How to Clean an iPhone Charging Port: The Complete Guide

Did you know that the average battery life of smartphones is 10-17 hours?

If your iPhone performs lower than these averages, it might be because of a problem with your iPhone charging port. In most cases, it’s dirty and needs some cleaning. But with no prior experience, you might feel scared to do it on your own.

With this guide, you’ll learn how to clean an iPhone charging port. That way, whenever your smartphone charges slowly, you can try this solution to solve the problem. Read on and find out more.

1. Use a Q-Tip Method

iPhone charging ports get dirty as time passes. That’s why you must clean it periodically to avoid building it up. Aside from Q-tips, you can also use paper towels and cotton rounds, rolling its corner to make a gentle, non-abrasive, and dry tip.

To start, you must get a paper or cotton product that you can roll or small enough to go inside the port. After that, put the tip into the port and move it around carefully. Ensure that you get all the edges before reinserting the charger cable into it.

Jiggling the paper around slowly enables you to make debris and dust cling to it. This can also dislodge the same particles, making them fall out of the port. This frees smaller pieces of connections the iPhone needs to charge faster.

Take note, never put chemicals like cleaning supplies onto the material inserted into the port. It’s because your iPhone will get internal damage. With the cheapest iPhone model priced at $399, you can’t afford to make unnecessary replacements.

2. Paper Clip Method

This method is as simple as the Q-tip way, but it carries some risk. After all, you might scrape and damage some of the port’s internal sensitive touchpoints. But as long as you aren’t too aggressive, you’ll be okay.

This method can also use small pins, paperclips, and needles. Put the thin metal inside the port and jiggle it with utmost care. This will help in loosening the dirt and other debris that might lurk within.

Do your best to find where dirt is and get rid of them with the thin metal. If you feel like you knocked it loose, shake your phone to bring it out. Once done, reinsert the cable and see whether it charges faster.

If it doesn’t work, you can learn how to fix a dysfunctional iPhone charging port with our guide here. Do this to ascertain whether it’s the right time to call in the experts.

3. Compressed Air Method

An important consideration when cleaning an iPhone port is the risk of damaging it more by putting in foreign objects. It’s because the port has fragile touchpoints used for attaching the charging cable. If you end up damaging these, the charger might stop working, regardless of how clean it becomes.

That’s why this method is the safest since it’s the only one without the potential of damaging any internal machinery. Start by looking for a can of compressed air and hold it upright.

When doing this, be careful not to put the nozzle inside or too near the port. Once it’s in an optimal position, press the nozzle and use bright, light bursts of air spray. After the last burst, wait for a few moments before putting the charger table into the port again.

An important reminder is to resist blowing into the port using your breath. Hot air coming from your mouth won’t benefit the charging port’s points of contact. It does more harm if you blow sharply into the port.

4. Get Professional Help

If you have the time, you can get out of the house and go to the nearest Apple Store. Experienced employees know the best methods of cleaning the charging port safely. They also have the right tools to accomplish the job, like minuscule vacuum cleaners.

If the Apple Store is too far for your comfort, go to a repair shop or business specializing in mobile gadgets. They also have the tools and expertise necessary to deal with the charging port’s delicate parts. Sometimes, paying a fee for this type of repair is better than replacing the phone because of untoward damage.

How Does Dirt Get In There?

Your iPhone port becomes dirty for many reasons. It often depends on your home and work environment since dust particles and lint can accumulate inside it. A day out in the dust won’t matter, but you’ll notice the impact as months and years go by.

A more obvious reason for this is when you dropped it in the dirt. If you use it even when exposed to dust and mud, your charging port becomes clogged. That’s why you must take precautions and shield your iPhone from these environments.

How Does a Dirty Charging Port Affect Performance?

A dirty port could mean accessories not recognizing your iPhone. Also, the charging cable might not fit as snugly, meaning your iPhone won’t charge as fast. The worst part is when it becomes loose and prevents data transfer from happening smoothly.

What Do You Do When Cleaning Doesn’t Work?

If you still have problems after fixing your charging port, consider replacing it instead. You can either do it by yourself or pay a professional to do it.

The former is riskier since you must look for the right connector for your hardware and a set of tools. If you look at its interior, you’re likely to find lots of screws and other parts that you must remove. That way, you can access the connector’s assembly and replace it.

Learn How to Clean an iPhone Charging Port Today

These are some methods on how to clean an iPhone charging port. Use these tips if you’re confident enough with your skills.

Do you need more cleaning tips for your iPhone? If you do, we encourage you to go through our library of guides today. You can start with this post and learn how to remove sand from your phone.