I've had an iPhone 16 for three months now and suddenly the cable that came in the box isn't being detected properly. I leave it plugged in and sometimes it charges, sometimes it doesn't. I tried another USB-C cable from Anker that worked fine with my iPad and it doesn't work either. Could it be that the port got damaged or is it a software issue?
Have you tried cleaning out the port really well with something dry, like a toothpick or a needle? A lot of times dirt or lint builds up inside and causes exactly that kind of intermittent connection problem. If the original cable fails and the Anker one does too, it's most likely the port and not software, so you could try a careful cleaning first. If it still doesn't work after that, your best bet is to take it in for a checkup because the port could be damaged or the contacts worn out.
The first thing you should do is clean the iPhone's USB-C port with something dry and gentle, like a toothpick or a very soft brush. Sometimes a lot of dust and lint builds up inside without you noticing, and that causes exactly what you're describing: the phone charging intermittently or not recognizing the cable. I had the exact same drama with my phone once and it turned out to be just that. Do it carefully so you don't scratch anything inside.
If you clean the port and it still doesn't work, then it could be a hardware problem. But before you think about damage, try cables that you know work perfectly on other devices. The cable that came in the box isn't always in perfect condition, and the Anker one you use on your iPad could be damaged or have some specific issue. Try using a different cable on the iPhone and vice versa to figure out if the problem is the cable or the port.
If none of that works after cleaning it thoroughly, then it really sounds like the port got damaged somehow. In that case you'd have to contact Apple or an authorized service center because it's a hardware component. But honestly, 80% of the time something like this happens it ends up being dust inside or a cable with some specific problem, so don't panic yet.
It's not necessarily the port - most of the time it's dirt or lint buildup in there 😅. Try shining a flashlight and looking carefully at your phone's port; sometimes there's quite a bit of gunk blocking the connection, and a needle or wooden toothpick can help you clean it without scratching anything. If it still doesn't work after cleaning, then it's probably a damaged port, but try that first because a lot of times that's all it is.
Don't try cleaning the port with sharp objects because you could damage it even more! Most likely you've got lint or dirt inside the USB-C port, so try using a very soft toothpick or compressed air to get it out. If it still doesn't work with different cables after cleaning it thoroughly, then it's probably physically damaged and you'll need to take it to a tech service center.
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