macOS Sonoma can detect liquids in your Mac’s USB-C ports that could lead to damage not covered by Apple’s standard 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Apple’s support document published in July 2023 notes that “current Mac laptops and some Apple wired and wireless keyboards have Liquid Contact Indicators to help determine if these products have been exposed to liquid.” If so, these indicators in the form of small white stickers turn permanently red.
Liquid damage is among the things not covered by Apple’s 1-year warranty, making this a potential important discovery from a repair standpoint. Only the extended AppleCare+ warranty adds unlimited accidental damage protection.
Your Mac can now detect water damage in USB-C ports
9to5Mac has discovered a new system daemon in the macOS Sonoma 14.1 code, called “liquiddetectiond.” The site notes that this daemon runs in the background, collecting liquid detection data from each USB-C port on your Mac.
9to5Mac suspects the collected data is used for analytics, speculating Apple and its technicians might use it to determine whether a Mac is eligible for free repair. The daemon in question is not associated with end-user features, it claims.
While Apple may eventually implement an alert similar to the one that already exists in iOS, it seems more likely that the data collected by this daemon will be used for technicians to determine whether a Mac is eligible for free repair.
The site is unsure whether the “liquiddetectiond” daemon works on any Mac with macOS Sonoma 14.1 or later or is restricted to the latest M3 Macs. “
Detecting liquid damage on the iPhone
On the iPhone and iPad, Apple uses special sensors in the Lightning port that inform a system process known as Liquid Detection and Corrosion Mitigation Daemon when liquid is detected in the connector. This background process also puts up a warning instructing the user to disconnect the charging cable to prevent damage.
“Allow the connection to dry,” the alert reads. “This may take several hours.” Follow our tips for other steps after getting a warning about water damage.
Liquid sensors turn red when in contact with liquids. They’re visible to the naked eye, allowing service technicians to determine your device’s eligibility for free repair. The liquid-detection feature has existed on the iPhone and iPad since iOS 10.
Liquid damage can cause all sorts of dangers, including short-circuiting the battery, which may lead to fire or chemical hazards. Liquid contact indicators may also be embedded into the SIM tray slot. Their location varies depending on your iPhone model, as Apple explains in another support document.