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Liquid or debris in USB port in Pixel

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  • 2 min read

Google’s Pixel lineup of phones is one of the best Android devices money can buy with a great camera, of course, great software support. That said, these devices aren’t exactly immune to the elements around them and can run into problems if they get around too much moisture or dust.

To protect its devices, Google has built-in protection for its phone that’ll alert you when you have liquid or debris in your Pixel’s USB-C charging port. In this article, we’re going over how to resolve this error. 

Also read: DSLR vs Phone Camera: Do megapixels really matter?


Why does this error happen?

As the name suggests, the error gets triggered because some liquid, moisture or a lot of debris has made its way into your phone’s USB port. As a protective measure, your phone will warn you of this and you shouldn’t use the USB port unless you’ve cleaned it out properly. 

The debris warning in a Pixel 4a before (left) and after (right) it’s been fixed.

How to fix this?

Fixing this issue is actually rather easy. First up, remove any charging cables and (wired) headphones connected to your device and let it sit for a few minutes. 

After that, carefully inspect the port. If it’s wet, turn your phone off and set it against a flat surface to let the port dry at room temperature. If the port has debris inside, gently tap it against your hand (port downwards) to shake out any debris. You can also use a cotton swab or vacuum hose to get rid of moisture and debris alike.

Whatever you do, remember to not blow out the water as it may end up pushing the water further into the port instead of getting it out. Not to mention, the moisture in your breath can also compound the issue. 

Check out our detailed guide on how to get water out of your charging port here.

Also read: Pixel 5a vs Pixel 4a

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018. You can contact him here: yadullahabidi@pm.me.

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