Phone won't charge: port or battery? How to tell

First, find out what is actually broken

It only charges with the cable at a certain angle or propped up

This is the charging port. The contacts are worn or the port has come loose from the board — the cable sits loosely and the connection keeps dropping. The battery is fine; a port replacement is a cheaper repair than a battery.

It won't charge at all, even with another known-good cable and adapter

Shine a light into the port first: pocket lint packs down at the bottom over time and the cable can't seat. If the port is clean and the phone still won't charge, it's the port or — on a fully drained phone — a battery that no longer takes a charge. Choose Diagnostics: we inspect the phone and send you the exact repair price within 24 hours of receiving it. You pay only after you approve.

It charges, but slowly, the percentage jumps around or stops at 80%

Check the settings first — Samsung, iPhone and Xiaomi all have an optional battery-protection setting that deliberately stops charging at 80%. If it's on, nothing is wrong. Otherwise it's usually the battery. A worn battery takes charge more slowly, reports inaccurate percentages, and the phone deliberately stops short of full for safety. If the phone doesn't last a day either, it's a battery replacement.

It gets noticeably hot while charging

Mild warmth is normal with fast charging. If the phone is hot, charging keeps pausing, or the cover is starting to lift, it's the battery — and if the cover is lifting, read Swollen battery and stop charging it for now.

It charges wirelessly but not by cable

Almost certainly the port. Wireless charging bypasses it entirely, so the battery and the board are fine.

It only charges after a restart, or says the accessory isn't supported

Try another original cable and adapter and restart the phone. If the message comes back even with a known-good cable, the port contacts are worn.

What the repair costs

The price depends on the model and on what's broken. The table shows where a port replacement starts within each brand; you see the exact price for your phone once you pick the model. A battery replacement starts from €45.

The price you see for your model is final: part and labour, no hidden fees. It covers the new port or battery, cleaning, and a 12-month warranty on the part and the work. If the inspection shows both are needed, we tell you with a price — nothing extra is repaired without your approval.

What to do right now

• Try another known-good cable and adapter, ideally original ones. Most "broken" phones just have a broken cable.
• Shine a light into the port and clean it carefully with a wooden toothpick — never metal, never a needle. Don't blast it with canned air; the moisture it leaves does harm.
• Restart the phone and try charging it switched off. If it charges off but not on, the cause is software.
• Don't let the phone drain completely. A battery left at zero for long gets damaged and may never wake up.
• If the cable wobbles in the port, don't try to "bend it into place". A loose port snaps off the board that way, and a cheap repair becomes a board repair.

Why not to wait

A worn port eventually comes off the board altogether, and then it's no longer a port replacement but a main board repair. A battery the phone can't charge is destroyed by deep discharge — and one day the phone doesn't turn on at all. Both repairs are cheap when done in time.

How the repair works

1. You pick the model and the repair and order online. You pay only €5 for the protective box, shipping is free.
2. A protective box with a label arrives. You put the phone in and hand it over at the Packeta point you chose.
3. Within 24 hours of arriving at our workshop, the port or the battery is replaced.
4. We ship the phone back. Return shipping is free.

Frequently asked questions

How can I be sure whether it's the port or the battery?

You don't have to be. If charging depends on the cable's angle, it's the port. If it charges reliably but slowly or never to full, it's the battery. If it won't charge at all, choose Diagnostics and we'll find out — you pay only after approving the price.

Can I clean the port myself?

Yes, carefully: a wooden toothpick, good light, no pressure on the edges. Metal objects and needles short or bend the port.

Will I lose my data?

No. Both the port and the battery are replaced without touching the phone's storage. We still recommend a backup before you send it.

Can I add a battery to the port replacement?

Yes. Repairs can be combined in one order — the phone ships once, in the same box, and comes back with both done.

Is it worth it on an older phone?

A port replacement is one of the cheapest repairs there is. If it costs less than half of what you'd sell the phone for today, it almost always is.