How to get rid of moisture detected on a Samsung phone

Water is the dreaded enemy of electronic devices; even when they come with an IPX8 or IPX9 rating, it can be an issue. Samsung phone users have learnt it the hard way with “Moisture Detected” becoming a frustrating warning, especially when you need to charge your device. Since the introduction of Galaxy phones with moisture detection sensors to shield them from short-circuiting, they have also become a challenge for their users.

The warning was a safety feature that prevents water damage by blocking charging until the port is completely dry. However, some Samsung phone users have seen the error stay even when the charging port is completely dry. If you have found yourself in this situation, here are the steps to get rid of the moisture-detected warning on a Samsung phone.

Moisture detected in the charging port

Even when a phone comes with a water-resistant design, there are exposed ports, like the charging port where moisture can collect. When the error shows, Samsung immediately disables charging. Here are the top ways to get rid of moisture detected warning on a Samsung phone:

1. Dry the charging port manually
2. Use a hair dryer or compressed air
3. Try the rice method
4. Restart the phone with the charger
5. Clear the USB cache

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Moisture in the charger port: How to fix

Here are the steps to fix moisture detected error on a Samsung phone:

Dry the charging port manually

The first step to follow when you see the moisture detected warning on your Samsung phone is to shake the phone gently to remove any excess water. You can also use a soft, dry cloth or tissue or cotton swab to wipe around the charging port. Once you have done this, leave the phone upright in a dry area to let air circulate.

Use a hair dryer or compressed air

Another easy way to get rid of that error is to use a hairdryer or compressed air. When using a hairdryer, make sure the device is set to a low heat setting and gently blow air into the port for 15-30 seconds. You can also use compressed air to remove any trapped moisture, but avoid holding it too close.

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Try the rice method

While Apple and other smartphone makers have debunked the myth about this method, you can still try the rice method. To do this, place your phone in a bowl of dry rice for a few hours. This will absorb any remaining moisture inside the phone.

Restart the phone with the charger

This particular message is dreaded by Samsung phone users since it can stay even when you are sure that your phone has not been anywhere close to water or it has dried. You can circumvent this error by restarting the phone with the charger plugged in. To do this, you will need to hard restart your Galaxy phone by pressing the Power/Lock button for up to 30 seconds until the screen turns off and restarts. This should clear any temporary bugs causing the phone to trigger a moisture warning.

Clear the USB cache

One of the reasons behind the moisture detected error on a Samsung phone is a software glitch. If the error doesn’t go away after trying the above steps, you can try to clear the USB cache. To clear the USB cache on a Samsung Galaxy phone, go to Settings and tap on Apps. Now, click on the downward-facing arrow with three horizontal lines beside “Your apps,” select Show System Apps and confirm by clicking on OK. Search for or scroll to USBSettings and then tap Storage. Next, select Clear Cache at the bottom-right of the screen and try charging your phone again.

If your Samsung phone is equipped with wireless charging, you can charge your phone wirelessly till the charging port is completely dry. You can also disable fast charging since it has been found to trigger the moisture warning. As a last-ditch effort, you can also try to force-stop your Android device and clear any bug causing a false error on your phone.