What to Do when an iPhone Won't Stay on a Stereo Dock

A stereo specifically built for an iPod or an iPhone can be a great way to enjoy your music, but sometimes the iPhone just won't cooperate. I experienced this problem for the first time with a car connector that I bought after my iPhone's headphone jack broke. The iPhone just kept falling out of the dock, stopping the music and frustrating all of my passengers who'd been rocking out to some Morrissey (or, uh, something better than Morrissey, whatever I'd been playing at the time).

If your iPhone keeps coming unplugged from a stereo dock or car dock, here are a few tips to try.

Use An Adapter - By far, the most common reason that an iPhone won't stay connected to a dock is that you're not using the right adapter. The function of an adapter is to hold the iPhone in place and to stop the USB port from receiving unnecessary stress that could eventually break the device. If you're using a device designed for an iPod or an iPhone model that isn't yours, you'll need a good adapter. Otherwise, you're going to keep running into problems.

The good news is that most of the accessories that dock the iPhone come with a number of little adapters, so pick the one that suits your iPhone's shape. Never use a dock without an adapter, or you'll have unplugging problems and you could eventually break your iPhone.

Check The Accessory - If the adapter's set up fine, you can check whether the accessory or the iPhone has a loose connection. The easiest way to do this is to borrow another iPod or iPhone that will work with the accessory and try plugging it in. If it works, then your iPhone might need a warranty repair. If it doesn't work, you might have a bum accessory.

Remember, you can usually get bad accessories replaced, so do so right away, but don't use a charging accessory with an iPhone if it might not be working properly. A car or stereo dock that won't work well with an iPhone might send too much or too little power through the phone and cause damage. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Don't Force It - There are a number of inventive things that you can do if you have a stereo or car dock for an iPhone that just won't work. You can try duct taping it, or using rubber bands, or just about anything that you can think of, but don't try forcing the iPhone onto the dock. You'll end up damaging the dock connector or warping the area where it connects, which is bad news--mess that up and your iPhone won't hold a charge.

Always treat your iPhone like a high end piece of electronics and avoid any unnecessary force. It can be frustrating to deal with a dock connector that just won't work, but it's better than dealing with a busted iPhone.

Do you have any questions about using a stereo or car dock with an iPhone? Post in the comments section below.