Most iPhone owners have felt the frustration of a malfunctioning charger, because regular wear and tear eventually take a toll on it, so the best action is to try various fixes and see what sticks. Sometimes there will be no fix, and you will have to buy a new charger; however, before you do that, try these methods and see if they work for you.

The cable is the most common source of iPhone charging problems, and depending on the type of charger, the cable may be more prone to breaking. For example, cords covered in non-durable plastic are more likely to break in a short period, so when buying a new charger, look for cables covered in Kevlar or braided nylon for enhanced durability.

Advice on which charging cable to buy hardly helps if you're dealing with a faulty charger right now. If your charger works in only one specific position, the cable is worn, and you should buy a replacement because using a charging cable that has a short could potentially cause phone damage, and a new charging cable is far cheaper than replacing an iPhone.

A less common charging problem is with the connector, which is the part that plugs into your iPhone. The biggest reason for this issue is dirt or grime that has gotten on the connector, preventing it from making proper contact. This may be the case if the cable look undamaged, and the outlet adapter you're using works when other cables are plugged into the USB port.

This problem is easy to solve; clean the connector using a cotton swab and water, and make ensure it is dried before inserting it into your iPhone, as plugging in a wet connector could cause damage. If cleaning doesn’t help, inspect the connector for damage, as in some cases the small metal pins on the connector get harmed, which can prevent the charger from working properly.

Finally, you may be having trouble with the cube the USB end plugs into, so clean the USB port on the adapter cube with a cotton swab or can of compressed air, and, as with the connector, be sure there's no moisture in the port before using the adapter. Also, inspect the USB port to make sure it's not damaged, and if it is you’ll need a new charger, as it's difficult to fix a broken USB.