Do you frequently receive an odd pop-up message on your iPhone informing you that liquid has been found in the lightning connector? You’re not alone, though.
The iPhone alert Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector tells you that the phone’s charging port is wet. You can still use your phone, but until the port is completely dry, you won’t be able to charge it with a lightning cable. In the meantime, however, you can use a cordless charger!
You’ll want to know what to do if you see this message, whether you have a bug or are dealing with water damage. What you need to know about the liquid that was detected in the lightning connector notification is in the following paragraphs.
Table of Contents
What Does Liquid Detected Mean?
The iPhone’s charging port is referred to as the “lightning connector,” which needs to be clear to everyone. Anything that connects to the charging port, such as a charger or Apple’s lightning earbuds, is referred to as a lightning accessory.
It usually indicates that either the charging port or a lightning accessory is wet when you see the notification “Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector.” Sometimes the alert can be set off by a port or accessory that is just a little bit moist.
You might be perplexed as to why this might be a problem given that iPhones are now water-resistant.
Water-resistant does not equate to waterproof, though. If water or any other liquid is exposed to your iPhone, the internal components could still sustain water damage. The lightning connector’s pins are among the crucial parts that are susceptible to water damage, which is why users should be warned and instructed to stop using or charging the accessory.
There are a number of ways you can unknowingly expose your phone to moisture even if you haven’t dropped your iPhone in water or spilled coffee on it. For instance, you might be harming yourself if you take a hot, steamy bath or shower while listening to music or a podcast on your iPhone. Your phone’s ports could become clogged with moisture and humidity.
What To Do If My iPhone Is Waterproof?
Water resistance is a feature of every iPhone in Apple’s current lineup. In fact, if you have an iPhone 8 or later, it is water-resistant.
Despite being water-resistant, your phone is still susceptible to liquid damage.
Water-resistant iPhones aren’t waterproof. This means that if your phone’s metal parts come into contact with any liquid, they could still corrode and stop functioning properly.
The metal pins in your lighting port are exactly the same.
Although the liquid shouldn’t have any lasting effects in the absence of an electrical current flowing through these metal pins (unless it leaves a residue on the pins).
That’s why Apple automatically disables the lighting connector when your phone detects liquid in it. The connector strip could stop working and the metal could corrode if there is a current.
How To Do When Liquid Detected In Your Lightning Connector?
First off, I highly suggest you do not use the “Emergency Override” option, and instead allow your phone adequate time to dry.
You can even continue using your phone exactly how it is if you want to! Simply select “Dismiss.” There shouldn’t be a problem with that, and it won’t do any more harm. Don’t connect anything to it, just, please!
To make sure there is no long-term harm and get your phone working once more, I would take the following actions:
- Unplug any cables or accessories connected to your iPhone
- Hold your iPhone with the Lightning port facing down, then firmly tap your phone with the palm of your hand to help ease any liquid out of the port
- Place your iPhone in an open, ventilated, and dry space
- Wait a minimum of 30 minutes before trying to charge your device again
A liquid residue may exist between the Lightning pins if you receive the “Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector” alert once more. Prior to attempting to charge it once more, you should wait at least another 30 minutes.
Repeat this procedure until the alert is disabled.
Many iPhone users, according to what I’ve heard, had to wait up to 24 hours for their phone to fully dry and the alert to disappear. So be patient!
Things Not To Do
When the alert appears after submerging your iPhone in water, you might be tempted to act quickly to address the issue. When the “Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector” alert appears on your iPhone, there are a few things you should avoid doing.
One reason is that you shouldn’t press the alert’s emergency override button. Your iPhone might suffer severe damage, which would eventually lead to more issues.
Don’t try to dry the lightning connector using an external heating device, such as a heater or hair dryer. Battery damage or worsening corrosion could result from the heat.
Additionally, you shouldn’t try to blow the water out with compressed air or even your mouth because you risk pushing the water deeper into your phone.
Contrary to popular belief, you should also avoid inserting paper towels or cotton swabs into the connector. While these are capable of absorbing moisture, doing so is likely to cause further damage to pins or bury other objects deep inside your phone.
What To Do My iPhone Detects Liquid When It’s Dry?
Even if you are positive your iPhone and Lightning connectors are dry, the liquid detection alert may occasionally appear.
It’s possible that your phone is brand new or that you gave it plenty of time to dry out.
If so, get a flashlight and check the Lightning port for dirt and debris. The iPhone’s liquid sensors may become confused if the Lightning port has obstructions.
In order to prevent harming the metal pins, you can blow anything you find out with compressed air.
If you can’t see any debris after shining a light into the port, your iPhone’s Lightning port or the accessory you’re attempting to use may be broken.
You might now need to get in touch with Apple support.
Tips For Protecting The Lightning Connector
Protecting and maintaining the cleanliness of your iPhone’s lightning port is the best way to prevent any potential problems.
Remember to turn off your phone and only use safe cleaning supplies when you are cleaning. Use wooden or plastic toothpicks to remove dust debris instead of metal cleaning tools.
When clearing dust and debris from the port, compressed air is another option. But avoid using compressed air if you’re worried about water damage.
It’s best to steer clear of needless bodies of water if you want to keep the lightning port dry. Avoid placing your phone near swimming pools, unstable glasses, or bottles of liquid.
Accidents are still able to occur, though. Even though the most recent iPhone models—the iPhone 7 and newer—are water-resistant, extra security is always a smart move.
With an excellent all-around cover, you can protect your iPhone and its lightning port better than any other method. The award-winning UB Pro is one of the best covers there is. It has withstood numerous drop tests and evolved into a legendary case.
Additionally, the UB Pro has a built-in port cover to shield it from unintentional water splashes, dust, and debris.
The Bottom Line
Apple frequently makes beta versions available for testing so that the new updates can be checked for bugs and made user-friendly. However, as seen on various forums like Reddit, a “Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector” message has been troubling iOS 14 and 15 users.
Here’s what you should do if your iPhone gets wet and you notice the message Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector:
- unplug any cables or accessories connected to your iPhone
- hold your iPhone with the Lightning port facing down, then firmly tap your phone with the palm of your hand to help ease any liquid out of the port
- place your iPhone in an open, ventilated, and dry space
- Wait a minimum of 30 minutes before trying to charge your device again
The best course of action is to let your phone air dry. Just be patient!
If you have anything to add, please comment below!
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