Inspect Your iPhone’s Charging Port (Lightning Port)

1. Use a flashlight to see if there is lint, gunk, or any other debris in your iPhone’s Lightning port.
2. If you find debris in your iPhone’s Lightning port, gently brush it out with a new toothbrush or anti-static brush.

Why this works:

You should frequently inspect your Lightning port, also known as the charging port, to make sure it is clean. Lint, gunk, and other debris can prevent your Lightning port from making a solid connection with your Lightning cable. A clogged Lightning port could also “trick” newer iPhones (without headphone jacks) intro thinking headphones are connected. This could lead your iPhone to get stuck in headphones mode.

Pro tip:

• Don’t have an anti-static brush? We recommend this 7-piece kit!
• Do not brush out your device with anything that will conduct an electric charge or damage the electronics in the bottom of your device.
• The Lightning cable has nine connectors. If any one of those connectors is blocked by debris, there’s a chance your iPhone won’t charge at all.
• Often times, a dirty charging port will cause your iPhone to get stuck in headphones mode. Read our guide to more about this problem and how to clean your charging port.