the side, I could get it to make a connection.  However, if I let go or bumped the phone it would immediatly disconnect.  Sometimes it would take a easy dozen tries to get the phone to establish a connection.  Often I'd come back only to find that it had lost the connection and stopped charging.  Took it to the Verizon store and it worked fine on their cords.  Could be the cord, but I have multiple cords stashed in different locations and they all went bad at the same time.  That suggests to me that it's the phone and not the cord.  I tried to fish for some lint in the port and that definetly seems to be part of the problem.  I used a bent paperclip with no ill effects, but I'd be more comfortable with a flat toothpick.  Just stay away from the sides of the port as I don't know how fragile the connection wires are.  In my case, I was going for the bottom of the port.  Reach into the port and try to scrape out any packed in lint from the back of the port.  I'm thinking the lint may prevent the plug from fully seating thus creating a poor connection.  This helped a fair amount, but the connection still needed improvement.  Last night I bought a can of electrical contact cleaner and thought I'd give it a try.  I'd admit that I was a bit nervous to spray this into my phone, but I needed to try something.  Using the included tube, I sprayed a tiny amount of cleaner into the port.  The cleaner will get outside the port, but I don't see any signs of damage to the Belkin case, phone body, screen or disposable screen protector.  While the port was still wet, I grabbed a cord and plugged it in several times hoping to agitate the solution and mechanically clean the connection.  A mini q-tip would work even better.  Instantly I found a signficantly improved connection.  Plug it in and boom, good connection.  First try every time.  No wiggling necessary.  I did this last night at home and I just plugged the phone in at work; again got a good connection.  Now, I only tried this last night, but it certainly looks like the problem is dirt, grime and maybe a touch of corrosion that's causing the problem.  Clean the port out to remove any debris and then apply a quick shot of contact cleaner and you should be good to go!

Posted on Aug 16, 2013 6:52 AM

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Q: Iphone 5 lightning port charging problem - SOLUTION!

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  • by rasmusalmlund,

    rasmusalmlund rasmusalmlund Sep 24, 2015 10:37 AM in response to TnD1w
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    Sep 24, 2015 10:37 AM in response to TnD1w

    Thank you! However, I would suggest avoiding the contact cleaner because it gets a bit sticky when it's dry which is fine for most things but in this case it would just mean that dust will stick to the inside of the port and therefore it could be even harder to clean the next time. 

  • by Trebor808,

    Trebor808 Trebor808 Oct 1, 2015 1:33 AM in response to TnD1w
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    Oct 1, 2015 1:33 AM in response to TnD1w

    Thank you so much for this. Charging problems have been haunting me for ages now. Followed your tip about fluff in the connector socket. There was an enormous amount I dug out with a wooden toothpick. Didn't use any liquid, just blew the residue of loose fluff out. All now works well.

  • by Ranfaldyco,

    Ranfaldyco Ranfaldyco Oct 7, 2015 1:15 AM in response to rasmusalmlund
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    Oct 7, 2015 1:15 AM in response to rasmusalmlund

    Every time you plug the male connecter into the lightning port any lint or dust gets compacted at the back. So you might not see anything inside the port but it's  there and you need to scrape it out with something sharp Like a needle.

  • by Trebor808,

    Trebor808 Trebor808 Oct 7, 2015 2:12 AM in response to Ranfaldyco
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    Oct 7, 2015 2:12 AM in response to Ranfaldyco

    PPlease avoid anything metal, it could cause a short circuit.

  • by saxroxmusic,

    saxroxmusic saxroxmusic Oct 11, 2015 2:24 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 11, 2015 2:24 AM in response to TnD1w

    Thanks so much for the information. This helped immensely. I thought I was going to have to get a new phone however now that I've cleaned out the port, my phone is charging again!! Now I know what to do if something like this happens again.

  • by GoEELs,

    GoEELs GoEELs Oct 18, 2015 4:14 PM in response to mdcollins1984
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 18, 2015 4:14 PM in response to mdcollins1984

    It's amazing the dust that came out of there. After 2 years mind you I am careful and fairly clean with my phone, the amount of lint that compressed in there. I used another phone's torch to shine inside and carefully loosened and cleaned it out with a paper clip and I now here the click and it locks in solid again. I thought my phone was wearing out etc. No need to rush out for a new iPhone just yet.

  • by timtruro ,

    timtruro timtruro Nov 9, 2015 12:59 PM in response to rasmusalmlund
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2015 12:59 PM in response to rasmusalmlund

    This thread saved me. I had been having problems making a connection to charge my 5s for some time.  Yesterday the bottom of the phone got wet and although I dried it out and everything seemed to be working, last night it wouldn't charge at all.  I was convinced the moisture had damaged the phone, but as a last resort after reading this thread this morning I gave the paperclip clean out suggestion a try. To my surprise a lot of lint was built up in there.  Upon cleaning it thoroughly it is charging better than ever.  I called to cancel a service appointment I had made and ordered some contact cleaner just to be on  the safe side.  I had bought the phone used through Ebay and thought the earlier sporadic charging issue was just an idiosyncrasy of the phone.  Pleased with the way it turned out, thanks to all.

  • by caitlinfromwellington,

    caitlinfromwellington caitlinfromwellington Nov 16, 2015 11:03 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 16, 2015 11:03 PM in response to TnD1w

    I've been having the sane trouble with my iPad - using a 12-pin cable.    I placed some surgical gauze over the port and pushed it in using the cable head. The gauze came out again with some grime on it and now the iPad will charge again.

  • by AnnickApple,

    AnnickApple AnnickApple Nov 21, 2015 4:09 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 21, 2015 4:09 AM in response to TnD1w

    thanks. i had exactly the same problem. Solved with a cocktail stick and a can of compressed air. large piece of lint removed!

  • by john hinshaw,

    john hinshaw john hinshaw Nov 27, 2015 12:21 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 27, 2015 12:21 PM in response to TnD1w

    Found a small piece of plastic in there that had chipped off the iPhone case! All fixed now.

  • by jay2sky,

    jay2sky jay2sky Dec 2, 2015 5:28 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2015 5:28 PM in response to TnD1w

    Thanks a lot TnD1w dude, perfect solution. i used a tooth pick and pulled out lint from the charging whole from iphone 5s and it just started to work like a charm. Saved a trip to store and also money to buy more new ports.

  • by Smarajit,

    Smarajit Smarajit Dec 4, 2015 4:57 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2015 4:57 PM in response to TnD1w

    Yesss, it works! I can't believe how much dust I removed from the port ! Mostly microscopic threads of broken fabric from the pocket. It solved the problem, thanks a lot

  • by Dooze65,

    Dooze65 Dooze65 Dec 7, 2015 6:45 AM in response to TnD1w
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    Dec 7, 2015 6:45 AM in response to TnD1w

    Thanks for saving me time and money!  Pocket lint was the problem. So simple I would never thought of it.  I used the paper clip and can of air and it was successful! Lightning plug even feels tighter, like it did before the problem.

  • by Adriano P,

    Adriano P Adriano P Dec 12, 2015 10:09 PM in response to TnD1w
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    Dec 12, 2015 10:09 PM in response to TnD1w

    Best topic i've read on these forums so far!

     

    The toothpick method works like a charm! Just can't believe how much lint was packed into that tiny port... I had the exact same issue where all my chargers seemed to have gone dead, except for 1, which needed constant positioning to get it to charge. They all work now!

     

    Thanks

  • by ashdemonz,

    ashdemonz ashdemonz Jan 9, 2016 5:03 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 9, 2016 5:03 AM in response to TnD1w

    Thanks a ton ! The solution saved me a lot of bucks from the repair. Instead of toothpick stick the sim card pin could be better as it come with the iphone only.

    I had to press my charger against the charging slot with a lot of force, or twist and turn the wire around the phone. Worried, I lost all hope as twisting and turning too stopped helping me. Reading this post saved me! A couldn't believe my eyes when debris full of dirt and dust came out of the slot on cleaning!

     

    Now my charger works smoothly without any hassle.

    Thanks :-)

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