Manzana has implemented a function that Detects if liquid has leaked through the USB-C port of your Mac. As with the iPhone, Macs have a system feature that scans ports to see if they have been exposed to liquids. The program runs in the background and records the information, although it does not issue any alert to the user.
The above was discovered by 9to5Macwho mentions that macOS Sonoma 14.1 includes a system process identified as “Liquid Detection and Corrosion Mitigation Daemon.” The program operates in the background and collect data from each USB-C port on your Mac. According to the report, the program is for analytical purposes and is not associated with end-user functions.
It is possible that the technology company uses the information to find out if a spill occurred. Apple laptops and some accessories have indicators that determine whether the product has been exposed to liquids that could affect its operation. In this case, only those with an AppleCare+ extended warranty will be able to request a repair.
Although there are no details about any notification for the Mac, Apple could follow the path of the iPhone and implement a system alert when liquids are present. Recently, those from Cupertino updated their Mac line with the new M3 chips, which promise greater performance without sacrificing autonomy.
How the Mac liquid detector works
According to the support website, Liquid Contact Indicators (LCI) are included on Mac laptops and wired and wireless keyboards. If you spilled the coffee or soda, the LCI will change color. In the case of the iPhone and iPad, Apple has added an additional protection step where the user is notified that there are liquids in the connectors.
“If you see one of these notices, it means that iPhone has detected liquid in the Lightning or USB-C connector, or in the Lightning cable or accessory. To protect the iPhone and the accessory, you cannot charge or connect accessories until the connector, cable ends, and accessory are dry,” he mentions.
exist two types of warning: one for the connector and one for the port. If the connector is wet, you should dry it before connecting it again, as it could corrode and cause permanent damage. When there is liquid in the USB-C port, the device launches a full-screen notification in which the user is asked to disconnect the cable and wait until the iPhone or iPad dries.
Liquid alerts are not always related to spills or splashes. You will probably receive them when you use your iPhone, iPad, or accessory in a humid environment — such as the bathroom or kitchen — or when the device is subjected to a sudden change in temperature or atmospheric pressure.
Some iPad Pro users have mentioned that they receive these alerts without exposing their tablet to extreme conditions. The iPad Pro subreddit details cases of intermittent notifications after updating to iPadOS 16.5, which are resolved by trying different cables or taking it to Apple technical support.