TnD1w

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

Close

Q: Iphone 5 lightning port charging problem - SOLUTION!

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 6 of 13 last Next
  • by Flyperson,

    Flyperson Flyperson Sep 17, 2014 5:27 AM in response to Imesha
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 17, 2014 5:27 AM in response to Imesha

    Many thanks to the OP. Nice diagnosis and simple fix, mediated by a cocktail stick.

     

    Thanks again!

  • by jadams sftexas,

    jadams sftexas jadams sftexas Sep 18, 2014 11:12 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 18, 2014 11:12 AM in response to TnD1w

    you just saved me $70 thanks for posting this!!!!

  • by gilfrombloomsburg,

    gilfrombloomsburg gilfrombloomsburg Sep 27, 2014 12:54 PM in response to scsmith631
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 27, 2014 12:54 PM in response to scsmith631

    My iPhone 5C charging port stopped working, I bought a new port and was going to take the phone apart and change the port. I knew it wasnt any of my OEM lighting cords because my iPhone 5 works on all of the cords. The case for the iPhone 5 (not the C) covers the port keeping the dust out. This was a much better answer! Thank you.

  • by steven0625,

    steven0625 steven0625 Oct 2, 2014 2:59 PM in response to wegras
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2014 2:59 PM in response to wegras

    Thanks for the tip on this one.  I'm still waiting for my iP6, and was hoping I wasn't going to have to get a temp replacement until it arrived.  Your solution worked great with the compressed air, and without any problems to the connector.

  • by Sentient Paradox,

    Sentient Paradox Sentient Paradox Oct 4, 2014 6:42 AM in response to steven0625
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2014 6:42 AM in response to steven0625

    You know, there is a much simpler solution that doesn't involve any cleansers, spray, or inserting foreign objects into your ports. This problem, contrary to popular belief isn't usually caused by dust or debris. It's caused by a very thin layer of corrosion on the contacts. Believe it or not, this nearly microscopic layer of corrosion can almost always be polished off by doing nothing more than repeatedly reseating the cable plugs in such a way that literally rubs the corrosion off. be sure to do this with all the connections, even any extensions.

     

    iI've been using this method for decades on everything from headphone jacks to PCI cards, cpu's, etc. and from my experience if this doesn't work, the problem is almost always more serious than any cleanser or toothpick can solve.

  • by jamesweber,

    jamesweber jamesweber Oct 5, 2014 11:26 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2014 11:26 AM in response to TnD1w

    Way to go!  Just used wooden toothpick. Mission accomplished

  • by steezykriz,

    steezykriz steezykriz Oct 11, 2014 11:10 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 11, 2014 11:10 AM in response to TnD1w

    it work! Thanks!

  • by GeoFan49,

    GeoFan49 GeoFan49 Oct 11, 2014 11:42 AM in response to Sentient Paradox
    Level 1 (43 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 11, 2014 11:42 AM in response to Sentient Paradox

    Sentient Paradox wrote:

     

    You know, there is a much simpler solution that doesn't involve any cleansers, spray, or inserting foreign objects into your ports. This problem, contrary to popular belief isn't usually caused by dust or debris. It's caused by a very thin layer of corrosion on the contacts. Believe it or not, this nearly microscopic layer of corrosion can almost always be polished off by doing nothing more than repeatedly reseating the cable plugs in such a way that literally rubs the corrosion off. be sure to do this with all the connections, even any extensions.

     

    iI've been using this method for decades on everything from headphone jacks to PCI cards, cpu's, etc. and from my experience if this doesn't work, the problem is almost always more serious than any cleanser or toothpick can solve.

     

    +1 for Sentient Paradox! Yes, this worked for awhile, for some cables I have... Gold does not corrode, but there could be a film (probably finger oils?) on the contacts. Inserting and removing the Lightning connector helped for awhile, but eventually they failed completely. It begins when the device will charge up to about 98% then give the “not charging” error message. Some cables may have a problem with the gold plating. On another site, there were photos of microscopic defects in the very thin gold plating on the contacts. The gold plating actually flaked off. More likely with cheap aftermarket cables, but also seen with some genuine Apple cables.


    If there are defects in the gold plating on the contacts, eventually the cable will fail. For genuine Apple cables, an Apple Store can give you a free replacement, if you ask nicely.


  • by dudeagain,

    dudeagain dudeagain Oct 12, 2014 1:36 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Safari
    Oct 12, 2014 1:36 AM in response to TnD1w

    Thank you! I was close to giving up on the phone and having to replace it.

    Went from problematic to connect/charge to not working at all.

    I thought i'd cleaned the port out but having read this thread went back in and pulled out a chunk more lint.

    Phone went from not connecting at all to connecting first time... *phew*

  • by ViperMav,

    ViperMav ViperMav Oct 12, 2014 7:20 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 12, 2014 7:20 AM in response to TnD1w

    You, sir, are a genius! 5 mins with a toothpick just saved me hours at the Apple store! MANY thanks

  • by tbailey264,

    tbailey264 tbailey264 Oct 13, 2014 9:13 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2014 9:13 PM in response to TnD1w

    Thank you so much dude. Took some effort but it worked! And all this while I was waiting for over 20 minutes to be put in a chat with customer service, after being told the wait was only 2 minutes, and realizing the only thing they'd tell me is "You'll have to buy a new phone" They never got in contact with me, but this has proved more useful than they could ever be!

  • by mrgogalev,

    mrgogalev mrgogalev Oct 20, 2014 9:59 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2014 9:59 PM in response to TnD1w

    I love you OP. Thanks.

  • by yarson786,

    yarson786 yarson786 Oct 23, 2014 8:03 PM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 23, 2014 8:03 PM in response to TnD1w

    Thanks it worked

  • by tezequiel,

    tezequiel tezequiel Oct 28, 2014 6:49 AM in response to TnD1w
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 28, 2014 6:49 AM in response to TnD1w

    Just to say it totally worked. Thanks a lot!

  • by rajace7,

    rajace7 rajace7 Nov 7, 2014 2:42 AM in response to mrodby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2014 2:42 AM in response to mrodby

    Thank you..i faced same problem since 3 months...after seeing your post i cleaned charging port dust with pin...Now it perfectly working. thanks

first Previous Page 6 of 13 last Next