5 Easy Steps to Fix "Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector"

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A quick guide to getting moisture out of your iPhone charging port without damaging it

Co-authored by Shavo Hacopian and Rain Kengly

Last Updated: October 18, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Fixing Liquid-Detection Alert
|
• Troubleshooting Notification Bug
|
• Video
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• Expert Interview
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• Expert Q&A

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Is there moisture inside your iPhone's lightning port? If you received the notification "Charging Not Available" or "Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector", you may have tried to charge your device while it was wet. Make sure to unplug all cables immediately. You can gently tap the iPhone to release trapped liquid, but you should let the liquid dry over time. This wikiHow will show you how to safely dry your Lightning connector after receiving the liquid-detection notification on your iPhone.

Things You Should Know

• If you receive the liquid-detection alert, unplug all cables and turn off your phone.
• With the port facing down, gently tap the iPhone to release excess liquid. Wait at least 30 minutes.
• Try the cable again. If you receive the notification again, unplug the charger. Let the iPhone dry overnight.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Fixing Liquid-Detection Alert

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1. 1
   Unplug all charging cables or accessories and turn off your phone. If you received the liquid-detection alert on your iPhone, quickly remove all connected cables from your device before shutting it off.

   • If you see Charging Not Available, liquid is detected either on your charging cable or Lightning port.
   • If you see Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector, liquid is detected on either your Lightning accessory or port.
2. 2
   With the Lightning port facing down, tap your iPhone against your hand. Do this gently to remove excess liquid; you don't want to risk damage to the internal components.
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3. 3
   Wait at least 30 minutes. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with airflow, such as a windowsill.

   • Use this time to check your Lightning cable. You can clean the charger tip with a microfiber cloth.
   • Do not put cloth material into the iPhone's charging port.
4. 4
   Try to connect a Lightning cable again. Turn on your iPhone and plug in a cable. If you receive another liquid-detection alert, unplug the cable immediately and shut off your phone.

   • If liquid is still detected, do not attempt to clean your Lightning port with an external heat source or canned air. You must wait for the iPhone to dry by itself.
   • Avoid using methods such as drying with rice as the small particles could damage your device.
5. 5
   Wait at least 24 hours before testing the cable again. This is a safe timeframe to assume your device fully dries. If you suspect your phone is dry before then, you can turn on your phone and connect the Lightning cable to test for the liquid-detection notification.

   • When you no longer receive the notification, you can use your iPhone safely. If you still see it, you can troubleshoot your device.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Troubleshooting Notification Bug

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1. 1
   Try a different cable. If you're still receiving the liquid-detection alert, this could mean a damaged cable. Try using a different charging cable to see if the notification disappears.
2. 2
   Restart your iPhone. If your phone hasn't been exposed to any moisture and you receive the liquid-detection alert, you may need to restart your phone.

   • Press and hold the power button until the power-off slider appears. Swipe to turn off your phone. Wait 30 seconds, then hold the power button to turn it on again.
3. 3
   Update your iOS. iPhone updates contain the latest bug fixes. Be sure to remain up-to-date on all possible software updates.

   • To update, open the Settings app → General → Software Update.
4. 4
   Reset your iPhone. If you're certain that the liquid-detection alert is bugged, you may need to reset your iPhone. This will erase all personal data on your device. Always be sure to back up your phone before resetting it.
5. 5
   Contact Apple. If all else fails, this could be an issue with the iPhone itself. You'll need to contact Apple for repairs or a replacement.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How can I dry off my wet phone?

  

  Shavo Hacopian
  Smartphone Repair Specialist

  Shavo Hacopian is a Smartphone Repair Specialist. With over 17 years of experience repairing and customizing smartphones, Shabin has a follower base of over 119,000 YouTube subscribers on his channel PBKreviews, and has over 29 million views. He specializes in teaching people how to take smartphones apart, repair or replace parts, and make informed decisions about what the right products are for them.

  

  Shavo Hacopian

  Smartphone Repair Specialist

  Expert Answer

  Avoid turning on your phone. Dry it off with a blow dryer or hair dryer to evaporate the moisture. If you can remove the backplate of your phone, you can also use a small brush or a toothbrush to brush off some corrosion around the phone's chips and connectors. Once you're sure everything is dried out, you can try powering on your device to see if it's working. If it doesn't, then you have to check between the battery, screen, and charging port which of those parts needs to be replaced.

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