My Macbook Air M1 was gradually developing some kind of impairment in its USB-C ports where I'd have to jiggle or put actual pressure on a USB-C cable to get it to be recognized — and since it has no Magsafe port for charging, this meant it would switch to and from battery as its charging cable periodically lost contact.
Searching turned up people reporting similar issues, especially that the rear port started having a problem first until eventually the front port did as well. There wasn't a consensus solution but a replacement USB-C board from iFixit came up several times. For only $20, I ordered one.
The original USB-C board is off to the right side in this picture. One can see some corrosion and dirt, and also a bit of blackening on what I assume is a power pin. I believe that carbon buildup is likely the primary issue. I'll scrub it off with some alcohol on a cloth and put it away for the future, it would probably work again if needed.