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If you're experiencing intermittent issues while charging your iPhone or iPad, your charging port could be clogged with dirt or dust. Luckily, you can use common household items such as a toothpick, cotton swab, or compressed air. This wikiHow will show you how to clean out and safely remove dust, lint, and other particles from the charging port of your iPad or iPhone. Note: The iPhone 16 and newer have USB-C ports instead of Lightning ports, but they can be cleaned using the same steps as this article.
Cleaning Your iPhone's Charging Port
To clean the Lightning or USB-C port on your iPhone, turn off your phone, then gently spray some compressed air into the port. You can also use a toothpick to dislodge stubborn pieces of debris. If the port is sticky or very dirty, use a cotton swab with some rubbing alcohol to clean it thoroughly.
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Power down your iPhone or iPad. To do this, press and hold the side button and either the volume up or volume down button until the screen changes, and then drag the on-screen slider to the Off position. [1] X Research source
- You can also take this opportunity to clean your phone case or phone speaker .
- If you have an older iPhone or iPad model, you only need to hold down the top or side button to power the device down.
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Shine a flashlight into the charging port. You'll usually be able to spot a blockage with the right lighting.- Closely inspect the walls inside of the port. If there's a layer of gunky buildup around the edges, it could prevent the charging cable from making proper contact with the inside pins.
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Spray the port with quick bursts of compressed air. A can of compressed air is often enough to free looser particles (such as dust, pet fur, or lint) from the port. Use short, light bursts rather than one lengthy spray.
- Make sure to always hold the can of compressed air upright to avoid spraying the coolant inside the can inside your device. This coolant is very cold and could damage the charging port or cause injury.
- Use your flashlight to re-inspect the port. If you no longer see debris, give the port 2 to 3 minutes to dry before attempting to charge your iPhone or iPad.
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Scrape the walls of the port with a toothpick. If the port is clogged with dust or lint clumps, a quick, gentle swipe or two should free the trapped particles. If there's a layer of gunk or grime caked along the walls, gently scrape around the edges to dislodge it.
- Avoid using metal tools inside your charging port. If you don't have a toothpick or need something stronger, try a plastic dental flosser.
- The port is filled with many small electronic pins—too rough of a scrape could cause irreparable damage. Try wrapping the end of the toothpick with a small amount of cotton for extra padding.
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Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol for tougher jobs. If the substance in the port feels sticky and/or is hard to remove with a dry tool, dip a cotton swab in a small amount of rubbing alcohol, and then gently swab around the inner edges. [2] X Research source Circle the swab around the edges as many times as it takes to remove all residue.
- If the gunk is really deep inside the port, pull some of the cotton off of the end of a cotton swab, then wrap it around the end of a toothpick. Dip the cotton in some rubbing alcohol and use it to get further into the port.
- The cotton swab should not be dripping wet with alcohol. While rubbing alcohol is safe to use to clean electronic components, you should still avoid dripping too much liquid inside your charging port. The cotton swab should just be damp to the touch.
- Allow the port to dry for 2 to 3 minutes before turning your iPhone or iPad back on.
EXPERT TIPSmartphone Repair SpecialistShavo Hacopian is a Smartphone Repair Specialist. With over 17 years of experience repairing and customizing smartphones, Shabin has a follower base of over 119,000 YouTube subscribers on his channel PBKreviews, and has over 29 million views. He specializes in teaching people how to take smartphones apart, repair or replace parts, and make informed decisions about what the right products are for them.Wait until the charging port is dry before using your iPhone. Any time any type of liquid makes it into your charging port, try not to power on your iPhone until you know it is completely dry. If needed, you can blow into the port to speed up the process.
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Attempt to charge the iPhone or iPad. If you were experiencing a charging issue related to a dirty port, you should be in good shape now. To prevent build-up from accumulating in your charging port in the future, avoid carrying your phone or tablet loose in a pocket or purse.
- If the phone or tablet isn't charging (or the charging process stops and starts randomly), try a different charging cable and/or power source.
- If you find yourself cleaning dirt and dust out of your iPhone or iPad charging port often, you can purchase something called a dust plug . A dust plug is a small piece of rubber that fits snugly inside your charging port to block out dust from getting inside of it. Some dust plugs even have a loop so you can attach a phone charm.
- If cleaning the port and swapping cables doesn't solve the issue, contact Apple for repair. Visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/106932 to find an Apple support phone number for your region.
Community Q&A
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QuestionIf my iPhone is charging fine but my port is dirty, should I clean it, or just leave it as is?RupertTop AnswererIt's always best practice to ensure the charging port is clean and free from debris to ensure maximum charging efficiency and reduce the chances of a fire (although this is extremely low).
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QuestionHow can I clean my screen protector?RupertTop AnswererWipe off your screen protector with a dry cloth in a circular motion. Use a microfiber cloth or a soft towel to avoid scratching the screen protector. Usually, this will be enough to remove fingerprints, dust and any other debris that has built up. For extra stubborn grime, ensure your phone is powered off, and apply a small amount of plain water to your cloth and repeat the process. Never spray water directly on the screen, as this can damage electrical components inside the phone.
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QuestionIs the Lighting Port on the iPhone the same as the charging port?RupertTop AnswererYes, the 'Lightning Port' is Apple's proprietary name for their charging technology, but it's really just a technical term for the charging port in the middle of the bottom of your iPhone. On iPhone 7 and greater, the Lightning Port is the only port on the entire phone.
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About This Article
To clean an iPhone charging port, first turn off your iPhone. Then, shine a light into the charging port to look for any buildup and debris. Use a toothpick to gently scrape the walls inside of the port and dislodge anything stuck inside of it. You can also spray the port with a can of compressed air to loosen any debris. For stubborn gunk, dip a cotton swab in a little rubbing alcohol and gently wipe down the walls inside of the port. Let the port dry for 2-3 minutes before turning your iPhone back on. Once you’re done cleaning your iPhone charging port, try charging your phone to see if the problem is fixed. If it still won’t charge, try using a different charging cable.
