Hey everyone, I have an iPhone 16 that's updated to iOS 26.1, and I've been dealing with a frustrating issue: my AUX input isn't working. I plugged in my AUX cord before driving home from work, and suddenly my music just stopped playing. The phone isn't even recognizing the connection. I've tried two different cords in my car and both worked on my boyfriend's phone, so it's definitely not the cords or my car. I also tested those cords in his car, and they didn't work there either. I visited Apple for help, and the technician noticed that the charging port seemed loose and got a water damage warning, but I've never dropped it in water. That warning disappeared after he cleaned it, but he was able to use a keyboard with it, so he said the port isn't the issue. I pay for AppleCare and asked about a possible replacement, but they said they won't replace it unless they can confirm it's a device problem. Given that it's not working with multiple cords in different vehicles, what could be causing the issue? It's super frustrating because I mainly rely on the AUX cord to listen to music in my car. Buying a new cord doesn't really solve the problem for me. Any advice would really help!
2 Answers
When your phone's charging port gets filled with lint or debris, it can interfere with connections, including AUX. A regular brush might not do the trick. Using a wooden toothpick carefully can help get out any stubborn lint. Just be gentle to avoid damaging the port itself!
It sounds like you're using a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, right? Those can sometimes be a bit finicky, especially if not from a reliable brand. If that's the case, the adapter could be part of the problem. You might want to try using a different adapter to see if that helps. Just to eliminate any possible issues with that connection.
Exactly! It's worth testing out another adapter just to rule it out. I’ve had similar issues with cheap adapters not working properly.
I saw the guy at Apple use a brush to clean it out but I’m not sure if he did anything else afterward. I'll definitely consider using a toothpick to be more thorough.