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Device won’t charge? Common fixes for a faulty port

Problems charging? There may be a quick fix…

A common reason for iPhones and iPads to stop charging is a build-up of dirt or dust in the Lightning or USB-C port. This can stop the charging cable sitting snugly in the port and making the necessary contact to charge your device properly.

If you often find yourself wiggling the charging cable to get a good connection – or if the cable doesn’t fit snugly in the port – this is likely the case.

Safely clean the port

You can quite easily clean out the port using a toothpick or a paperclip, or even a can of compressed air if you’re feeling fancy. You’re essentially fishing for lint or debris – you might be surprised at the amount of gunk that comes out!

This is a common problem and an easy fix, so hopefully that will be all it takes to get things working properly again.

Remember to take care when fiddling with your device like this! It’s hard to cause any damage cleaning out the port, but don’t say we didn’t warn you to be careful.

Use the right cables

If this doesn’t help, it may signal a more serious problem with your hardware. Try a different cable and make sure you’re using an official Apple charger or a third-party cable with the Made For iPhone symbol on it. Cheaper knock-offs are easily broken and are sometimes not fully compatible with official Apple hardware.

Device reset

It’s a troubleshooting classic for a reason. Before giving up completely, try shutting down your device completely and booting it back up again. If a software issue was somehow blocking charging, this could sort it out.

Get help

If none of the above works and you’re still having no luck, it’s time to speak to Apple Support directly. Book your device into an Apple Store for a full check-up.