Do you own an iPhone XS, iPhone XR or newer? Then the iPhone may warn you if liquid is found in the connector.
When you connect a Lightning cable, USB-C cable, or accessory to your iPhone, you may receive an alert that liquid has been detected in the charging connector. This can be the Lightning or USB-C port of your iPhone. To protect this, charging is temporarily stopped.
Liquid detected iPhone charging connector
Have you used your iPhone in the rain, or underwater? You may then see the warning ‘Liquid detected in your iPhone’s charging connector’. To protect your iPhone and the accessory, charging and connecting accessories will not be possible until the connector, cable ends, and accessory are dry.
Apple uses two warnings:
- Liquid Detected in Lightning Connector: This alert appears when you connect a Lightning accessory to iPhone that isn’t charging iPhone and liquid is detected.
- Liquid Detected: This alert appears when you connect a USB-C accessory to iPhone and liquid is detected.
Charging iPhone while the connector is wet can cause the pins on the connector or cable to corrode and become permanently damaged or stop working. This results in connection issues for the iPhone or accessory.
Although you shouldn’t charge the iPhone when it’s wet, you may need to charge the iPhone in an emergency. If you reconnect iPhone with the cable or accessory, you have the option to ignore liquid detection in an emergency and still charge your iPhone. Another option is to charge the iPhone wirelessly.
Water resistance iPhone
Fortunately, Apple’s smartphones have been water resistant since the iPhone 7. This means they can withstand a rain shower and you can submerge them. Unfortunately, you can’t swim with an iPhone to take photos underwater, for example, but you can use them around water or in a rain shower without worrying.
- iPhone 7, 8, X, XR and SE 2020 â–¸ water resistant up to 1 meter deep and 30 minutes
- iPhone 11 and iPhone XS: Water resistant up to 2 meters deep and 30 minutes
- iPhone 11 Pro: Water resistant up to 4 meters deep and 30 minutes
- iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro or newer: Water resistant up to 6 meters deep and 30 minutes
Unfortunately, all other iPhone models do not have this option and cannot withstand water. So you have to be extra careful when using this near a swimming pool or a heavy rain shower.
It is good to know that the iPhone’s water resistance is not a permanent condition and may decrease over time.