# Need help with fixing a broken USB plug without any tools. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 22, 2017, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-fixing-a-broken-usb-plug-without-any-tools/784975 "2017-04-22T09:45:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dude\_robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@dude\_robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude_robert)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-fixing-a-broken-usb-plug-without-any-tools/784975/1 "2017-04-22T09:45:30Z")
The USB port thingy that supplies audio stuff to my headphones has broken in two, one the USB board itself, and two the USB plug-in. The USB plug has separated from the board and I don’t have any fancy tools such as solder ironing to fix it. Here is a few photos: [http://imgurDOTcom/a/w6YJT](http://imgurDOTcom/a/w6YJT) (Possibly very light NSFW) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-fixing-a-broken-usb-plug-without-any-tools/784975/2 "2017-04-22T10:13:16Z")
Just buy a new one. They’re only a fiver or so on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![dude\_robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@dude\_robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude_robert)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-fixing-a-broken-usb-plug-without-any-tools/784975/3 "2017-04-22T10:59:13Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Just buy a new one. They’re only a fiver or so on Amazon. The link kept autolinking even though I unchecked the box for some reason. I need a new USB audio translator now, though, I need to have a stable one ready by tomorrow when I have a long bus trip if 6 how and I want to listen to some music and podcasts on the way. It’s there no way it can be secured in place with stickytape or something heavy or whatever? As you can see, it works when it is put into place very carefully, but at the slightest Gust of wind it disconnected and sometimes transfersa horrible noise at full volume on the other side. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-fixing-a-broken-usb-plug-without-any-tools/784975/4 "2017-04-22T12:00:56Z")
I can’t really see much in the photos, but I’ll make a suggestion. Get a little tube of silicone caulk or bathtub sealant. Figure out a way to hold the connector in a working position and put a dollop on it at the solder terminal end. If the cover won’t go back on over the glop, wrap electrical tape around it. You can also try Gorilla Glue or some other adhesive, but I’ve found that silicone caulk doesn’t conduct current and doesn’t seem to corrode the circuitry. (Or, it doesn’t kill the circuitry right away. I’ve gone a year or two with this type of repair.) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-fixing-a-broken-usb-plug-without-any-tools/784975/5 "2017-04-22T14:07:07Z")
If the solder joint is broken, the only way to fix it with any hope of it working for more than a moment is with a soldering iron. Don’t both with glue or any type of mechanical pressure - it’s a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![dude\_robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@dude\_robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude_robert)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-fixing-a-broken-usb-plug-without-any-tools/784975/6 "2017-04-22T14:46:30Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > If the solder joint is broken, the only way to fix it with any hope of it working for more than a moment is with a soldering iron. Don’t both with glue or any type of mechanical pressure - it’s a waste of time. I think I might try the silica paste. It sounds like it could work and I’ve got some silica paste in the kitchen cupboard that I could just squirt onto it. However I’m worried that the high temperature of the USB and the freezing temperatures of the paste might break it in some way. The cover is just a bit of faded plastic that isn’t worth putting back on since it doesn’t do anything useful at all.