220-1101 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A user reports that their Android smartphone will not charge when connected to a USB-C cable. The user has tried multiple chargers and cables, all of which work fine with other devices. The phone's battery is nearly empty. The technician inspects the phone's USB-C port and sees no visible damage. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume a 'no visible damage' inspection means the port is clean, but CompTIA tests the knowledge that debris can be hidden deep inside the USB-C receptacle and must be physically cleared before moving to hardware replacement.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Gently clean the USB-C port with a toothpick or non-conductive tool
The most common cause of a device not charging despite functional cables and chargers is debris or lint compacted inside the USB-C port. Gently cleaning with a non-conductive tool (like a toothpick or plastic pick) can remove the obstruction without damaging the delicate pins, restoring electrical contact. This is a quick, non-invasive first step before any hardware replacement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Perform a factory reset on the phone
Why it's wrong here
A factory reset erases all data and settings, but it will not fix a hardware connection issue in the charging port. This should be a last resort for software problems, not a first step for charging failures.
When this WOULD be correct
A factory reset would be correct if the phone charges but the battery drains quickly or the phone has software glitches causing charging errors, such as a corrupted battery calibration or a misbehaving charging app.
- ✗
Replace the battery
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the battery addresses a component that cannot hold a charge, but the symptom—no charging response with known-good cables and chargers—points to a failure in the power-delivery pathway through the USB-C port or its controller, not the battery’s storage capacity. This option is tempting because a nearly empty battery that refuses to charge often suggests a dead or swollen battery, which would be the correct first step if the phone powered on but drained rapidly or failed to hold a charge after being charged successfully.
When this WOULD be correct
A phone that holds charge but drains quickly or fails to power on despite a full charge would indicate a failing battery. In that scenario, replacing the battery is the correct first step.
- ✓
Gently clean the USB-C port with a toothpick or non-conductive tool
Why this is correct
Gently cleaning the USB-C port with a toothpick or non-conductive tool is the correct first step because compacted lint, pocket debris, or dirt inside the port physically prevents the cable's connector from seating fully, breaking the contact between the plug and the port's pins. Using a non-conductive implement avoids shorting the power pins or scratching the delicate connector surfaces. This is a safe, reversible action that resolves the majority of no-charge or intermittent-charge issues before any hardware repair is considered.
- ✗
Replace the USB-C charging port assembly
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the entire USB-C charging port assembly is an invasive micro-soldering or daughterboard-level repair that should only be attempted after cleaning fails and a known-good cable, adapter, and power source have ruled out external causes. In many cases, the symptom is caused by debris or a worn cable, not a physically defective port. Jumping to a port replacement risks unnecessary cost, damage to the logic board, and is the opposite of the 'simplest solution first' troubleshooting principle.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the technician had already cleaned the port, tried multiple chargers and cables, and confirmed the port is physically damaged (e.g., bent pins, loose connection) or if the phone still won't charge after cleaning and testing with known-good accessories.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Gently clean the USB-C port with a toothpick or non-conductive toolCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Gently cleaning the USB-C port with a toothpick or non-conductive tool is the correct first step because compacted lint, pocket debris, or dirt inside the port physically prevents the cable's connector from seating fully, breaking the contact between the plug and the port's pins. Using a non-conductive implement avoids shorting the power pins or scratching the delicate connector surfaces. This is a safe, reversible action that resolves the majority of no-charge or intermittent-charge issues before any hardware repair is considered.
✗Perform a factory reset on the phoneWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A factory reset addresses software issues, not hardware charging problems. Since the phone doesn't charge with multiple cables/chargers that work on other devices, the issue is likely physical (e.g., debris in port), not software-related.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A factory reset would be correct if the phone charges but the battery drains quickly or the phone has software glitches causing charging errors, such as a corrupted battery calibration or a misbehaving charging app.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think a software reset can fix any unexplained issue, or they overlook the hardware nature of the problem (no charging with known-good accessories).
✗Replace the batteryWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The battery is nearly empty but the phone doesn't charge with known-good cables; this points to a port issue, not a battery defect. Replacing the battery would not resolve a charging port obstruction.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A phone that holds charge but drains quickly or fails to power on despite a full charge would indicate a failing battery. In that scenario, replacing the battery is the correct first step.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume a dead battery is the cause when the phone won't charge, overlooking that the battery itself is fine and the issue is with the charging interface.
✗Replace the USB-C charging port assemblyWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Replacing the USB-C charging port assembly is a more invasive and costly step that should only be attempted after simpler troubleshooting, such as cleaning the port, has failed. The question states the port has no visible damage, so cleaning is the appropriate first step.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the technician had already cleaned the port, tried multiple chargers and cables, and confirmed the port is physically damaged (e.g., bent pins, loose connection) or if the phone still won't charge after cleaning and testing with known-good accessories.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume that since the cables and chargers work with other devices, the phone's port must be faulty, leading them to jump to replacement without considering that debris could be blocking the connection.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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About these practice questions
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.