Nine out of ten 'won't charge' phones have a dirty port or a dead cable, not a dead battery. Rule out the cheap causes before paying for repair.
- 1Inspect the USB port with a light: pocket lint compacts at the bottom. Power off and clean gently with a wooden toothpick, never metal.
- 2Swap the cable, then the wall adapter, then the outlet, one variable at a time.
- 3Charge powered off for 30 minutes (a fully drained battery can take minutes to show signs).
- 4Try a different charging source (computer USB) to isolate the adapter.
- 5Slight wiggle needed to charge = worn port; charging stops when moved = port for sure. Repair shop, cheap fix.
- 6If the phone charges but dies fast, it's battery wear, not charging, check battery health.
Tip: Water or sweat in the port blocks charging on purpose (moisture protection). Let it dry hours before insisting.