Phone won't charge? Try these 5 free fixes before paying anyone
About a third of the 'broken charging port' phones brought into our Fourways workshop don't need a repair at all. Run through these five checks before booking a job — most are fixed in under five minutes.
Key takeaways
- 01Try a different cable AND a different plug — both fail more often than the phone.
- 02Pocket lint inside the port mimics a hardware fault perfectly. Clean it first.
- 03A force restart resolves about 15% of 'won't charge' cases caused by software hangs.
- 04Battery health below 0% capacity shows as 'won't charge past 1%' — that's a battery, not a port.
Fix #1 — Swap the cable AND the plug
Cables fail more often than ports. Plugs fail more often than cables. Try a different combination before assuming the phone is broken. If you only have one cable, borrow one. This step alone fixes about 25% of the phones brought to us.
Fix #2 — Clean the charging port
Get a wooden toothpick (not metal — never metal) and gently scrape inside the port. You'll be amazed at what comes out: lint, sand, food crumbs, hair. A clean port often restores charging instantly. Shine a torch in there first to see what you're working with.
Fix #3 — Force restart
iPhone 8 and newer: press volume up, press volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Samsung Galaxy: hold volume down + power for 10+ seconds. This clears software hangs that can disable the charging circuit.
Fix #4 — Try wireless charging
If your phone supports it and wireless charging works but cable doesn't, you've confirmed it's the port (not the battery or motherboard). That tells the repair shop exactly what to quote — port replacement is usually under R1,000.
Fix #5 — Check battery health
iPhone: Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Below 75% maximum capacity, you'll see slow charging, sudden shutdowns, or "won't charge past X%". The fix is a battery, not a port. Most modern iPhone battery swaps cost R750–R1,400.
When it's definitely time to bring it in
- Liquid contact indicator is red (it's the small dot in the SIM tray).
- Phone gets warm but doesn't charge.
- Cable fits loose or wiggles — the port has lifted from the board.
- Phone won't turn on at all, even when plugged in for 30+ minutes.
FAQ
Will charging quickly damage my battery?
Modern phones manage this themselves. Use the highest-wattage charger you have — the phone throttles it as needed.
Do third-party cables damage iPhones?
MFi-certified third-party cables are safe. Truly cheap unbranded cables can damage the port over time — buy a R150 certified cable, not a R50 garage one.
Talk to a human
Tried everything and still no luck?
Bring your phone in for a free diagnostic in Fourways. We'll tell you what's wrong before you spend a cent.
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