iPhone Liquid Detected in Lightning Port: What to Do

If you end up in a situation where your iPhone has submerged into a liquid, and it shows a ‘Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector’ Error, then do not panic as there are many ways using which you can fix Liquid Detected error on iPhone. You never know what accident might happen when and how your phone might get exposed to a number of issues. To help you out, here we are sharing some quick workarounds to fix ‘iPhone Liquid Detected in Lightning Port’ Error.

Somehow if your iPhone has come in contact with any liquid, chances are that the charging port of your device might too get affected by this liquid. The metal pins present inside this port might get corroded due to liquid and further damage the device. Hence, it is very important that you solve this issue asap.

Also, when you get the liquid detected in iPhone error, you will see the ‘Emergency Override’ option on the screen alongside the ‘Dismiss’ option. Do NOT select Emergency Override right away as this may further damage your phone. To know exactly how to fix liquid Detected in Lightning Connector Error, keep reading the article below.

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What to Do If iPhone Shows ‘Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector’ Error

‘Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector’ Error is quite a common issue faced by many iPhone users. This error basically means that the charging connector of your iPhone has got wet. Although you can use your phone despite this, you will not be able to charge it until it dries completely. But there are ways you can solve this issue quickly by air drying the port, using a wireless charger and more such solutions!

If you have mistakenly dipped your iPhone in any liquid and now are getting the liquid detected alert on iPhone, then you can try the below solutions to fix the error and charge your iPhone. But before you jump to the solutions, make sure to also check out what NOT to do when your iPhone charging port detects water.

What if my iPhone is water-resistant

We all can thank Apple for making the iPhone series, especially iPhone 8 and later models, water resistant. Indeed it is one of the key features of Apple phones. However, having a water-resistant phone does not mean that you can soak it in any liquid and still expect it to work without any malfunctioning.

You need to understand that water resistance does not mean waterproof. Having a water-resistant phone is good, but the phone is made up of metal components that might corrode and further damage your entire phone.

If your phone gets damaged internally by the corrosion of metals inside it due to any liquid, the same is the case with the metal pins present in the lightning port of your iPhone.

Generally, a liquid might not cause significant damage to the lightning port of your phone without an electrical current passing through it. But it is always better to take precautions. Liquid can affect the lightning port and leave a residue on the pins of your port.

This is the reason why Apple will automatically disable the Lightning connector when it detects liquid present in the metal pens. Despite this, if you charge your phone, the current passing through the metal pins will further corrode the metal and the connector strip, which will then stop working.

Read More: How To Get Free Government iPhone

How to get water out of your iPhone Lightning Port

If you are facing the ‘liquid detected in lightning connector’ of your iPhone, then it could be mainly because of 3 reasons –

Exposure to water or any other liquid.
Bug in the OS.
Damaged Cable Charger.

In such a situation, here is what you should try to fix the liquid-detected error on your iPhone:

Remove any Lightning Accessory: If your device has any lightning accessory on, then remove it right away to stop any further damage from happening.
Dismiss the Popup: When you get the ‘liquid detected in lightning port on iPhone error, you also get 2 options – Emergency Override and Dismiss. Do not Choose the option of Emergency Override, at least at this point. Try to solve the issue, or your phone might get damaged more.
Switch Off Your Phone: This will help you save whatever battery power is left on your device.
Remove Liquid from Lightning Port by Air-Drying
Try a Different Charger: The cable charger you use might be uncertified and ineffective. Try using an Apple-certified official charger rather than a dupe.
Use a Wireless Charger: If the lightning port on your phone has been damaged or is not working, you can use a Wireless Charger for the time being.
Force Restart your iPhone: This might help get rid of the problem.
Make sure that the Phone is Up to Date: Bugs in the OS might cause this issue. So update your iPhone and download the latest software update available.

We have mentioned all of these solutions in detail below so that you can get an idea of what needs to be done. Be very careful about what action you take since it may significantly damage your device. Also, make sure to go through the below points on what NOT to do when your iPhone lightning port gets wet.

What not to do with your wet iPhone

If you have ended up in a situation where you have detected liquid in the lightning connector of your iPhone, then there are a ton of quick workarounds you may find or think of, but it is very important to know What to avoid doing when a liquid has been detected in a lighting connector.

In case you have ended up exposing too much water to your iPhone, then you will suddenly get an alert notification on your phone. We totally understand the panic situation you might be in, but it is crucial that you do not damage your phone further while tempting to dry it up fast. Here are some of the things that you should avoid and not do with your wet iPhone –

Firstly, do not directly click the emergency override button which is given on the Alert. This might cause more damage than you think to your iPhone, with over lasting effects.
Secondly, do not try to dry the lightning connector with the help of an external heating source like a hair dryer or heater. This may cause great damage to your phone battery and even catalyze the process of corrosion.
Never try blowing the water out with compressed air and even with your mouth. This will only push the water forward into your phone.
Do not use silica gels; do not even think of putting your phone in rice to try it out.
Do not insert any object into the lightning connector of your phone. A lot of people suggest that you shut cotton swabs or tissues into the lightning connector. However, trying these methods will not absorb moisture as you think; in fact, it will only damage the pins in the connector, and it is also likely to push any debris further into your phone.

Now that you know what not to do with your iPhone when it is wet, given below are some solutions you can try to fix Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector.

Remove any Lightning Accessory

If you see the “Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector” alert on your phone, the first thing you need to do is remove any iPhone accessories that you have and, of course, the cable.

Even if you want to charge your iPhone or not so use it for now or not, you should remove any accessories on or connected to your iPhone right away just to be on the safe side.

As soon as you see the liquid detected alert on your iPhone, you might select the emergency override option. However, as we mentioned before, do not attempt this.

For those wondering, the emergency override option will dismiss the Alert and simply focus the phone on resuming its normal functioning, which will allow the phone to charge. And if the liquid is detected in your lightning connector, then charging your device despite wealth might seriously damage your iPhone.

The best option for the movement would be to dismiss the emergency override and simply remove any phone accessories immediately. Also, make sure to keep your phone applied so as to drain any liquid that is present inside it. Do not try to shake it or blow the Lightning port.

Dismiss the Popup

As soon as water or any liquid is detected in the lightning connector of your iPhone, you will get a notification on your device saying ‘liquid detection in lightning connector’ with the ‘emergency override’ option on the screen as well.

In such a situation, most of us will likely panic and choose the option suggested by our device. However, this is not the best course of action.

As suggested earlier, do not select the emergency override option since it will cause you problems in the long run. The best thing to do when you see such a pop-up is to dismiss it right away.

Switch Your Phone Off

Although this isn’t always necessary, it is better that you turn your iPhone off to save whatever battery power is left in your phone. Also, switching it off might prevent the phone from any further damage caused by the fluid. You can simply switch your device off and then try air drying it, as mentioned below.

Remove Liquid from Lightning Port by Air-Drying

If this situation with your iPhone is not as bad and you have not completely soaked in water, then a good thing you can do is just leave your phone to air dry naturally for a few hours.

Put your phone in such a position that the air will pass through it. But make sure that the place you are in is not very humid. After you have removed all the accessories of your phone and switched it off, place your phone in a good position on a flat surface.

Make sure that the area around it is clean and does not have any dust. Try to position the phone in a slanting way such that the port faces down. This will prevent any moisture from going further into your phone. Just make sure that some air is passing through this port.

If you find a Sunny spot, then all the better. Rather than trying to use a blow dryer or Heater to dry the port of your iPhone, it is always better to let nature take things into its hands.

Now, if your phone was pretty badly soaked in water, then air drying might not help as much. However, it is better to try the below few steps:

Firstly, dry your phone with a clean and dry towel or cloth while holding it upright.
Keep your phone upright such that the lightning connector is facing down. Put a towel below it so the moisture can be soaked in easily.
Tap your phone lightly on the towel to remove any excess fluid.

If your phone was not completely submerged in the liquid, try switching it on and see if it works properly after air drying it for a few hours.

If your iPhone was completely submerged in fluid, then by following the above steps, you might have gotten rid of any excess fluid. You can try turning it on.

Try a Different Charger

It is possible that in the “liquid detected in Lightning connector” warning, the culprit could be your charger. A reason for the issue that you are facing is a damaged third-party cable charger.

If you are sure that the lightning port of your iPhone is totally dry and clean, and yet you are receiving this alert message on your phone, then it could be because of a damaged cable charger.

In such cases, we recommend changing your charger and using an official Apple or MFi-certified hardware cable charger. There can be many dupes and uncertified lightning cables and chargers out there that you may think are reliable, but they can do more harm than you think.

Use a Wireless Charger

Thanks to the advanced technology that Apple provides its users, you can now charge your device without a cable charger. The wireless MagSafe charger can be used in case you are wired charger has got damaged or if the lightning port of your iPhone has got damaged due to any liquid.

Just make sure to use a Qi-certified charger from Apple or from any reputed brand to charge your iPhone. This will be the best option for you if the lightning port of your iPhone does not work anymore.

Force Restart if iPhone is still not Charging

Restarting your phone is one of the most common solutions that can solve a number of technical glitches. This is the easiest of them all, and that works most of the time. In case none of the above solutions has worked for you, you can try force restarting your iPhone if it is still not charging.

Note that the method to force restart is different for different iPhone models. To help you out, we have mentioned below the steps to restart various iPhone models.

For iPhone 8, iPhone SE, and any iPhone with face ID:

Press and release the volume up button
Then press and release the volume down button
Now press and hold the power button or side button
Release the power button after you see the Apple logo on the screen.

For iPhone 7:

To force restart iPhone 7, press and hold the volume down button together with the side or power button.
Release these two buttons once the Apple logo appears on the screen.

For iPhone 6, 6S, and older models:

Press and hold the home button present at the bottom of your phone along with the sleep or wake button.
Release these two buttons together once the Apple logo appears on the screen.

After you have force restarted your Apple iPhone, there should no longer be any alerts regarding the lightning connectors. But in case you still see any such alert, it is obvious that something is wrong with your connector port. Note that, at times, you can get such alerts even if something dry is in the way of the connector and affects its proper functioning.

We would recommend you take a flashlight of another phone and see if there is anything stuck in the lightning connector port. In case you come across any dust or debris in the connector, then you might need to clean your phone really well.

Make sure that the Phone is Up to Date

Many times the issues we encounter on our iPhone or any smartphone, in general, arise from outdated software systems on the phone. The problem of ‘liquid detected in lightning connector port’ is a very common issue that is generally seen on phones running on iOS 16 or 15 or older.

If the issue arises from the operating system, then you will have to deal with this problem by installing the latest software update available. Make sure to check if any new update is available on your device.

To check this, you can go to Settings on your iPhone. Then go to General> Software update> turn on automatic updates. Check for any updates available.

If yes, then download and install the available update. Just make sure to back up your iPhone before you update your device just to be on the safe side in case of any data loss.

Once the update is downloaded, see if your phone is working properly. In most cases, the issue should have been resolved by now. However, if it has not, then you can try the below method of using emergency override mode.

Use Emergency Override mode

Using your charger in your iPhone while it is still wet can lead to serious damage to your device and the charger. It may also happen that your device will alert you with the ‘liquid detected’ message, but it would only be dust and debris lying in your connector.

So, in such a situation, and if you are in an emergency situation, you can override the detected liquid in the lighting connector alert that pops up on your phone and still charges your device.

To do this is quite simple. All you have to do is remove the charger and then re-insert it into the phone. You will again see the liquid detected alert popping up on your screen. However, now you can choose the option of ‘Emergency Override’ and continue charging your phone.

In such a situation, if you have a wireless charger, we would recommend you use that instead of the cable charger to avoid any further damage to the lightning port. While connecting the wireless charger, just make sure that your phone is clean and dry from the back.

Note that selecting the Emergency Override Option will charge your iPhone for the time being, but it will not completely fix the error. You may continue to get the liquid detected alert notification till the issue is fixed completely.

On a personal note, we would recommend you use the emergency override button only when you are certain that the liquid detected error is a false alarm and your lightning port does not have any liquid in it.

Unless and until it is a situation of extreme emergency, try to avoid this option and rather get it resolved either by yourself or with the help of technicians.

Emergency Override Not Working

Most of the time, if you choose the emergency override option to charge your iPhone despite the ‘liquid detected in lightning connector’ alert notification, the option will work for you.

However, it could happen that when you choose this option, the alert might go away, but you are iPhone will still not get charged.

This could happen due to a bug in the operating system of your iPhone. But do not worry; here we have mentioned a few quick workarounds that you can use to fix emergency override not working issues.

Use a wireless charger – MagSafe, if possible. If you are still getting the alert, then it might be because your cable charger has gotten damaged.
Use original Apple-certified chargers, and do not use any dupe chargers.
In case you receive the liquid detected alert again, just dismiss it and force restart your iPhone, as mentioned above. All the iPhone models have different methods to force restart. Do make sure to check them in the above force restart section.

Trying these solutions might solve Emergency Override not working problem.

What if my iPhone detects liquid when it’s dry

At times, you may get the liquid detected alert on your phone if you have given a lot of time for your device to dry or if your phone is quite new. It may happen that some dust particles or debris might accumulate in the Lightning port of your iPhone, resulting in an alert notification on your device.

We recommend you take a Flashlight and look into the lightning port for any debris or dust material. Any obstructions present in the lightning connector might confuse the liquid sensors of your iPhone. If you see any dirt, then try cleaning it with a wooden or plastic toothpick, but very gently.

In case there is no dirt or dust in the Lightning port, and neither has it come in contact with any liquid, then chances are that your lightning connector or charger has got damaged.

In such cases, we would recommend you seek professional help from Apple Store.

Visit the nearest Apple Store

If you are device has been damaged by extensive exposure to water or any sort of liquid, and if none of the above methods has helped you solve the issue, then it is time that you visit the nearest Apple store to get the help of a technician in fixing liquid detected in lightning connector.

Just note that the 1-year Limited Apple warranty does not cover Water damage. However, you can check the Liquid Contact Indicator in your iPhone, which turns red when your phone comes in contact with water. The location of this LCI will vary for each iPhone model.

How to Protect the Lightning Connector

The Lightning connector of your iPhone is quite a sensitive area and definitely needs protection for proper device functioning. As you know by now, any damage caused to the lightning port can severely affect your entire device.

In order to ensure the proper functioning of your phone, it is recommended that you protect your lightning connector port and always try to keep it clean.

Whenever you are cleaning this port, make sure to switch off your device and use products carefully and safely. Do not use metal strips for cleaning. Try to use wooden or plastic toothpicks, which can easily clear the debris out.

Always try to protect your lightning port from water or any sort of fluid. It is better if you keep it away from the swimming pool or any such exposed area.

It’s a good thing that the latest iPhone models iPhone 7 and further, are water resistant and thus provide enough protection. However, we would recommend that you buy a phone cover for your iPhone that also covers the lightning port.

This will ensure that no dust gets settled in this port. Plus, you get additional safety by using such type of a phone case.

Final Thoughts

That was all about how to fix liquid detected in lightning connector error on iPhone. We hope that you have found the above article of use and can easily resolve the issue all by yourself. Many times mishaps when we least expect them, and they could turn problematic in no time.

If you are facing a liquid-detected error on your iPhone, then you can try out any of the above-mentioned solutions to fix the problem. The easiest way would be to let the phone dry naturally in the air.

It is very important that you do not panic and make impulsive decisions like using a heater or blower dryer to dry the port or inserting any items in the connector to clean it.

Also, as tempting as it might feel to tap on the emergency override option, we would recommend you stay away from it unless and until you are in a situation of extreme emergency.

If nothing helps, you can always switch to a wireless charger or visit the nearby Apple Store to get the problem solved.