iPhone Says Liquid Detected? Unplug the Cable and Let the Port Dry

Hold the iPhone with its port facing down and tap it gently against your hand to release excess liquid. Leave it in a dry place with airflow. Skip the hair dryer, compressed air, and rice. Don’t put paper, cotton swabs, or anything else into the port.

The first retry does not tell you the port is fully dry. Disconnect the cable again if the alert returns; drying can take up to 24 hours. Charging through a wet port can corrode the contacts. If you need power while waiting, use a Qi-certified wireless charger once the back of the iPhone is dry. The wired charging override is for emergencies.

Test with a different dry cable. If only the original cable or accessory triggers the alert, stop using it and ask its maker about a replacement. If the alert keeps appearing with a dry Apple cable after drying, ask Apple about service. If there’s no alert and the phone still won’t charge, unplug the adapter from the wall if you can, reconnect it and retry.