Before you assume your phone is toast and start shopping for a new one, take a breath. A surprising number of "dead" phones we see just need a little troubleshooting. Run through these five steps first.

1. Clean the charging port

This is the #1 culprit. Lint, pocket dust, and debris pack into the port and block the connection. Power the phone off and gently clear the port with a wooden or plastic toothpick, never metal. You'll often be shocked at how much comes out, and how quickly charging returns.

2. Swap the cable and adapter

Cables fail far more often than phones do, usually fraying near the ends. Try a different known-good cable and a different wall adapter. Test a wall outlet rather than a computer USB or car port, which deliver less power.

3. Try a different power source

Wall outlets, power strips, and car chargers can all go bad. Plug directly into a known-working wall outlet to rule the source out.

4. Force restart the phone

Sometimes the hardware is fine but the software has hung. A force restart (quick volume up, quick volume down, hold the side button on most modern iPhones) can wake a phone that appears dead.

5. Let it warm up or cool down

Phones refuse to charge in temperature extremes to protect the battery. If it's been in a hot car or freezing cold, let it return to room temperature and try again.

Still nothing? It's usually a worn battery or a failing charging port, both of which are quick, affordable repairs. We'll diagnose it and give you a clear quote before any work begins.