Xperia Z - micro USB port weak point

[Becky]

The micro USB port on my z has stopped receiving charge and won't even allow the charger to be plugged into it any more.

The port is uniform in shape which doesn't allow you to know which way round to plug the charger, so you have to guess. Guessing places stress on the pins inside the port. In my case, they seem to have suffered because of this (imho) design fault. USBs can only be inserted one way round, so the user needs to know which way to insert it.

I am wondering if this will be a common weak spot on these phones once they have been in circulation a while?

[hasanemara]

If this could help.

I put the cable into the socket overturned for about 1 hour (the wide edge of the cable towards the screen)

After discovering this mistake The phone neither turned on nor accept charging

I found a video in youtube where there is another place for charging by using a dock

The upper one is the positive pole and the lower is the negative.

I tried to charge manually(without a dock) by 5 v charger I cut the cable to do this

Doesn't solve

then I replaced the poles for 5 sec. by putting the negative pole to the upper and the positive to the lower port

the mobile rapidly turned on

I removed the mobile from the charger and connected it to the usb charger

The mobile indicator turned on and the charging process gone smooth.

Now everything is OK.

I don't know if this process resetted the power of the mobile or what happened.

[K4RNR]

That is how the problem started for me...one charging cable stopped working on my phone..when it would work on 2 other (non Sony) phones....and now only 1 cord will work.  I am scared to use it at all, for fears that it will stop working and thru will not have any way to connect to the computer for transfering pictures/etc.  I am using a charging dock at home...but, haven't figured out how to get it charged when traveling/away from home in the car.  This is crazy that they know so many people are having this issue...and they are not standing behind the product. The last phone I had for 4 years and NEVER had a problem with the port.  My use of a cord/port is the same (if not better, since I have had 4 years of prior experience---SILLY!!)...and it appears Sony is denying warranty claims for improper use/physical damage!  CRAZY!!!!

[hasanemara]

I solved this problem in my Xperia Z several times by the method I disccused above

[webdeb]

wish I'd read this before, my phone was great, i was getting on really well with it, now unusable because of the charging port breaking,such a shame cos it's a lovely phone:smileysad: Can you use a docking station to charge?

[pfmboidi]

Hasanamera's method worked for me! Thank you!

Before you doom your phone to a faulty port try it because it did revive my phone, you just need a spare USB cable.. 

[sckanner]

hello everybody from Dominican Republic.  I want to report that I have the same problem with the port. my question is: Should I replace the port from the phone, If posibble, I would like to get the service manual, since a work repairing phones in a cell´s shop. Thanks.

[zoeageorg]

i'm trying to do the same... if not how much doest that one repair cost?

[Sev10]

I have Xperia Z5 mini for 2 years and I was happy by now when starting a problem with USB connection keep unplugging to me is poor quality cable  and the USB itself is crab  excuse me Sony but this mobile phone is in the my blacklist already. I have to use the cable from my old mobile HTC which fits perfectly. 

[sinner901]

Faulty on second time charge.

I really find it hard to believe that a big player refuses to admit there is a problem.

Just got a repair quote back. Two thirds of the cost of the phone.

Back to Samsung for me.

Just going for a walk out to the garbage.............................

Sinner

[Coqenpate]

Same issue as people here, didn't read through the 19 pages of comments though!

I bought my Xperia Z3 smartphone in November 2014, it only arrived in January 2015 (I ordered it on Amazon, from a supplier based in Bulgaria: the parcel got stranded in Budapest for most of December!) and I set it up and started to use it in April 2015 (Easter weekend - I was too busy during the previous months). It was my first smartphone, however I already had a tablet. 

I've always found the micro USB port fiddly, I would put the phone to charge before going to bed, then get up to find the cable had dropped out and the battery was still flat. Over the past 4 years, I've bought 3 replacement USB cables. Irritating as I'm sometimes without a smartphone (battery flat) for several days. 

The cable I'd been using since last spring (a cheap one) has failed... or the port is broken. I've tried cleaning it with an interdental brush, it doesn't seem to be a 'gunk' problem. I will try and locate my magnifying glass tonight to get a better look at it, and if all fails... I think I'll just buy a cheap smartphone! 

When I got it, I thought the micro USB port was the weak point: I was right. I am very happy with the phone otherwise, it's just a shame they didn't put in a sturdier port!