What To Do If Liquid Gets Into Your iPhone's Charger Port

So, you just get a “Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector” notification on your iPhone screen. The initial reaction could be panic, but let’s pause and find out what this really means and why it appears. This indicator is meant to save your iPhone from any possible liquid destruction. If moisture is sensed in the charging port of your phone, it displays this message so that you do not charge it, leading to a short circuit or corrosion. Think of it as saying, “Hey, something is wrong here; let’s fix it before things go south.”

There are several reasons why you might see this notification. Obviously, the notification “liquid detected in lightning connector” means your phone got wet. It may have fallen into the water accidentally, caught up in the rain, or even spilled a drink nearby. But sometimes, it can be less obvious. If there is too much moisture in the air, it can make the port smell bad and give you a message. Another thing is when liquid residue from cleaning agents still exists or when one has been having their mobile phones in their pockets while hitting gyms.

After reading this guide, we are sure you won't have any problems with your phone. 

This warning must be dealt with quickly, or the device could be damaged badly. Don't charge the device while wet because it could permanently damage its inner parts. Thus, before we look at the solutions, does this notification sometimes turn out false? What are some things that should never be done in such a case?

Can False Messages Be Issued By This Notification?

Now let’s discuss whether the “liquid detected in lightning connector” notification is sometimes a false alarm. As helpful as this alert is, it does not always show accurate results. It tells you there is moisture even though there isn't always such a condition. In addition, environmental factors such as high humidity or rapid temperature fluctuations can deceive a phone into thinking that there is a liquid presence. For instance, if you move from a cold to a warm area, condensed water is formed, which might also send out this message. If your charging port is blocked by dust or dirt, you will get false notifications.

But let's be clear: If you get this message, don't ignore it. Even though you might think it is just a false alarm, it is better to be safe than sorry. If the phone is plugged into a charger while wet, the moisture will cause a short circuit, damaging the phone's internal components. In addition, refrain from blowing air into the port to dry it out, as this will only lead to negative results as saliva contains water molecules. Also, don't use a hair dryer or any other heat source because the heat can damage the delicate electronic parts of your phone.

What To Do When You Get This Notification?

Is it bad to emergency override iPhone charging? Actually, no, and you can try this. But in most cases, it won’t help. So, the second thing you need to do is disconnect your phone immediately and keep it away from charging until you confirm if it's dry or not. If you don't know if the problem is dust or dirt, use a soft brush to clean the port gently. However, when you suspect that your port may still be wet, take measures appropriate for drying it properly.

What To Do If Water Gets In Your Charging Port

There are effective ways to dry your phone and prevent further damage. First, check how much water went in there. It might be less concerning if it was just a quick splash compared to being fully dunked in a pool, but regardless of how little or big that amount is, reacting fast should never be compromised.

Start by removing any other accessories, like the casing or charging cable, because they will trap some water and make things worse because the whole area around you must be dried out. After doing this, gently tap your phone on the hand so that water flows out of the charger's hole and bounces against your hands at a low level of shaking.

Put the phone in a dry place with the port facing down. This will take at least two hours. If you have a fan, your cellphone can get fresh air from it, but you should avoid heaters, such as hairdryers, which kill all kinds of internal parts in phones once heated. After a few hours, check and see if there is any remaining moisture on the port. If it is still wet, let it continue drying on its own until completely dry.

How to Extract Water From the Charging Port

To begin with, let's explain step-by-step how to remove water from your iPhone's charging port. The following techniques aim to dry out your device safely and protect it from further damage.

• Firstly, switch off your phone to avoid any electrical damage. Hold down the power button and swipe across the screen to turn it off. This is essential since using a wet phone can lead to short-circuiting.
• Afterwards, remove any accessories, such as your phone cover or charging cord. This will allow air to flow better, which will strengthen the drying effect. However, accessories might trap humidity, making it hard to dry out the port.
• Then, gently knock your phone against your hand while the port faces downwards. By doing this, you’ll be able to shake away some water trapped inside it. However, this should be done carefully without causing more harm, like pushing the moisture further.
• Thereafter, stand your phone up in a dry, well-ventilated area with its mouthpiece facing downwards. Please leave it like that for at least an hour or two. If you have fans, use them to circulate air around the phone, but don't put them near a heat source like a hair dryer because they can damage the phone's internal parts.
• Use a clean microfiber cloth to touch the port surface only once or twice without using too much force or putting anything in there that might stay there forever.
• Never try blowing out water with compressed air! It will push more moisture deep into your mobile, thus causing even greater harm than before. Let everything happen naturally until all moisture has completely gone away!
• In some hours, check if there’s still some moisture left in the phone port. Use a torchlight to view inside the port. If it is wet, let it dry naturally. Otherwise, try repeating the tapping and drying steps.
• If you have tried all of this and your port is still wet, put your phone in a bowl of uncooked rice. Rice does absorb dampness, though it is not very efficient and can also leave dust behind. Place your phone with its mouthpiece facing downwards into the rice for at least twenty-four hours.
• Lastly, after twenty-four hours, remove your device from the rice and check if there’s any moisture in the charging port using a flashlight. More time or another method may be required if so.
• Now, use a soft brush to gently remove any dust that may have remained on the rice. This ensures that when you connect your charger, no particles are left behind, which could stop or slow down the charging speed on such devices.

Drying Out Your Charging Port with Rice

Using rice to dry your charging port is an old-school trick that can be done without other options. Here’s how to do it right. First, find a container that is large enough for your phone.

Secondly, put uncooked rice into the container; ensure enough of it to cover your gadget completely.

Thirdly, put your phone in the rice so the charging port will be submerged and covered by the rice grains. Keep it in this state for at least 24 hours. This gives sufficient time for the rice to absorb the moisture. After one day, take out your phone and use a flashlight to see if there is any water in its charging port. If there’s still some left, you may have to wait or try another method for removing moisture from a wet phone, as described below. Lastly, sweep out any remaining rice dust in the slot using a soft brush.

This method is to put moisture absorbers near your device. In this case, we use rice because it is hygroscopic. Rice on our phones creates an environment where liquid can be sucked out of their charging ports as well as other openings through which water gets onto them by putting it on them. Remember that small grains may stick to surfaces, so it is important to clean them well before turning them on.

Drying Your Lightning Port with Silica Packets

Silica gel packets are small bags found inside new shoes or handbags, miraculously drying devices like cell phones. The procedure followed here starts by gathering some silica gel packs. Generally, these are found within wrappings of newly bought items or can be purchased online. Secondly, place your phone and silica gel inside ziplock bags. To keep minimum humidity.Close pack sealing while ensuring silica packets are enclosed around the charging part. Thus, let the bag stand overnight. Silica packages are highly moisture-absorbing. While taking it out the next day, examine the port of your device. To conclude, use a dry brush to remove any remaining silica powder.

Silica gel is a desiccant that can withdraw moisture from the air, thus making it an excellent choice for drying out your phone’s charging port. Inside the sealed bags, these packs create a dry environment where moisture is attracted from the charging points toward the silica gels.  So, unlike rice, which can sometimes leave behind some particles, this method does not leave any trace.

What if It’s Another Liquid Detected In Lightning Connector?

Water and other openings like coffee, juices, or soda may not be the only substances in your charging port. These are more dangerous because they have sugar and acid content—several types of liquid cause various effects. Sugary or acidic liquids in chargers lead to corrosion and sticky residue, which makes them prone to gradual destruction. For instance, if you spill coffee on your phone, quick action would be needed to minimize damage.

Switch off your cell phone without hesitation to avoid short-circuiting. After this, gently rub the outer part of your mobile phone with a piece of dry cloth. Assuming that you have established that the liquid is not water, it will be appropriate for you to clean your port with fresh water to get rid of all sticky residues. Ensure that water is used minimally in such a process. Repeat the steps above to dry out the port completely.

Force Restart Your iPhone

And sometimes, the phone can still act strangely after drying. There are two ways to force restart an iPhone. One could hold the side button and volume up or down for approximately 10 seconds. Force Restart on iPhone 7 and earlier: Keep pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake key and Volume Down button until the recovery mode screen appears. For iPhone 6s/6s Plus and earlier: Hold down the Home button with the Power/Sleep button until the Apple logo appears on your screen.

Override Emergency

If you have a crucial need that makes you want to use your cell phone even though a blue lightning bolt informs you that there is moisture in it, choose Emergency Override. This will let you charge your phone but do not use it too often, which may result in more damage if any water remains inside.

Ensure the Phone Has All Updates Available

Updating your phone software will help prevent issues arising from outdated systems. Here’s how to update: Tap “General” from “Settings” on your iOS gadget. Choose “Software Update.” Hit ‘Download & Install’ if any updates are available. Ensure that while downloading is ongoing, you don’t lock out other applications that might be running. This ensures the smooth operation of your device when working on it regularly.

Back-Up Your iPhone

Making copies of any information stored in a mobile device is always good practice, especially after experiencing water damage. Here’s how. 

• Connect to Wi-Fi first. 
• Go into settings, click on [your name], tap iCloud, then tap iCloud Backup, and ensure it's turned ON so all files can be uploaded here. 
• Find the Back Up Now option and press it once more before waiting till the process gets completed. 

For iTunes backup, hook up your computer with an iPhone and open the iTunes application. Selecting the appropriate device-iphone.Tap on “Back Up Now,” then wait for the process to end. Always back up your files regularly in case something awful happens to your phone.

iPhone Updating

Updating your iPhone will ensure that you enjoy its optimum performance. Here’s how it’s done. 

• Open the Settings app on an iPhone and tap General. 
• Scroll down and choose Software Update. 
• If an update is available, click download and install it as soon as possible. 
• Follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest software updates on your device. 

Frequent updates keep a phone running smoothly and securely because they remove bugs and make it work better, especially after water damage.

Restore to Manufacture’s Mode

The final option will be to reset this mobile gadget back to normal or reset iPhone settings. Here is how: 

• Ensure you have backed up your data before proceeding with this option. 
• Select “General” under settings; scroll down until you see “Reset”. 
• Choose the first ‘Erase All Content and Settings.’ 
• You will be required to put a passcode of any kind. 
• Select the ‘erase iPhone' dialog box asking you to confirm the same. 

A factory reset wipes off every item from your handset, like contacts, messages, pictures, etc. This fixes issues that persist even after drying out your phone.

How To Protect The Lightning Connector

Prevention is always better than cure. Here’s how to keep your charging port from water damage. Employ a port cover to block out dust and moisture. Avoid taking your mobile phone into very high-humidity areas, such as steamy bathrooms. Always be careful with liquids and avoid any spillages near your handset. Clean the charging port at regular intervals using a dry, soft brush. If you are always around water, think about using a waterproof case. Handle the phone with dry hands at all times since it may have moisture on or in it. You should act promptly if there is any suspicion of moisture by having it dried up expeditiously. When not in use, store your phone in a dry, cool place for safety reasons. By following these precautions, you can keep the charging ports of your phone in good condition and avoid future defects.

Ways of Safeguarding Your iPhone

So there you have it! Don’t panic when liquid gets into the charging pinhole of your iPhone device. Just follow these steps to ensure it is safely dried and no more damage will occur. Keep packets of rice or silica gel handy if your phone gets wet.