However, some users have experienced errors with their iPhone Lightning connector. One error is related to water or moisture getting inside the phone’s charging port. In this guide, we’ll go over the reasons why liquid or water is being detected in the charging port and how to fix it. Read this guide to know more.
Why is Liquid Detected in My iPhone’s Lightning Connector?
First off, your iPhone’s charging port is also called a Lightning connector or Lightning port, since it’s only compatible with a Lightning cable. Besides getting your phone submerged in water, the Lightning port is the only entry for liquids and moisture.
1 Why is Liquid Detected in My iPhone’s Lightning Connector?2 How to Dry iPhone Charging Port3 Use A Wireless Charger4 Final Thoughts
Important: You’ll see an Emergency Override option on the error message—this prompts your phone to continue charging even if it detects moisture inside the port. It’s recommended to avoid doing this as this might cause hardware damage and corrosion inside the connector.
When your Lightning connector is moist, the following error will show up on the screen: “Charging Not Available: Liquid has been detected in the Lightning connector. Disconnect to allow the connector to dry. Charging now may damage your iPhone.” This error is particularly seen in iPhone models XS or higher. On the other hand, here are the common reasons why this error shows up once you connect your Lightning cable:
Humidity – Once your phone is left in a humid environment, it’s bound to get moisture from the wet air compared to the normal room temperature. Among the places that moisture can seep in is the Lightning connector.
Rain – If your phone gets left out in the rain, there’s a high chance that the Lightning connector is going to be wet, besides the screen and the Home button. Spilled Drinks or Water – If your phone’s near a split liquid or drink, the Lightning connector can also get wet, especially if it’s facing the liquid’s container.
Once your phone has been into one of these situations, it’s the most probable reason why the alert “Liquid has been detected in the Lightning connector” shows up on the screen. A straightforward way to solve this is to dry your iPhone’s charging port. You should be able to fix this yourself, without contacting Apple support or needing AppleCare. We have a related article which answers Does AppleCare Cover a Cracked Screen? which is a tougher problem.
How to Dry iPhone Charging Port
Drying your iPhone’s charging port is an easy solution to charge your phone normally and avoid the “Liquid has been detected in the Lightning connector” error. Once you’re in a room temperature environment, follow these steps to dry your iPhone’s charging port: If the error continues to show, repeat the process and see if it still shows the same error message. You can also directly inspect the phone’s charging port by using a flashlight. Check for debris and other wet substances—you can use a small pin to carefully pry out wet debris inside. Once this fix doesn’t work, you’ll have to resort to another method which is wireless charging.
Use A Wireless Charger
An alternative way to charge your phone is to charge it wirelessly. If your iPhone has a model of 8, 8 plus, and greater, it supports wireless charging. You can opt for Apple’s MagSafe charger which is a secure way of charging your iPhone without using its Lightning connector. Also, you can use other aftermarket versions available online. Charging your phone wirelessly can help you to do your daily tasks while drying your iPhone’s Lightning connector in the process. We have another article which explains How To Share your iPhone Battery.
Final Thoughts
Charging ports are essential to power up your phone’s battery. But, there are also situations when your iPhone’s Lightning connector can get wet accidentally. Hopefully, these tricks have helped you in solving the “Liquid has been detected in the Lightning connector” issue. We have other iPhone guides, including on how to fix when the iphone screen is moving on its own (ghost touch) If your phone still experiences the same error with a dry Lightning port, try contacting Apple Support for further assistance.
