How To Clean USB C Phone Charging Port

martindow

I think my Pixel phone's port is blocked with fluff or other debris.  When I connect the charger it is difficult to make the connection - I have to press the cable in and move it slightly to one side to work.   Often I have to fiddle for some time before it starts charging.

I've tried a compressed air spray with very little success.  Online, people suggest using a wooden cocktail stick.  The space is very narrow and a stick would have to be carved much thinner to get in.  I'm loathe to do this as a bit of broken wood stuck down there would make a difficult situation a disaster.

Any suggestions of what to do?

Ayr_Rage

I have a bulb type of puffer brush for blowing dust off lenses.

I remove the brush, squeeze the bulb then put the nozzle over the port and suck out the debris.

martindow

Thanks Air_Rage, after your suggestion I've used a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle and the connection is now much better.  It's more logical to use suction than blowing air in as I was doing.

Is it common to get a build up in these connections or do I just carry my phone in particularly dusty pockets?

Emmia

My husband has to clean his USBC port, but I don't seem to need to - I think it's a function of putting the phone in a pocket rather than in a bag - perhaps as the pocket is more confined, lint/fluff can become more concentrated and get into the port, whereas in a bag the fluff might be less concentrated in a small area.

B0bbyEwing

Doesn't help you clean it but once clean - I use these.

Well, not exactly those. The one I got was on eBay & cheaper but you get the idea.

Newcad

You can get little cover plugs if yours is prone to getting 'fluffed up'.
There are cleaning kits too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=USB+C+covers&i=electronics&ref=nb_sb_noss

PRAISETHESUN

I've had to clean out the USB port and the bottom speakers on my pixel a fair few times during its lifetime. In my experience a bit of electronics dust spray does the job alongside a damp IPA wipe. Sadly now I'm having issues with the USB socket coming loose from the internals which is causing my charging issues, which is a bigger problem to fix. Something to keep in mind if your charging problems get progressively worse down the line

ballyblack

Supcase sells cases for the pixel which also has dust protection for  the charging port, they have a little hinged rubber door

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BLTWDRS1/?coliid=I1FEJ6G75KGHLN&colid=1TZ0IUVM9UVOQ&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Chickereeeee

I tried the cocktail stick and my USB cable was never secure again. I have since bought 5 rubber plugs off ebay - in case I lost one or two - and no fluff since.

spile

I tried everything to clean my usb c port but the cable simply wouldn’t connect and I had to rely on wireless only charging. I took it to a shop who charged me £15 to clean it and it worked. I would love to know what they used as everything I tried did not work.
i also bought a few rubber protectors off eBay to keep the fluff out.

Newcad

You want a realy simple but daft one that often works?

Put your lips round the phones USB port and SUCK.

*Don't blow you might spit in it.