TnD1w
Level 1 (5 points)

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 bediddleby,

    bediddleby bediddleby May 13, 2014 5:59 AM in response to hkdevil
    Level 1 (44 points)
    iPhone
    May 13, 2014 5:59 AM in response to hkdevil

    I think that's my next step. Mine's just over a year old and it's gotten to the point where cleaning it doesn't help. I have the Applecare, so I'm sure they'll replace it (what a hassle; it's a nearly full 64gb phone), but I expect that it'll be doing the same thing a year from now due to the port's poor design. I refuse to get one of those big, godawful clunky cases just to cover the port. If I can't keep my phone thin and sleek I'll get a different phone!

  • by JanMacbean ,

    JanMacbean JanMacbean May 16, 2014 3:04 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 16, 2014 3:04 PM in response to TnD1w

    loads of help it will do the trick thx bro

  • by Dpetz72,

    Dpetz72 Dpetz72 May 21, 2014 6:02 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 21, 2014 6:02 PM in response to TnD1w

    Yes, I too grabbed a huge amount of lint from the port with a pin. I've been putting up with the phone port wiggle for sooooo long! Works amazing now!

  • by lemoncrat,

    lemoncrat lemoncrat May 28, 2014 10:15 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 28, 2014 10:15 AM in response to TnD1w

    Thanks. Toothpick worked great.

    Phone charges much better now with no hassle

  • by Lendawg213,

    Lendawg213 Lendawg213 May 31, 2014 1:12 PM in response to bediddleby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 31, 2014 1:12 PM in response to bediddleby

    Well I need help on my charger..it won't work and I tried cleaning it with a toothpick but it continues not to work...

    However when the phone dies it charges the phone up to 4% whick is very weird...please help ASAP

  • by jwn89,

    jwn89 jwn89 Jun 2, 2014 4:11 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2014 4:11 PM in response to TnD1w

    Great advice, I used a toothpick as in didn't want to go poking round with a pin/paperclip. Turned the phone just to be on the safe side.

     

    I whittled down the toothpick a little bit to get right into the corners and I was surprised how much dust and fluff came out.

     

    Charger not fits in the port snuggly and phone charges as new

  • by bediddleby,

    bediddleby bediddleby Jun 3, 2014 4:33 AM in response to jwn89
    Level 1 (44 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 3, 2014 4:33 AM in response to jwn89

    jwn89 wrote:

     

    I whittled down the toothpick a little bit to get right into the corners and I was surprised how much dust and fluff came out.

     

    Ha... At least 7 generations of iPhone and we're whittling toothpicks to maintenance it! 

  • by Adventure994,

    Adventure994 Adventure994 Jun 7, 2014 8:40 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2014 8:40 PM in response to TnD1w

    I wouldn't be spraying any liquids or aresols into an electrical port, powered on or off. The most obvious reason being that the connector does rely on a bit of friction to remain inserted. Second, it could short out the device. Trying those kind of things with especially with the phone powered on means you got lucky. Why risk it when the no risk solution is so simple?

     

    I managed to lodge some debris in the port while holding the iPhone hiking through heavy brush. The connector would not fully insert and the phone would not charge. A quick look with a bright light and a magnifying glass showed the debris tamped down at the bottom of the port. That was caused by trying to insert the lightning connector with debris in the port.

     

    All I did was gently clean the debris out with a wooden (non-conducting) toothpick. It took less than 30 seconds and no damage; no chance of shorting, and no residual sprays or any other materials left behind.

     

     

  • by Singh.Jaspal,

    Singh.Jaspal Singh.Jaspal Jun 8, 2014 6:40 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 8, 2014 6:40 PM in response to TnD1w

    I used a toothpick and a lot of lint came out. The port works fine now. thanks

  • by appleaway,

    appleaway appleaway Jun 11, 2014 7:19 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 11, 2014 7:19 AM in response to TnD1w

    I feel this planned obsolesence, the Apple dealer told me to replace phone (at my cost) due to broken contact.  I had tried several things, toothpick, etc.  Now aggressive spray helped.

     

    Wish I'd told this to two others that faced problem in store.

     

    What a coincidence, 2 months after expiration of warranty they want you spend more.

  • by KLEBESTIFT,

    KLEBESTIFT KLEBESTIFT Jun 19, 2014 9:23 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2014 9:23 PM in response to TnD1w

    I love you.

     

    (I went with a paperclip, phone turned off)

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Jun 19, 2014 9:26 PM in response to KLEBESTIFT
    Level 7 (25,813 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 19, 2014 9:26 PM in response to KLEBESTIFT

    A soft, clean toothbrush also works very well without the possibility of a piece of wood breaking off, or damage caused by a metal paperclip....

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB

  • by bediddleby,

    bediddleby bediddleby Jun 20, 2014 5:06 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (44 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 20, 2014 5:06 AM in response to TnD1w

    Mine got so bad that I took it to the Apple Store this week. They took it in the back and did their cleaning and it's ok again, for now. The service tech told me they use a dental pick, then a stiff-bristled paint brush, and finally compressed air. In that order.

  • by MetheFuhrer,

    MetheFuhrer MetheFuhrer Jun 29, 2014 4:49 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 29, 2014 4:49 PM in response to TnD1w

    Im having problems with my iPod Touch 5 g. its not charging at all.. i would have to wiggle the cable a bit and sometimes that doesnt work.. would you consider compressed air as another solution?

     

     

    thnx

  • by bisugreen,

    bisugreen bisugreen Jul 3, 2014 11:07 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 3, 2014 11:07 AM in response to TnD1w

    Thanks for the ideas.  I was about to go have my charging port replaced but this saved me a little over $50.  I tried the lint cleaning thing too and got some out but still had the problem.  Then I used one of my daughters hair pins with some rubbing alcohol on a piece of paper towel.  After one cleaning, the connection was much improved.  After a second cleaning, it works like new.  I had to cut the little round end off the hair pin so it would fit (don't tell her).

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