Fix – Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector on iPhone

If you have used Apple products, you know they do not go well with water. Therefore, Apple uses many ways to protect your iPhone from water damage. One of them is letting you know when there is liquid detected in the Lightning connector of your iPhone.

Nevertheless, you may panic and forget what to do when you see the liquid in the Lightning connector message. Here are some ways to get out of the situation.

Fix Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector Issue on iPhone

You can fix the liquid detected in the Lightning connector issue on the iPhone by drying the Lightning connector or restarting the iPhone. It is also a good idea to use a wireless charger to charge the battery while you update the iPhone to the latest version of iOS.

What Does the Liquid Detected in USB-C/Lightning Connector Message Mean?

As you know, your iPhone uses a Lightning or USB-C port for charging and data transfer. It also means that a connector, be it Lightning or USB-C, will be the only point of outside contact. So, whenever you connect the Lightning connector to your iPhone, your device will check if the connector or its edges have liquid content.

If you continue charging your iPhone in this situation, there will be long-term damage to the Lightning port, including but not limited to corrosion. To prevent this situation and potential water damage, your iPhone is designed to disable charging whenever liquid is detected on the charging connector.

At this point, you will also see a warning message, which asks you to wait until the Lightning connector is dry and ready to use. It also says that the connector may need several hours to dry completely. The message is almost the same on a newer iPhone with a USB-C connector for charging and data transfer.

As we said earlier, this message can be a little panicky. In most cases, you would not even understand how your Lightning connector has liquid content inside. Nevertheless, you have to resolve the problem, and we have found a few solutions that work.

Fix #1 Reconnect the Charging Cable

Before we follow the actual steps to resolve the issue, we have to ensure that the warning is legit. Many users have encountered the liquid detected on the Lightning connector message even when the connector is completely fine. It could be due to an iPhone sensor malfunctioning or giving a false reading.

So, it doesn’t hurt to double-check.

Therefore, when you see the liquid detected warning, you should disconnect the Lightning connector and wait for a few seconds before connecting it again. Now, one of the two things will happen.

1. If the warning was due to a technical glitch, it would go away, and your iPhone will resume charging. It also means you can go about your way.
2. If the warning appears again, it means there is some liquid on the Lightning connector. It means you have to follow some of the other fixes we have covered.

Fix #2 Restart Your iPhone

By the way, a wrong warning message may appear when your iPhone malfunctions as well. Therefore, some experts suggest restarting your iPhone before connecting the Lightning connector again. In this case, you can follow the steps below.

1. When you see the warning, remove the Lightning connector from your iPhone
2. Now, restart your iPhone using the button combination or Settings > General > Shut Down.
3. Wait for a few seconds as you keep the iPhone and the Lightning connector in a dry area
4. After some time, you can turn on your iPhone and connect the Lightning cable

If the warning message popped up due to an error on your iPhone, things should be fine now. It means you do not have to worry about further steps. But if the liquid detected in the Lightning connector message keeps appearing, you need the advanced steps given below.

Fix #3 Dry the Lightning Connector

If you keep seeing the liquid detected message even at this point, you should go ahead and dry the Lightning connector. As you should with every piece of electronic equipment, a packet of desiccants is the best solution here. And, if you recently bought some electronic equipment, you could find a packet of silica gel.

Silica gel is used for its ability to absorb moisture from its surroundings. So, if the liquid presence on your Lightning connector is not visible to the naked eye, a packet of silica gel would do the job. But you have to keep the device near the silica gel for at least a few hours. Compared to conventional methods like keeping your electronics in a bowl of rice, using a desiccant like silica gel is a cleaner and more useful method.

Fix #4 Dry the iPhone

If you think your iPhone also has moisture content inside the charging port, you can do the same. A packet of silica gel is easy to find, and it will get the job done. In numerous instances, even when you see the iPhone liquid detected error, the problem is with the iPhone, not the connector.

Therefore, it is a good idea to dry your iPhone at the same time you dry the Lightning connector. This step is going to make a difference for sure.

Fix #5 Shake the iPhone

Now, this step is an extension of the fix we have covered just before. As we said, the liquid on the Lightning error may appear in many instances. One of them is when you have a soaked iPhone in the first place. While it is true that your iPhone has a water-resistance rating, the situation with the charging port is different.

Therefore, you should try shaking the iPhone to get rid of potential water content from different parts of the iPhone. As colloquial as it may sound, shaking your iPhone in different directions is the most efficient solution here. It will make sure that your iPhone ejects water droplets if they are stuck in an area.

Alternatively, you can try many apps that help you produce special frequency noise from the iPhone speaker. These noises will push the water content from your iPhone speakers and the nearby charging port. So, you will likely see the end of the liquid detected error.

Before We Move Further

Until this point, we have covered all the fixes you need to remove moisture content from the Lightning connector and your iPhone. You can use similar methods if you have an iPhone with a USB-C port as well. It is now time to explore some advanced methods.

Fix #6 Use A Different Lightning Connector

If the solutions listed above do not solve the problem, you have to suspect the Lightning connector you own. The connector may have functionality issues, especially if you have been using the product for a few years. So, it is a good idea to see if your iPhone shows the same error when you plug in a different Lightning cable for charging or data transfer.

Once again, you have to use an Apple-certified Lightning connector to charge the device. And, it would make things easy if you could completely dry your iPhone before trying this method. That is, if the problem was due to water content in the iPhone, charging the Lightning connector would not make a difference, right? In that case, it is better to follow this additional step.

Fix #7 Use an Apple-certified Charging Brick

Apple and its software can be too specific in some respects. So, even when you suspect that a Lightning port or connector is responsible, the real cause could be the charging brick. Therefore, we recommend ensuring that you use an Apple-certified charging brick.

Here is what could happen if you do not. Non-Apple-certified charging bricks may often fail to provide the recommended amount of power to your iPhone. And, this change in the input wattage may cause the iPhone to show random errors, including one saying that there is liquid content in the Lightning connector.

To avoid this situation, thus saving you time, you should always use an Apple-certified charger, preferably the one you got with the iPhone.

Fix #8 Use A Wireless Charger

This fix is not a solution to the problem as such, but a way to keep using your iPhone while you figure out a more specific reason.

But, if this particular error is stopping you from using your iPhone, you should think about alternate ways to charge the device. The best way you can use here is wireless/MagSafe charging. If you have a newer lineup of iPhone models, it comes with support for Qi charging or MagSafe charging.

You can grab a Qi wireless charger and wirelessly recharge your iPhone battery. Because this process does not impact the connector aspect of your device. This way, you also avoid the chance of any shorting issues, additionally because wireless charging does not have a massive output.

You can get a compatible MagSafe charger if you ever come across a situation where fixing the core Lightning connector is expensive.

Fix #9 Check for Software Updates or Patches

As we said earlier, software issues can lead to the liquid detected in the Lightning connector message on the iPhone. Every so often, the issue stems from a bug in the core iOS software. But, on the bright side, if a recent iOS update had caused the problem, Apple would have released a patch as well.

So, if the warning does not go away after a few days, you should charge the device and update it to the latest version of iOS. You can go to Settings > General > Software Update, where you will find available updates. It should solve the problem once and for all.

Fix #10 Contact Apple Tech Support

If a software update does not solve the problem, the best option you have is to contact Apple support via an authorized center. They will be able to solve the issue, and you can use the warranty or AppleCare+ if you have the coverage.

On the bright side, if the issue is due to a concern in the Lightning port, replacing the module will not cost a lot. In the end, you will find a holistic solution to this.

5 Things You Should NOT Do If Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector

Here are a few popular but truly problematic steps you should NOT do if the liquid is detected in the Lightning connector of your iPhone.

• You should not heat your iPhone by any means. Some believe that using a hot gun or a hair dryer will remove moisture from the Lightning connector and port. However, while this process offers a short amount of luck, you also encounter a higher risk factor.
• Dunking your iPhone or the Lightning connector in a bowl of rice is also riskier than you think. Close interaction with rice may cause scratches on either part of your iPhone, which will make things worse.
• It should be understood when we say you should not heat your iPhone, but we say this again. You’d also want to stay away from microwaving your iPhone or the Lightning connector. There will be bad implications for the motherboard.
• It would be best if you also stayed away from random apps that claim to help you remove water content. Although there are a few useful apps, discretion is a difficult affair.
• Finally, do not try to open up your iPhone if you do not know what you are doing. If you are under an Apple warranty, opening up the device will void it. So, you should avoid this risk and leverage existing warranty, if any.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

We believe this guide helped you solve the liquid detected in the Lightning connector on the iPhone error. We have addressed potential reasons from both the hardware and software side. But, you should always keep in mind that you may need professional tech support from Apple if nothing works.