Can Your Phone Do This? How to Fix a USB Type C Port That Won't Charge!

Can Your Phone Do This? How to Fix a USB Type C Port That Won't Charge!
I got sidetracked today and made a video on fixing smartphone USB ports instead of computers. Technically a smartphone is a computer so I think this still counts. Anyway, here's how I fixed my Pixel XL's finicky USB Type-C port by cleaning it out with a toothpick. And you can too!
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[@elindow8318]

Worked at Verizon for 7 years and can verify that this solves charging issues most of the time. This will work on both Type C and Lightning ports.

[@alucard86ers]

came here to say this, I have found the needle nose tweezers from the ifixit kit work wonders

[@starcitizen890j5]

I used the tool that removes the sim tray on my iPhone lightning port and got a load of fluff out. Cheers 🍻

[@CommodoreFan64]

@@starcitizen890j5 I did that recently with the sim tool that came in my Walmart Hypertough electronics kit on my girlfriend's old LG phone, and it helped the Micro USB port, well that, and a new $1 cable from $1 Tree lol.

[@bobbuns6881]

⁹

[@robpilgrim4481]

@@starcitizen890j5 Protip right there! Everybody has one of those!

[@yarrk478]

I cleaned my headphone jack and a cat fell out

[@lucasrem]

Yarrk47 cheap crap? why you still cry here?????

[@tobywenman4769]

@@lucasrem what lol? Are you still circlejerking because apple removed the jack?

[@Jeremya74]

@Yarrk47 that was my cat you jerk!

[@lloydyboy101]

😂😂

[@jamiesinclair9227]

😂

[@steveb1413]

Paul, I cannot tell you how ecstatic I am from this video. I’ve had my One plus X for 5 years now and was about to call it quits until now. This worked perfectly and now I’m planing on keeping my phone for as long as it’ll go! Thank 1 million times over!

[@kevinm3751]

Something else to add to your toolkit regarding this is that its common for people when pulling out their cord they do not pull it straight out and instead pull at off angles. This causes the thin metal shroud casing that in fact is a guide for the charging adapter. This gets stretched over time and bent out of shape and causes the adapter to wiggle and can and often does allow for a lose fit that does not properly connect. You can take an exacto knife and gently pry around the outer edges of this casing to bring it back down to where it will grab the connector and ensure a clamping fit. In a lot of the repairs I have done this is the major problem that cause the issues. Last but not least tell your customers to stop ripping out the cord and pull straight out...;)

[@andymiller1308]

Hi mate. Thanks for that. I just got a load of crap out of my USB C charging port. An unbelievable amount! I used scissors to cut a thin slice of credit card type plastic & it worked great. Even adaptable by cutting different hooks & angles. Thanks very much!

[@kevinm3751]

@@andymiller1308 Awesome, glad I could help! Thats what makes our community so awesome when we can help one another!

[@sandmaster4444]

Finally a resource explaining what to do for loose ports that are nicea clean. My 3 year old phone is just really loose and the exacto knife idea just might work!

[@BankruptGreek]

this was it for me, anyone with a decade of using phones knows that you need to clean the port. mine was loose as you described, I opened my phone to expose the charging pcb and with some pliers bended the all metal usb c housing back in shape

[@dadyfox9252]

thanks for the tip man i cleaned a shit ton of junk from the port and it just keep getting of (the port) and tried bending the metal a bit and it worked hope you got blessed year

[@JoseCruz11123]

Those flossers with the picks on them (I use the Plackers) work super well for this because the pick is thin, sturdy plastic but also bendable enough to get the groove corners without even touching the center connector. Saved me from throwing away a nice braided USB-C charging cable thinking it was broken when my Pixel 3 port was just packed with lint and works like new again.

[@markmayes6817]

Thank you for the floss pick suggestion. Worked like a charm.

[@FreedomOfRedundancy]

I use the pick end of a floss pick since the plastic is typically bendy enough to get those rounded corners easy too.

[@CommodoreFan64]

Good idea, I might try that next time, I usually use the little sim card tool that came in my in my $10 Walmart Hypertouch electronics repair kit, and I feel it's almost as good as the more expensive Ifixit kits.

[@aaaarrrg3773]

Exactly what I was thinking. The floss picks have a very fine point and are more flattened.

[@zaphtdorf6139]

Me, too. First time on my iPhone Lightning port, I used a wooden toothpick and cleaned out a crap ton of lint. Since then I've used the plastic tootpick end of the floss pick. They're thinner and don't have bits of wood that could come off.

[@epicandawesome1337]

Thanks, that worked like a charm

[@MJBrabantNZL]

Good idea. It's better than using a toothpick which can break little bits of wood into the gaps. I like the idea of using a plastic sheet (like you might find on wrappers for small electronic items like usb drives and headphones), cut into a little digging tool (using scissors). Only need something like a half inch by an inch with a sharpened end to dig out the lint. Especially useful for the microusb kind.

[@carsonjamesiv2512]

You know, I NEVER would have thought of doing this!Thanks for making this video, Paul.😁👍

[@iSupermanCKi]

I sell phones for a living and I can't tell you how often customers come in with a phone they say won't charge anymore and it's just because there's gunk in the charge port. I use small rubber coated paper clips and canned air to clean them out.

[@djabthrash]

PRO TIP : if even after doing some lint cleaning your usb cable doesn't go all the way inside the usb port (it should do some sort of click when you plug it in), then it means you have a layer of heavily compressed lint somewhere in the usb port, which can be at the bottom and/or in the corners. If so, don't hesitate to scrape heavily (just make sure you use wood or plastic, not metal, and that your tool is pointy enough and thin enough so that it doesn't bend or touch the middle part of the port) until you can see some lint coming out. Took me a while with my Google Pixel 3A, i was about to give up and replace the usb port, and decided to scrape harder with my thin wooden toothpick, and finally saw some lint come out, and after 10 minutes of scraping and removing lint, i could finally plug my cable properly (i could hear the click) and charging was fine again.

[@mexcellent227]

A thousand times this. I cleaned it really well with alcohol wet wipes and a thumb tac but it was still not working. Had a replacement part ordered and everything. Reading your comment and others below (the plastic toothpicks that are used to floss was a great recommendation for a tool) i went to my bathroom and REALLY scraped down in there and bits of dirt and lint that i missed came out. Tiny ones but it 100% fixed my charging issue on my zenfone 9. For about a month there I thought my charging cable was crapping out or something..

[@djabthrash]

@@mexcellent227 Glad to hear. Had to go with the same thing a couple of months ago again (happens because my phone is in my pant pocket upside down and i work in outdoor/dirty environments so my USB port gets dirty real quick). Was a pain in the ass but now my charger is working perfectly again.

[@luislopez-salayandia5026]

Thank you! You just saved me $500+, as I was about to buy a replacement to my Google Pixel 2, which is still working flawlessly but was having issues charging. Since charging was the only issue, it is as new again.

[@davidlacziko1516]

BTW: I've done the same thing with a NEEDLE on my LG G6. Twice. And I wasn't gentle. After 3 years it still works as new.

[@douglas8568]

we have a badass over here :O

[@-aleeke-2526]

Also used a needle on my samsung s8

[@Ecliptor.]

I was gonna say, wouldn't a needle be better, even tho you have to be more careful? Since it's a lot thinner than a toothpick.

[@alittlebitintellectual7361]

Well then ill have to try that. My lg g6 just stopped charging completely after weeks where it only charged when pressure was applied on the cable in a specific way.

[@davidlacziko1516]

@@alittlebitintellectual7361 Please

[@Kor3anroach420]

It's funny that you posted this video. I actually have been having the issue of my charger not staying in. I would have to lay the phone and not move it AT ALL or the charger would fall out. So I took a really thin toothpick and got SO MUCH dust out, and it works better than brand new now! Awesome of you for posting this because I'm sure there are people that didn't know about this. I know I didn't for almost a year!

[@ShaneRob93]

I love you. My phone has barely been able to charge for months now and this was the issue, been putting off bringing it to get checked because it's a pain. I had to get creative with what I could use to fit inside the port but I eventually worked it out and it was way worse than I ever would have expected. Thank you Paul.

[@xgoomanxful]

PAUL YOU ARE THE MAN! Absolutely saved me with my favorite phone. For over a year now my s9 has not been charging and I had purchased multiple cables with no luck. So I had to switch to wireless charging over a year ago. I have built multiple computers and find myself to be tech savvy. I never thought it would of been something so simple, I have been considering pulling it apart and replace my USB C because the wireless charging time is 3x longer than wired. Again THANK YOU!

[@Oleg.G.]

Wow, thank you! My USB-C port had been giving me contact problems for a while, and even though it might seem like a no-brainer to use a toothpick to clean it out, I had just never imagined that a simple accumulation of gunk could be the real reason. When I took the toothpick to the port, I was horrified by how much crap came out of it. I also gave the same treatment to the audio jack that had been failing, too, as well as the microphone hole and the speaker grille, and now I have a phone that's as good as new!

[@Gotcha6666]

One of the most straightforward and useful videos I found. Thank you! Greatings from Prague, Czech republic.

[@SuperFluffyfluff]

I've been wirelessly charging for about six months over this... THANK YOU! the wooden toothpick worked better than I expected

[@denniselwell7099]

I can't believe this worked! I never leave a comment but this deserved one. The intro holding the cell phone by the cord got my attention. I did take the advice of another viewer and used a plastic dental pick to clean out the narrower side after realizing that the toothpick was not doing the entire job. I was considering taking the phone apart but you saved me a ton of aggravation and maybe the cost of a new cell phone had I destroyed it. Thanks a million!

[@ChrisVenard]

I've done this often over the past few years, just to keep my phone clean. I started with using toothpicks but have found that it is easier and more efficient to use sewing needles and those pipe cleaners you find in the craft section (it's as if they're made specifically for cleaning things 😂)

[@otakufangs]

damn thanks for the comment toothpicks didnt work for me because the grime was just to hard but with the sewing needle i got most out and its just so satisfying that it holds now :D

[@veesoho93]

Total savior ! Just liked and subscribed for ever ! Thank you!

[@mountainstatesmedia2.091]

Still using my Pixel 3 until I just have to upgrade, but lately I have had all kinds of issues charging it or plugging it in to my truck for Android Auto (I would drive over the smallest of bumps and it would disconnect). So then I searched on how to fix this, found your video, got the toothpicks and a knife out...and now it works! Thank you!

[@christopherrosson1549]

Huge thanks, had a slack connection when plugging into the port for some time. Cleaned out, with extreme care, took some time to totally clear, compacted dirt needed coaxing out, now clicks into the port, well and truly secure.

[@NewYorkCityKnight]

I know this is an older video that you probably do not follow the comments on anymore but I just discovered it in my time of need. Thank you SO MUCH for this video! It was such a help!

[@clauseslingjensen]

Brilliant! Worked amazingly! Thanks!

[@bwilkin11]

Paul makes those videos that you don't know you need until you watch them and then you're like "Oh crap! This is so useful!" I have the exact same issue on my Galaxy S7 and will definitely be trying this out.

[@roygallop9459]

I been putting up with my jack not letting me connecting for charging for over 3 years. Finally decided to get it fixed and checked on line to see if I could replace it myself. Cam across Paul's Hardware video and checked my port closer......sure enough full of lint. Can't believe I didn't catch this one sooner. Saved me over $100 dollars to take it into cell phone repair and have the port fixed/replaced. Thanks great video....never would have thought it was just packed full of white lint from clothing. Thank you for your video

[@danielwestfall9578]

This worked for me. I successfully cleaned out a year of pocket lint and warehouse dust. Thank you

[@XericSol]

Magnetic Charging Tips FTW! Keeps your port clean because it's for a magnetic charging tip in it at all times, keeping junk out. Great video though!

[@m3mso]

This. They also have data transfer.

[@joesterling4299]

Oh, now I get the deal with magnetic cables for protection. So, basically, a permanent port plug.

[@eflint49]

Woooowowowow! I cleaned mine out with a needle and was impressed by the amount of fuzz that came out, and the plug still didn't fit well... so I tried a second time and the same amount came out AGAIN! I've been charging my phone on the wireless charger only for almost a year now. Thank you for posting this video!!!!!

[@skipper9167]

Such a simple solution and worked like a charm on my OnePlus 5t. You've probably saved me money - I was going to buy a new phone as this one just wouldn't fast-charge any more! Thanks for making this video 😀

[@lunaaria1363]

thanks for this so much, cleaned out my port on my Galaxy Note 8 (I've had it since launch) and it now charges WAY faster and the charger doesn't just fall out randomly anymore. Absolutely night and day difference. Never would of though of doing this.

[@tompowell4265]

Simple, fast, free and effective! Thank you!

[@meat-man1983]

Awesome video Paul! I just learnt something i dont know and actually saved me from changing out the port on my S21.

[@wt9653]

Great demo. I just fixed my charging problems. Instead of wood toothpick. I had plastic flat pick/floss and can of air. For future prevention. I found silicone dust covers on Amazon.

[@jamesfromwellington]

Thanks Paul, I tried to clean my usb C socket a while back but couldn't think of a good non-conductive tool, being a tech I was not thinking of household items. The toothpick work perfectly, and enough crud came out to refill the socket to the top.

[@robofbarnes]

Thanks thanks thanks... With my Pixel 4, I found the wooden toothpick good for getting the crud moving, but a narrow interdental brush works great for lifting it all out. The brush bends so goes into all the corners. Also needed a bright light straight down into the socket. Be gentle but persistent: there will still be lots down there even when you think it's clean. Very satisfying when cable fits 100% again and stays in!

[@shannonfrye3528]

Amazing, and so damn simple!!! I didn't think anything of it when the little plastic flap broke off the case. Never considered how much link was in the port. One shaved down toothpick and a ton of pocket link later, and it's charging faster and the computer will recognize the device again! Thanks so much!! (Motox4)

[@terminaltimmy3042]

I have to admit that initially I thought my charge port was broken and needed replacement. But after watching this video I felt like crying because all that was wrong was my charge port was dirty. I can't say enough about how much I appreciate the video. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

[@jmack8300]

Thanx Paul for the tips it worked wonders 😃

[@barbc5973]

Great info! I used a larger size straight pin and got 2 good sized chunks of lint!

[@MrSeriousness17]

Wow I really hadnt thought of this, but I totally needed it! Took 15min of picking with thin plastic tools and some compressed air to clean all the crunk out, but it actually latches to the charging cable now.

[@Kitsune-Chaos]

This video actually reminded me to clean out the charge port on mine, and surprisingly enough, the "Halberd Spudger" from the iFixit kit actually fit perfectly. So if you have a kit, it works like a charm and you don't have to use any of the metallic tools.

[@sw1572]

Thank you ...this was so helpful to me👍

[@jbtubas]

Worked great! Thanks for the tip!

[@JonMichael001]

Much appreciated. I typically carry my phone in my pants (front) pocket and happened to have it there when I weedeated yesterday afternoon; lots of sand in my hair, shoes and down my neck. (I won't be carrying it while doing that again.) Later, I found that sand would not let me attach the charger cord. I took a piece of sandpaper and reduced a rounded toothpick to opposite flat sides on each end, like a screwdriver, and cleaned around the port, holding it over the white sink in the bathroom. I wanted to be sure to see what might be there. I was surprised what came out. One grain of sand dinged off the mirror. I also used an old dry toothbrush and got even more; lent, etc. Now the charging cord fits like a glove. My thanks for your video.

[@peterallen4605]

Worked like a charm. Thanks.

[@markgallagher5886]

Yep. Worked a treat. Keep up the good work.

[@jpdg86]

THANK YOU! I was resorting to slower inductive charging cause my cables won't stay in anymore, but NOW, I can can do fast charging again, and i can use android auto again!!! Thanks Paul!

[@Tomosis]

Tried on my Pixel, I never thought it had too much of dust, Fast charging is back alive now. Thank you.

[@farming4g]

Was thinking about this a few days ago... having a little trouble with the C port at times not going to turbocharge. I usually use compressed air to clean out the port every now and then, but a thorough cleaning might be needed. Thanks for the vid.

I was just recently thinking why phone charging port isn't working that well. This came really handy! Thanks!

[@marcusscullin4832]

Brilliant, thank you so much, I can't believe the amount of pocket fluff that fell out. Totally passes the charger port test now😊

[@manolomonzon3646]

Clean the lint of mine and it worked! Thanks alot! I was getting ready to order an USB replacement part.

[@abhijeetdeshmukh8818]

Yes, This definitely helped, I was being patient during cleaning, I kept on checking the internal with flashlight and agin back to scrapping, little by little until the base of the connector was shiny. Phone is as good as new now. Thanks a lot :)

[@everyonethinksyoureadeathm5773]

Oh how I wish for the days when you used to have covers for those ports.

[@CommodoreFan64]

Same except when someone came over to your house stayed a while to say watch a football game, and said can I get a charge I forgot to charge last night, and they would have some connector that only that brand, or specific model of phone used.

[@novaabbott550]

There are plugs for them

[@cjb444220]

I swear they do it on purpose sooo you'll buy a new phone

[@ShadowWizard123]

@@cjb444220 They make your pockets dirty?

[@cerisinc]

OMG. You saved me. The money shot was the magnified view of the port itself. I didn't have wood toothpicks, but I used the modern Soft-Picks with the super small rubber fingers. Something definitely came out of the port and it now works. So consider yourself high-five'd. Thanks!!!

[@graw777]

Life changing!.. i just cannot believe it. THANKs!

[@whatmeworry1784]

Thanks Mate. Helped saved some of my old phones I use for Pokemon Go!

[@SirLLoydCyrus]

Been wireless charging my LG G6 for...well, since i got it around 2 and a half years back. I had always figured that i just had a bum jack until i stumbled across this. Thank you! Such a simple trick! I'll definitely pass this on if i find anyone else experiencing this!

[@Jason-vo8td]

Just like magic, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I struggled for months playing games and having to shove my charger in very hard and fiddling with my phone's position... Now it's completely effortless!

[@th4n4705]

Small thing needles, especially pins with a nice ball to grip, work amazingly well for this. You can also use some plastic that you've trimmed down from any packaging you have lying around.

[@tinPAus]

Holy cow this was insanely helpful on a year and some change old note9 never really took the time to realize how dirty my pockets are... even though I use wireless most of the time this is very useful for those times that I either use wired for DeX or when i do have to wired charge.

[@nairbpenguinlizard]

My note 9 aux jack stopped working but a few months ago I found an old forum post about this. Used a toothpick and it pulled out a giant chunk of lint out

[@jochannon]

I never knew about this, but you helped save my phone! Thanks a lot!

[@BrandonHelmuth]

With a toothpick it felt like I was putting too much pressure against the middle connector to reach the very bottom, I used my SIM eject tool and it worked great! I got a bunch out and I still couldn't hold it upside down with a cable but then I got a flashlight and could still see a bit on the very end. Once I got that worked out, I can hold with a cable and swing it around a bit without it falling! Thanks for the video!

[@villico3]

Ive done this with a thumb tack, worked great!

[@javiermdq]

Thanks! I've just fixed both my USB port and the headphones one, amazing!

[@csevrence1]

WOW. All this time I thought the port was actually broken... there was so much crud in there and it fired up right away after clearing it out thanks man.

[@richardmhain]

Awesome! Worked on my "almost thrown out" phone. Wish I've seen this earlier, toothpick was all that's needed. Now old phone hangs on in service :) Thanks and Cheers!

[@Arsonloke]

Thanks Paul this worked great

[@MrCBRambo]

Just watched your video, and it fixed my problem. Thanks man

[@droobie21]

I did this with my Pixel3 XL the other week. I use wireless charging, but noticed when I tried to plug in the stadia controller I couldn't get a connection. A quick swab/scrape with some toothpicks I cracked in half cleared out a ton of pocket lint (and who knows what else). Although untimely, the video was still great, because I have also now changed my phone background to a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon on a forest photo background. Thanks!

[@metalheadmachines9800]

I’ve done this before. Thanks for sharing.

[@travismeeks3636]

This video is AWESOME! I got my favorite phone back!

[@web3trollin]

Also, the plastic toothpicks with floss on one end helps. The plastic pick part is thinner than a wood toothpick. Literally did this with my S8 three days ago. Night and day plug grip. Like to move this to the top and help others!

[@Evil12monks]

This video definitely helped me out. There was a bunch of lint in my current phone. When that help out my current phone I went threw and checked one of my old phone there was more junk in that one.

[@scottwatrous]

I've had to do this multiple times, especially for my father and uncle when they couldn't plug their phone into their computer to transfer files. I preferred using a sewing needle or a long thumbtack as I had to punch through a hard-packed layer of solid lint. You'd start pulling chunks out and think you got it, but no, there was a whole 'nother layer packed down solid.

[@TechyBen]

Old toothbrush for cleaning. :P

[@scottwatrous]

@@TechyBen I dont think a toothbrush would have helped with those phones. More like the dentist's scrapers 😬

[@nowGod2730]

Fantastic. Good advice

[@MrNside]

10 minute video on cleaning a USB port with a toothpick

[@kengillis9904]

Just about to go out and buy some new charge cables. Tried this fix and they all fine now on my old Samsung tablet. Thanks for the tip!

[@michaelsugmcgee4050]

I've had a piece of thread compacted in my port for over a year and this helped me to get it out. Thanx

[@MegaZgod]

Worked on my Google Pixel 5. Thanks Paul!

[@ONEsLow345]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! IT ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM.

[@garysavage912]

I just tried this on my Pixel 4a and he's right. His method worked perfectly! I was going to replace the phone. Now I don't have to. Thanks for the great advice!

[@johnmacphee4360]

Worked like a charm with a straightened staple.

[@su.nset.no.ir.e]

This video was very helpful, the amount of gunk in the port saved my phone. Thanks!

[@diezockendehand9173]

Thanks you for making this video. Now i can finally use data transfer from my computer to my phone and also use fastcharging. I used a toothpick, like in the video, but shaved on end down so it was super fine and easy to get into it. Great :)

[@bipedalbob]

I like this guy, he talks really fast and gets to the point.

[@BeeWhere]

Happy sunday morning. I thought you were talking a vacation. Love to you and your family.

[@paulshardware]

Thanks Philip! I took some extra time in the past week and didn't produce as many videos as usual, it was great to be able to relax a bit and spend time with family. I am back on the horse though!

[@lucasrem]

why is he still here?????

[@mjc0961]

I bought little silicone port covers for my phone. Before that, I was using magnetic cables, so there was always something plugged in, but those started charging slowly at random so I gave up on them.

[@ebol08]

I've been doing the same with magnetic charge since day 1 to protect de port. After a year I can't fast charge anymore :(

[@brandoneich2412]

I have also used the dental floss picks, too. (The plastic ones that are disposable) and an old electric toothbrush to help loosen up gunk around speaker ports.

[@wfpnknw32]

Amazing video! also you can flatten the toothpick with some pliers if you have trouble getting it to the end.

[@BjjBoogie]

Worked like a charm!

[@grems_za2792]

i am having this exact problem with a phone. Thanks Paul.

[@jamesmuddiman9788]

thanks man for the tip, c port was clogged up with lint ,used the tooth pick and it worked ,you saved me a loss of stress

[@hellbent3358]

Thanks for the tip going to give it a try on my micro usb

[@RobertKohut]

Nice!! Unusual topic to 'pick'.... :-)

[@PimpBeetle138]

Wow. It's unreal how much lint was in there. Thanks so much for this video.

[@detested2022]

So just found this looking up what you're doing. lol duh, but Great video. No one ever talks about the lint getting into your phone ports! Thank you! regardless and unrelated but im looking at your setup and imagining the rest and i love it. that's the shape i want.

[@orkkhrist]

oh wow! was about to buy a new phone had it picked out on the store and everything. Then I thought: just check the internet. Now my old phone charges again! Thank you. Most useful video!

[@depthvoid7217]

Oh my God this actually worked. I couldn't quite tell what was causing it, I figure the edges of the port had worn down making a loose connection and was unfixable. Nope just compact dust. It didn't even seem lik e a ton, but it was probably just super compact since I'd try shoving the port in there to get it to stay... Before it would fall off if I let it dangle, now it holds tight. Thanks, dude!