Smartphones and liquids are a terrible combination.
It’s like adding mustard to your PB&J sandwich.
And back in the day…
Water in the charging port means bye-bye phone.
Fortunately, that’s no longer the case now.
And there are ways to save a phone with a wet port.
Continue reading to learn:
- 5 simple steps to get water out of your phone’s charging port.
- What to do if you’re getting a liquid detection alert even if your phone’s dry.
- 3 things that you should avoid when trying to remove liquid from the charging port.
- And much, much more…
How to get water out of charging port – 5 steps
#1: Switch off your phone and remove the case
One of the best features of smartphones these days is liquid detection.
Whether you’re an iOS or Android user…
You’ll get an alert if you try to charge. But the charging port’s actually wet.
And when you get a message like that, don’t panic.
Your phone’s mechanism for liquid protection’s already working.
You’ll just have to get rid of the liquid.
But before anything else, the first thing you need to do is turn off your phone. Keeping it on when it has moisture inside may only cause further damage.
In addition, remove the phone’s casing as well.
This is to provide more ventilation for the phone. And to ensure that nothing’s possibly blocking the port. Making it easier for the liquid to drip.
#2: Hold the phone vertically
In a situation like this, gravity’s your friend.
So hold your phone vertically. Ensure that the charging port is pointing downward.
And let gravity do its work.
This is an effective way to dislodge the liquid inside. And you should keep your phone in this position for about 15 to 20 minutes at least.
#3: Gently tap the back of the phone
In addition to holding your phone vertically…
You may also tap the back of the phone. Do it gently. But in rapid succession.
After about 20 minutes of tapping and holding the phone upright…
You can go ahead and try to charge your phone again.
Are you still getting a notification about a wet charging port?
If you are, move to the next step.
#4: Leave the phone in a well-ventilated area for 24 hours
If you can’t remove the liquid, it’s best to let it evaporate instead.
And for that to happen, you’ll need to leave your phone.
Preferably in a well-ventilated area. With plenty of air coming in.
You may also use a fan to improve ventilation.
Just don’t use your phone. And leave it off for 24 hours.
That should be more than enough time for the liquid to evaporate. And for your phone to be completely dry.
#5: Turn on your phone again
After 24 hours, if your phone still has enough battery charge…
Go ahead and power it back on.
A system reboot should also help fix whatever glitch a wet charging port may have caused. So you may try to restart it 1 or 2 times as well.
After restarting, you may then try to charge your phone.
Bonus: What to do if you’re sure your phone isn’t actually wet
“I’m 100% sure my phone never got wet. Why am I getting a liquid detection error?”
A false alert can also happen. Smartphones aren’t immune to malfunctions, after all.
So if you’re sure your phone’s never been wet…
There are several things you can do to fix the liquid detection message.
Check for debris build-up in the charging port
Sometimes a smartphone may mistake dirt and debris for liquid.
This is likely what’s happening with your phone.
To verify, grab a flashlight. And use it to inspect the charging port.
Once you’ve seen that there’s actual dirt inside, you may go ahead and clean it.
To clean a charging port, you may use any of the following:
You can gently scrape the port with a toothpick or pin.
After scraping out the debris, you can scrub the port’s surface with a toothbrush. This can help further clean the outside edges of the port.
Just be careful when cleaning. Ensure that you don’t accidentally damage the pins inside the charging port.
I’m sure a visual guide would really help. So here’s a video on how to clean a charging port:
Restart your phone and charge it while it’s powering back on
Now, if your charging port’s already clean, yet you’re still getting an error message…
This simple charging trick may solve the issue.
Turn off your phone. And then, while it’s restarting, plug the charger into an outlet.
This method has proven effective for many Android users. After doing this, they’re no longer getting a liquid detection message.
Of course, you may also try this even if you’re an iOS user.
So here’s a more detailed guide on charging your phone while it’s restarting:
Step #1: Turn off your phone.
Step #2: Plug the charger into the phone’s charging port.
Step #3: Turn your phone back on.
Step #4: As soon as you see the phone’s logo during initialization, plug the charger into an outlet.
Use the Emergency Override option on iOS
If you’re an iOS user, you’ve likely seen the Emergency Override option.
You can see this under the liquid detection message box.
But what exactly is it?
Well, it’s basically telling your iPhone to go ahead and charge. Even if it’s somehow detecting some liquid inside the Lightning port.
Normally, you use this if you really need to charge your phone. And are willing to risk possible damages.
However, if you’re so sure your iPhone never actually got wet…
Then you may proceed with the override option.
These are the steps to activate the Emergency Override option:
- Connect the charger to your iPhone.
- Plug the charger into an outlet.
- When the liquid detection alert pops up, select Emergency Override.
Your iPhone should then start charging like usual.
Clear your Android phone’s USB cache
Now here’s a fix that’s exclusive to Android phones.
Corrupted USB cache data can also cause moisture or liquid detection error. Even if an Android phone’s actually dry.
So clearing the USB cache is another quick solution that you can do.
This is how to clear an Android phone’s USB cache:
- From your phone’s home screen, tap the Settings icon.
- Select Apps.
- Tap the menu icon on the right. The one with 3 dots.
- Select Show system apps.
- Scroll down and select USB Settings.
- Select Storage.
- Click the Clear Cache button.
- Tap Clear Data.
Afterward, restart your Android phone. And then try to charge it.
Update your phone’s software
An outdated phone software can also cause charging issues.
Perhaps that’s also the case with your phone. And that’s why you keep getting that liquid or moisture detection alert.
So ensure that your phone has the latest software. Updates are valuable because they help fix bugs like the one your phone’s experiencing.
Just ensure that your phone has a stable WiFi connection before updating.
How to update iOS
- Open the Settings menu.
- Select General.
- Tap the Software Update option.
- Click Download and Install if there are available updates.
How to update Android OS
- Launch the Settings menu.
- Scroll to the bottom and select System.
- Look for System Update and tap it.
- Select Check for system updates.
- If there are updates available, click Download Now.
Replace the phone’s charger
It’s also possible that the problem’s with the charger. And not the phone.
So first, check for any dirt on the charger’s plug. Also, check if there’s moisture build-up.
You may try to clean the plug with a dry cloth.
But if you’re still getting a liquid detection alert…
Try to use another charger. That’s because the one you currently have is likely defective.
What to avoid when getting water out of a charging port
When getting water out of a charging port, you should avoid using tissue. Or cotton swab. You should also avoid using a hair dryer. And you shouldn’t place your phone in a bowl of uncooked rice to try to as a means to suck out the moisture.
Why you shouldn’t use tissues or cotton swabs to a clean a wet charging port
Tissues and cotton swabs are a big no-no when cleaning a wet charging port.
As you know, paper and cotton easily break when they make contact with liquid.
So if you use such materials for a wet charging port…
They’ll likely leave behind debris or flakes inside. And that’ll only cause more issues with your phone.
Why a hairdryer could do more harm than good to your phone
You might think a hair dryer could instantly solve a wet charging port.
But the truth is, most dryers are too hot for a phone.
A smartphone’s charging port consists of small pins and circuits.
And while a dryer can help remove moisture, its heat can also cause damage.
Some smartphones, like iPhones are already prone to overheating. And the dryer’s warm air can only make the problem worse.
Why uncooked rice isn’t effective in drying out your phone
If you’ve been reading about fixes for a wet phone, I’m sure you’ve come across this.
Place your wet phone in a bag full of uncooked rice. And leave it there overnight.
But is it actually effective?
Based on tests, it isn’t.
In fact, it may take longer to dry out a phone doing this method. Compared to just leaving it out in a well-ventilated place.
Moreover, putting your phone in a bowl of uncooked rice may further damage it. As bits of rice may get stuck inside the charging port.
So definitely avoid doing this.