How does the lightening cable snap into place???

[Walter.Sobchak79]

Hello.
I am trying to figure out how the lightening cable snaps into place into the lightening port? This is more of a curiosity thing. I have looked online and can't find anything. The port must secure it somehow. Does anyone know how or have a link to an article?

 

[Zetaprime]

Hello.
I am trying to figure out how the lightening cable snaps into place into the lightening port? This is more of a curiosity thing. I have looked online and can't find anything. The port must secure it somehow. Does anyone know how or have a link to an article?

Good question. The port on my iPhone doesn’t hold at all anymore. Has to be jiggled and set down carefully to keep connected for power or data. The one on my old iPad mini has a good grip.

 

[Walter.Sobchak79]

Good question. The port on my iPhone doesn’t hold at all anymore. Has to be jiggled and set down carefully to keep connected for power or data. The one on my old iPad mini has a good grip.

My wife's IPad is a few years old and it is still fine. Her IPhone 6 is two years old and holding fine. I have the 8 plus and it is my first iPhone. I understand how micro USB cords work, but am baffled by the lightening port.

 

[Zetaprime]

My wife's IPad is a few years old and it is still fine. Her IPhone 6 is two years old and holding fine. I have the 8 plus and it is my first iPhone. I understand how micro USB cords work, but am baffled by the lightening port.

Mines a 7+. It used to hold well. Guess it’s time for a new one. Skipped the 8 but will go for the x if possible.

 

[greg555]

The sides of the metal tip on the plug have divots. The sides of the port have little springs that lock into the divots.

 

[palmerc2]

Good question. The port on my iPhone doesn’t hold at all anymore. Has to be jiggled and set down carefully to keep connected for power or data. The one on my old iPad mini has a good grip.

You probably have lint / debris in the lightning port. Take it to an Apple Store they'll clean it out for free. I've had to do it, works like a charm.

 

[Zetaprime]

The sides of the metal tip on the plug have divots. The sides of the port have little springs that lock into the divots.

Well must be the lack of springs on my phone’s port since the same plugs that fit snugly in the iPad doesn’t hold on my phone.

 

[NoBoMac]

If you look at the sides of the male end, you will see two little dimples. A metal spring clip holds it in.

As to Lightning cables being loose, jiggling to plug in: ran into this with my iPhone 6 earlier in the year. Thought the connector was broken, so, scheduled Genius appointment. The young whipper snapper pulled out his sim card ejector and lifted out some serious chunks of lint. Worked perfectly after that. I now once a month take some canned air to the port. Existing lint can be carefully lifted out with a sim tool, or a paperclip, just be careful digging around in the port (Genius mentioned have seen phones where port was trashed by overzealous digging and with things like knives, screwdrivers).

 

[Zetaprime]

If you look at the sides of the male end, you will see two little dimples. A metal spring clip holds it in.

As to Lightning cables being loose, jiggling to plug in: ran into this with my iPhone 6 earlier in the year. Thought the connector was broken, so, scheduled Genius appointment. The young whipper snapper pulled out his sim card ejector and lifted out some serious chunks of lint. I now once a month take some canned air to the port. Existing lint can be carefully lifted out with a sim tool, or a paperclip, just be careful digging around in the port (Genius mentioned have seen phones where port was trashed by overzealous digging and with things like knives, screwdrivers).

Thanks for the info and the pics that show in detail how the darn thing works. Gotta look inside mine and see what’s wrong. I never tried any sort of metal object to clean out the lint..but did try a toothpick but not on the sides. I always figured metal was a no-no as it might short something out.

 

[davidg4781]

Mine was getting to that point, on my 6 after 2.5 years. There’s was a lot of lint collected at the bottom of the iPhone part. This kept Lightning from going in fully and engaging the side clips.

 

[akash.nu]

Most lose connection is always down to lint being stored inside the port. I got my 6 cleaned by a genius a year ago and it has been working just fine until now.