If you see a liquid-detection alert on your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

In macOS Sequoia, when you connect a USB-C cable or accessory, your MacBook Air with M3 chip or MacBook Pro with M3 Pro or M3 Max chip can warn you if there's liquid in the port. If you see this alert, your Mac has detected liquid in the USB-C port or on the cable or accessory.

Liquid detection warning on macOS. The warning says "Liquid Detected in USB-C Port. Disconnect all cables from this Mac. Unplug connectors from USB-C ports and allow all connectors to dry. This may take several hours."

If you charge your Mac while the USB-C port is wet, the pins on the port or cable can corrode and cause permanent damage or stop functioning, causing connectivity issues for your Mac or accessory.

If your Mac or accessory is wet

Unplug the cable or accessory from your Mac. If using a cable, unplug the other end of the cable from the power adapter or accessory. Click OK to close the notification window. Don't plug the cable or accessory in again until it and your Mac are completely dry.

  1. Immediately shut down your Mac and disconnect from all power sources.

  2. After waiting at least a day, attempt to visually verify if your USB-C port is dry. If it appears to be, power on your Mac, and try connecting a USB-C cable or accessory.

  3. If you see the alert again, there is still liquid in the port or under the pins of your cable. Power down your Mac again and leave it in a dry area with some airflow for another day. Then try connecting a USB-C cable or accessory again.

Here are a few things not to do:

  • Don’t dry your Mac using an external heat source or compressed air.

  • Don't insert a foreign object, such as a cotton swab or a paper towel, into the port.

  • Don’t put your Mac in a bag of rice. Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your Mac.

If your Mac and accessory aren't wet

If you see this alert every time you connect a certain cable or accessory, that cable or accessory might be damaged. Contact the manufacturer.

If you see this alert every time you connect an Apple USB-C cable or accessory, contact Apple Support.

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