Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector: How to Fix in Seconds

Newer iPhones have the luxury of being waterproof. 

They can withstand water pressure in shallow waters and can even accompany the user on brief swims in pools and shallow bodies. 

However, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with some drawbacks. 

Every time you enter a body of water with your phone you will be unable to charge it for a brief time.

Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector: How to Fix in Seconds

iPhones shut off power temporarily to their ports when they become wet as a safety feature. You can expedite the drying process to plug your phone in faster by patting the port area dry. You can use a wireless charger too during this time, or you can use the manual override if absolutely necessary.

When the iPhone detects it has been in water it will turn off all lightning port functions. 

This means you can’t use USB tethering, data transfers, and worth of all, it means you can’t charge your phone until it’s dry. 

However, there are some fast ways to make sure your charging port is free from water as soon as possible. 

Fix your Damp Lightning Port ASAP

First thing first, do not insert any cords into your phone while it has the wet lightning port warning on it. 

By default, the iPhone won’t allow actual current to flow into the device. 

However, there is an emergency override that is unadvisable to use.

It could permanently damage your phone. 

Force and Gravity

Hold the iPhone with the lightning port facing down and give it a few taps on the top with your hand.

This will dislodge any large amounts of water that may be trapped inside. 

This will make your lightning port dry out much faster because you are removing excess liquid. 

Air Drying

Leave your phone in a window seal or other breezy area. 

It will help speed up how long it takes for your phone to dry out. 

Play the Waiting Game

It can take over 30 minutes for a wet lightning port to fully dry if you don’t do something about it.

Both of the above steps will significantly reduce how long your phone is wet. 

However, you will still have to wait for the phone’s warning to disapear before charging.

This doesn’t mean you can’t charge it wirelessly though. 

Wireless Charging

Don’t wait for your lightning port to dry out to charge your phone. 

All you have to do is set the phone down on a wireless charging station. 

The iPhone’s wireless charging feature will work even if you are fresh out of the pool with your phone. 

Don’t risk your phone dying during a trip to the pool by always bringing along a wireless charger. 

Your phone being wet is the perfect time to charge the phone actually.

Set the phone down on the charging pad while you are waiting for the phone to dry out. 

You’ll be able to charge your phone to full battery while the phone actively dries out. 

Avoid These Things

Just as there are some things you can do to make your iPhone dry faster, there are plenty of things to avoid too. 

Do not use a compressed air can. 

Compressed air uses liquid expectorants. 

It’s possible for liquid to shoot out of a compressed air can and just add to the problem. 

In fact, it’s inadvisable to use compressed air cans on any electronics because of the possibility of water damage. 

Do not attempt to dry out your phone with a cotton swab. 

This could cause pieces of fiber to get stuck in your port, preventing a cable from being fully inserted.

It could also permanently damage the precious pins inside the port. 

Rice is another bad idea. 

The iPhone is made to be water resistant, so there will be no lasting damage to your phone just because it got wet. 

Rice particles could potentially ruin your phone’s port. 

It’s a better idea to just wait for it to dry. 

Don’t use a hair dryer or other hot air device to dry it out either. 

Phone components are delicate and sensitive to heat. 

Too much direct head could bend and warp the sensitive metals inside the phone, undo a soldering point, or melt plastic components.

Emergency Override

There are certain times you might want to charge your phone even when it’s wet. 

Luckily, the iPhone allows for an emergency override. 

All you have to do is insert the cable again after the warning pops up and hit emergency override. 

This will allow your phone to charge even when it could be detrimental to the device. 

You should only use this feature during a genuine emergency where you need your phone charged. 

A scenario that requires medical attention, a scenario where you are lost and need to use GPS, or other events are the only reason you should use the emergency override. 

Allowing electricity to enter your phone while the device is wet could short out components and permanently destroy your phone. 

What if my Phone’s not wet?

In some scenarios, the user may be prompted with the wet port warning even when their phone is dry. 

This is usually due to a malfunction with accessories. 

The lightning cable you’re using may be missing a pin and confusing your iPhone’s dampness detection. 

Just try a different charging cable and the problem should be fixed. 

The phone may also have an obstruction inside it that prevents the lightning charger to make a solid connection.

Use a flashlight to examine the port and carefully use a paperclip or sim card tool to scrap out the unwanted debris. 

Be very careful not to be too rough with the pins inside the port. 

Even the slightest touch could permanently damage one of the pins. 

Another option is to use an air compressor to remove the debris. 

Set the air compressor to a relatively low PSI and spray the air into the lightning port.

It’s important to make a distinguishment between compressed air in a can and an air compressor. An air compressor does not use a liquid expectorant to push the air out, making it much safer to use with electronics.

There are even some handheld vacuum cleaners that have a blower option. 

These can also be useful for cleaning debris from electronics.