How to Clean the Charging Port and Speakers on a Smartphone or Tablet
Experts share the best way to remove the grime that may be disrupting the charging process or muffling the sound
With everyday use, a mobile device like a smartphone or a tablet can become a haven for dirt and debris, particularly inside the charging port and speakers. And that’s not just gross. It can also disrupt the charging process and muffle the sound, according to Apple and Samsung.
In fact, Alex Hausfeld—a former manager of a uBreakiFix tech repair store in Cincinnati who now works as a consultant for the company—says he often saw as many as five customers a day with smartphone charging issues. "The majority of the time, a cleaning does the trick," he says.
But what’s the safest way to go about cleaning the grime from those tiny receptacles? We consulted with a few experts—in-house and out—for advice. Here’s what they told us.
Where Are the Speakers on an iPhone or iPad?
It’s easy to locate the charging port on a phone or tablet, but it’s not always clear where the speakers are. On the latest iPhones, the built-in speakers and microphones are on the bottom of the device, to the left and right of the charging port. There is also a secondary speaker at the top of the phone’s screen, near where your ear is placed during a call. On the latest iPads, the speaker grilles are on the left and right sides of the device when held in landscape mode.
Where Are the Speakers on a Samsung Galaxy Phone or Tablet?
On the latest Samsung Galaxy S-series phones, the main speakers are located at the bottom of the device, to the right of the charging port. Another speaker is located at the top of the screen, near where your ear sits during a call. The microphones are at the very top of the device and at the bottom, just to the left of the charging port. On the latest Samsung Galaxy tablets, the speaker grilles are on the left and right sides of the device when held in landscape mode.
More Ways to Troubleshoot
If you’re dealing with audio issues, cases and screen covers can also cause problems, Samsung says. Carefully remove and clean those accessories using soap and water, then make sure they’re thoroughly dry before putting them back on. (Note: Some screen protectors are applied with adhesive and can’t be reinstalled once they’re removed.) That alone may resolve the problem. If not, you might need to buy a case or screen protector with a better fit to avoid blocking the speakers.
Water or moisture inside the speakers can distort the audio, too. On their websites, Apple and Samsung both provide steps you can take to rescue a waterlogged phone or tablet.
Charging issues can also have different root causes. Check for damaged charging accessories, like a bent or broken cable or USB adapter, Apple suggests. If the charging port itself is damaged, you may need to replace it. A good trick to tell whether debris is the culprit? If you plug in your device and can see part of the charger not going all the way into the device, that tells you something is blocking it. "Even the slightest bit of lint can stop it," Hausfeld says.
If all else fails, try powering the device off and on. That will reset it and perhaps restore it to working order.
@consumerreports When was the last time you gave your phone a good clean? Try these expert tips and see other advice through the link in our bio. #cleantok #techtok #techtoktips #phonecleaning
♬ original sound - Consumer Reports
