How to Charge a Phone with a Broken Charger Port

Smart phones have become an essential part of our daily lives. They are much more than simple communication and entertainment tools—they also store a vast amount of critical personal and professional information. It is therefore crucial to ensure that your phone’s battery is charging properly, so that it doesn’t die when you need it most.

Unfortunately, charger port issues are common and can make it hard to charge your phone battery

That said, if you really need to charge your phone, there are some tips and tricks to deal with a broken charger port. Keep reading to learn more about the most common solutions.

1. Make sure the charger port is the source of the problem

Before blaming your charging point, remember that there can be a number of reasons why your phone isn’t charging.

Take the time to thoroughly investigate the different components that can impact charging.

How to recognize a battery problem

Damaged or outdated batteries can lead to charging problems. In this case, your best option is to replace your battery with one that has a longer lifespan and charges your phone more efficiently.

iPhone users can check their device’s battery efficiency by going to ‘Settings’ and clicking on ‘Battery.’ If you see a message about the ‘Power Save Mode’ option, you need to replace your battery. If there’s no message, your battery is good to go for now.

Android users can download the Ampere app. This free app lets you measure your phone battery’s charging current. Whether your phone battery is receiving too much or too little current will tell you a lot about its condition.

How to recognize a problem with the charging cord

The source of the problem often lies with your phone’s charging cord. Examine your cord carefully for any signs of damage or irregularities that could hinder its function. After all, these cords undergo a lot of strain that can make them less effective.

Try replacing your charging cable with another one. If your phone charges normally, then it was in fact the cord that was to blame.

How to recognize a power adaptor problem

Your phone’s power adaptor also plays a vital role in charging your battery. A faulty power adaptor will make it hard to charge your phone and may even damage your device because each phone requires a specific voltage to charge properly.

Remove the charging cord and check the connecting port for a burning smell or signs of oxidation, both of which can indicate a problem. If the connector feels loose, this may also suggest an issue with the power adaptor block.

How to resolve an OS problem

Unfortunately, Android and iPhone operating systems are not immune to software bugs. These glitches can cause your phone to not recognize that it’s charging or generate display issues that make it hard to tell if it’s charging or not.

Restarting your device is the best way to fix an OS problem.

2. Clean your phone’s charger port

Like most people, you probably put your phone in your pocket or bag without a protective case that also covers its charger port.

It’s important to be aware, however, that dirt and debris can get into the charger port and prevent the charger from connecting properly. Over time, for example, dirt can solidify into a hard mass that clings to the connectors and prevents the flow of electricity.

Hold your phone up to the light and examine the port. You can use a soft toothbrush to clean any visible dirt inside your phone’s charger port.

You can also clean your port with a cotton swab. However, you should avoid toothpicks and paper clips. Toothpicks can easily break inside the charger port and cause further damage. Paper clips are made of electricity-conducting metal which can short circuit your phone.

Regardless of what you use to clean the port, if you notice debris coming from its opening, there’s a good chance the charger port is indeed to blame. Try to charge your phone once you’ve removed all of the dirt.

3. Try wireless charging

Wireless charging technology is a great alternative to your smartphone’s charger port.

Magnetic induction charging, also known as wireless charging and Qi technology, allows you to charge your device (if it’s compatible) simply by placing it on a specially designed charger that transfers energy to your phone. You can use this method to charge many models of iPhone (iPhone 5 and later), Samsung phones and other types of mobile devices.

Wireless charging won’t fix your broken charger port, but it will at least charge your device

4. Remove your battery and rub it between your hands (emergency fix)

This is a good emergency method to use when you’re really desperate. First, carefully remove your phone battery (if possible). Next, rub it hard between your hands. You want to generate heat and a bit of static electricity.

Afterwards, put your battery back in and try charging your phone again.

5. Charge your phone battery with household batteries (emergency fix)

As with our previous suggestion, this tip only works for phones with removable batteries and is to be used only as a last resort. If you do want to try, follow these steps:

1. Remove the battery from your device to access the battery connectors.
2. Grab AAA or AA batteries.
3. Identify the positive and negative battery connectors. The positive side usually has a small protrusion, while the negative side is typically flatter.
4. Make sure that your phone battery and household batteries have compatible voltage. In general, a normal phone battery has a voltage of 3.7V DC, and an AA or AAA battery has a voltage of 1.5V. You will therefore need 3 batteries.
5. Take 2 metal wires covered in plastic insulating sleeves.
6. Tape the 3 batteries together, making sure that the + and – poles are touching
7. Clamp or tape the insulated wires to the battery terminals on the ends of your battery pack.
8. Attach the wires to your phone’s battery connectors.
9. The battery should start to charge after a moment or two. This method won’t provide a lot of juice to your phone but should give it enough charge in an emergency.

Battery still not working? It might be time to replace your phone

In short, if you’re having issues with your charger port, don’t despair! There are ways to get your phone up and running again. That said, some of these methods are not practical long-term solutions. If the problem remains, it might be time to get a new cell phone.

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You can browse our large selection of second-hand phones in our online store!