Guide: Cleaning mobile phone charging ports

Is your phone charging poorly – or not at all? Then the problem could be something as simple as the charging port. This is where dust and lint thrive, easily creating accumulations that make your phone act as if it were broken. Here we show you exactly how to safely clean the charging port on your phone, regardless of whether you have an iPhone or Samsung. You don't need any special tools, and you can do just fine with something you already have at home.

How to clean the charging port – step by step

This is what you need:

• A wooden or plastic toothpick
• Compressed air (canned)
• A strong light source

Note! Avoid using metal objects such as paper clips, needles or tweezers as they can cause permanent damage to the sensitive parts of the port.

1. Turn off your phone

·       For iPhone
Press and hold the side button + volume button until the power off slider appears. Slide to power off.

·       For Android
Hold down the power button and select “Power off” from the menu.

Keeping your phone completely turned off while cleaning the charging port minimizes the risk of short circuits.

2. Inspect the gate

Use a flashlight or stand in bright light and look into the port. If you see dust, lint, or other dirt, it is likely the underlying reason why your phone is not charging properly.

3. Gentle cleaning with a toothpick

Gently insert a toothpick into your phone's charging port and clean by scraping along the sides of the port. Don't scrape straight down to the bottom of the charging port. Avoid applying pressure. You want to loosen dirt, not poke around in the pins. On iPhones with Lightning connectors, the pins are closest to the screen, while on Android and iPhones (15 and later) with USB-C, they are usually further into the port.

Psst! If the toothpick goes in without resistance and comes out with dust, you have probably found the problem.

4. Blow with compressed air

Still not working? You can try cleaning the charging port on your phone with a can of compressed air. Hold the can upright and the nozzle a few centimeters from the port. Blow with short puffs. Never hold the can upside down as this can cause it to release liquid which will damage the phone.

If you don't have compressed air, you can sometimes blow gently with your mouth, but avoid moist breath. To avoid breathing moisture directly into the charging port, try one of the following tricks:

• Blow through a straw or a narrow plastic tube
• Exhale through your nose before blowing.
• Avoid blowing your nose immediately after drinking something hot or cold.
• Try exhaling into a mirror first to see how moist your breath is.

5. Test the charge

Turn on your phone and plug in the charger. If dirt was the culprit, it should now charge normally again.

Are you still having problems with charging?

If the charger is still loose, you can repeat the cleaning process, but if nothing helps, you should have a technician look at it. It could be damaged pins or internal corrosion.

Have you gotten water or moisture in the charging socket? Then you should do it in a completely different way. Here's how to get it out water in the mobile phone.

Are you thinking about changing your mobile phone?

If your phone still isn't charging properly, despite thorough cleaning and a working charger, it could be due to a deeper hardware fault. In such cases, it might be worth considering replacing the device. An alternative to buying a new one is to opt for a used mobile phone – a smart and more sustainable choice that often means lower cost but with the same functionality. At reNewed we offer thoroughly tested phones with a 12-year warranty.