“Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector” is the alert message your iPhone portrays on its screen after plugging it into power. This can be shocking, right?
Worry not, though. We’ll guide you on how to fix liquid detected in the lightning connector.
To fix “liquid detected in lightning connector,’’ hold your iPhone in an upward posture and tap it against your hand gently.
That drives out excess water.
Allow the iPhone to dry and check the progress by reconnecting the lightning cable after every 30 minutes. It can take up to 24 hours to dry.
This article comes to bridge you to the other side of the liquid detection alert.
It provides quick-fix tactics to this problem which is common to most iPhone users. Let’s dive in.
How To Fix Liquid Detected In Lightning Connector?
To fix ‘liquid detected in the lightning connector,’ unplug your lightning cable and allow your iPhone to dry completely.
Don’t go for the ‘Emergency Override’ option because you might expose your iPhone to the risk of permanent damage. After all, it’s an ‘emergency’ option!
Also, it’s advisable to confirm if the problem lies in the lightning connector or the lightning cable.
You can do so by using a different cable. If it’s successful, then the liquid is in the first cable and not the lightning connector.
And if it still doesn’t work, your iPhone’s charging port is wet.
In the latter case, just tap the ‘Dismiss’ button and use your phone as it is, or charge with a wireless charger if you have to.
As long as you don’t plug in any accessory, no more damage occurs. Even so, the most ideal route is leaving your iPhone to dry up.
Steps To Fixing Liquid Detected In A Lightning Connector Without Extra Damage
If you don’t need to use your iPhone urgently, give it enough to dry on its own.
That way, you ensure there’s no more damage other than the ‘liquid detected in its lightning connector.’
Below are the simple steps you can follow.
- Disconnect the lightning cable or accessory you had plugged in when the alert popped up.
- Hold the phone vertically with the lightning port on the bottom side. Tap it gently against your hand to get rid of most of the water stuck inside.
- Lay your iPhone on a well-ventilated, dry, and flat surface.
- Leave it for at least 30 minutes after which you can check if it’ll charge. If the ‘Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector’ alert still appears, give it another 30 minutes because it hasn’t dried completely.
This process requires your utmost patience! You need to keep trying to charge your device in 30 minutes intervals until the alert ceases to show up.
Some iPhone users have had to wait for up to 24 hours. So be ready!
However, it’s worth waiting to avoid further damage to your gadget.
Is Wireless Charging An Ideal Alternative?
No, wireless charging isn’t an alternative to drying your iPhone.
You need your device to dry to continue using the lightning cable normally. But you don’t have to let your iPhone die off simply because its charging system has been disabled.
Plus, you need to use your phone even as you wait for it to dry.
That is where a cordless charger comes in handy. It works exceptionally well even if your device was fully submerged in water.
Simply set your iPhone on a wireless charging area. That keeps your gadget fully functional no matter how long it takes to dry.
If you don’t have a wireless charger, the MagSafe charger is a good choice from Apple. You could also explore other options from Amazon.
It’s worth noting that you need to have iPhone 8 or a newer model to benefit from cordless charging. The earlier ones don’t have this feature.
What Are the Causes of the “Liquid Detected In Lightning Connector” Warning?
There are many causes of the ‘liquid detected in lightning connector’ and below are the major ones.
- Submersion
- Moistness
- Rain
- Sweat
- Spilled drinks
Let’s look at each of the above causes of the charging port wetness.
1. Submersion
Your iPhone can accidentally fall into the water.
Since all ports including the lightning connector are uncovered, the water easily gets into the charging port. For instance, your device can drop in a pool or any water-holding container.
You may also forget to remove the gadget from your pocket before jumping into the pool.
This source is common to many iPhone owners and it can also cause major damage to your device.
Why? The water may get to the interior of your iPhone causing corrosion.
2. Moist
When the humidity is extremely high in your surrounding, water droplets are likely to appear on your device.
Since these droplets are very tinny, they can enter and stick to your iPhone’s lightning connector causing wetness.
Although such cases are rare, if you carry your iPhone with you to saunas or the bathroom, then it can happen.
3. Rain
The rain scenario is very common. The iPhone is a mobile gadget and you’ve it with you almost if not all the time.
If you get hit by a heavy downpour, water might access the charging port of your device.
4. Sweat
If you handle your iPhone with sweaty hands, there’s a high likelihood that the sweat can get into the lightning connector.
That’s likely to cause the liquid detected in the lightning connector problem.
5. Spilled Drinks
When taking water, coffee, tea, or other drinks, they can accidentally spill on your iPhone. This water can wet the lightning connector of your device.
Is My Water-Resistant iPhone Safe From Lightning Connector Wetness?
No, your water-resistant iPhone isn’t safe from lightning connector wetness. All iPhone 8 and above models are resistant to water.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t make your device waterproof. This means that your iPhone can be damaged by liquid.
Therefore, you need to be careful because your iPhone’s internal components can corrode if exposed to any liquid.
It can lead to temporary or even permanent multifunctionality. That may also happen to the lightning connector.
Fortunately, Apple has fitted their iPhones with automatic disablement of the lightning connector once the liquid is detected.
That prevents current flow through the port’s metal pins the can cause severe damage.
The pins can corrode and the connector may stop working for good!
What Should I Refrain From If Liquid Is Detected In Lightning Connector?
You should refrain from risky ‘lightning connector’ drying methods.
Some actions may seem reasonably excellent to rescue your iPhone from damage caused by stuck liquid in its charging port.
However, you should know that they cause more harm than good to your device.
Even if you want to fasten the drying process, don’t engage in the following:
- Inserting any material in the charging port with the aim of drying it
- Deeping your iPhone in a packet of silica gel or rice container
- Drying your iPhone with heat sources such as hair driers and radiators
Above are the “tips” you’re likely to get online or from friends. Giving them a trial puts your device at risk of permanent damage.
When Can I Override The Liquid Detected In Lightning Connector Alert?
You can override the ‘liquid detected in lightning connector’ alert if your iPhone battery is down and you need to use it urgently.
However, you should keep in mind that there are high chances of damaging your iPhone severely. The combination of electricity and water is dangerous!
Even so, there comes a time when you need to ‘override’ the alert and charge your device when it’s still wet.
How?
By reconnecting the lightning cable or accessory and tapping the ‘Emergency Override’ option, once the alert pops up.
Be sure to first dry the outer side of your iPhone completely and tap it against your hand when holding it vertically to remove excess liquid.
Then, charge it using a cordless charger.
What If The Emergency Override Button Isn’t Working?
If your iPhone fails to charge after clicking the override button. You’ve three ways to fix the matter. These include:
- Reconnect the lightning cable, hit ‘Dismiss,’ and restart your device forcefully. Tap the ‘volume up’ then ‘volume down,’ and long-press the side button until the Apple logo flashes.
- Charge your iPhone with an original Apple charger and not an aftermarket one. The latter triggers the ‘liquid detected in lightning connector’ alert.
- Use MagSafe cordless charger if you can access one.
Why Is My iPhone Detecting Liquid Yet Lightning Connector And Cable Are Dry?
Your iPhone is detecting liquid yet the lightning connector and cable are dry due to debris and dust sticking in the charging port.
If you’ve a new device or you’ve overextended your connector’s drying period, debris and dust can get stuck inside.
The liquid sensor of your iPhone can detect these obstructions as a liquid.
Hence, you should use a flashing light to inspect the port. Drive out any particle using compressed air to ensure the safety of its metal pins.
If the port has no particles, then, the lightning connector or cable is faulty.
In such a case, it’s advisable to contact the Apple Support Team for advice.
FAQs
Why Won’t The Moisture Detected Go Away?
Moisture detected won’t go away if your iPhone got submerged in salty water.
The IP68 rating that protects dust and water from getting to the inner side of your iPhone isn’t salty water inclusive.
Hence, even if your phone dries, the alert still persists.
Does Applecare Cover Liquid Damage?
Yes, Applecare covers liquid damage at a deductible fee of $50. But, regular Applecare doesn’t cover accidental water damage.
However, they’ve recently launched AppleCare+ for the iPhone which covers two accidental damage incidents at a cost of $49.
Final Thoughts
No more panic when you see the ‘liquid detected in lightning connect’ alert pop up on your phone. The problem is common to iPhone users and is easy to fix.
When that happens, quickly disconnect your device from the lightning cable and tap it against your hand while holding it vertically.
After all the excess water is driven out of the port, lay your phone in a dry, well-ventilated space.
Allow your iPhone to dry and keep plugging it in 30 minutes intervals until the alert appears no more.
Avoid the ‘Emergency Override’ option as much as you can, as it can lead to your device not working ever again!
Instead, we’d advise you to use a wireless charger.
