How To Fix a Phone’s Charger Port

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Have you ever inserted your phone's charger into its port and wondered why it won't charge? It can be frustrating to see your screen light up with the battery icon instead of the charging icon. Before you start throwing things out of frustration, follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue.

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Test your power source

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The name of the game when troubleshooting charging issues is isolating variables. The first thing to check is the power source you are using. The issue may not be the phone or cable, so be sure to try a different outlet as the first step. If possible, consider using a multimeter to test the voltage of the outlet to ensure it is working properly.

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Test your cable

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If you are having trouble charging your phone, it is possible that the cord itself is damaged or faulty. You can test the cable using a few simple steps:

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Do you see obvious damage to the USB cable? If you notice that the cord is bent or fraying, it is probably time to replace it. Damage is not always visible, though, so try plugging the cable into a USB port on a computer rather than using the wall adapter to determine the source of the problem.

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Try another cable if one is available and see if it provides power to your device. If it does not work with any other cables either, then it may be time to move to the next step.

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Test your adapter

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When possible, use original adapters rather than aftermarket ones since they may have compatibility issues with your device and cause damage or slower charging. If you are using an aftermarket adapter, make sure it has the correct wattage and amperage.

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A damaged adapter is dangerous. Don't risk a fire. Disconnect the adapter. Inspect the adapter for physical signs of abuse including damaged insulation, cracked housings, or broken plug prongs. Other signs of damage may be due to overheating such as scorch marks, deformed housings, or soot. Discard the adapter if it indicates damage from overheating or misuse.

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Test your phone’s charger port

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One of the final things to check is your phone's charge port. Most often, charging issues are due to dirt or grime filling the charger port. You can clean the charge port with compressed air, a toothbrush, or very thin tweezers. If you are using metal tweezers, be sure to fully power off the device and avoid applying too much pressure, which may cause further damage. If you want a cleaning solution, use highly concentrated isopropyl alcohol (90% or more).

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If your phone still won't charge after you've cleaned the port and checked all other possible issues, your charger port likely needs repair or replacement.

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