Galaxy S8 moisture detected error after it got dropped in seawater, other issues

Today we bring you some uncommon issues for Samsung’s newest flagship, the #GalaxyS8. These issues cover power-,  boot- and charging-related problems, including the annoying “moisture detected” error. We don’t anticipate more of the same problems in the near future but we will continue to publish more issues about this device in the coming weeks.

If you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page.

When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.

Below are specific topics we’re bringing for you today:

Problem 1: Galaxy S8 moisture detected error after it got dropped in seawater

Hello. I hope you can help me fix my phone. I am using a Samsung Galaxy S8. i bought it last june. i accidentally dropped it in seawater 2 days ago and i kept receiving moisture detection warnings. i let my phone dry up and it’s been more than 24 hours since it got soaked.

i went to my local service provider and they told me to leave the phone for diagnostics but they won’t assure me that no scratches will be made during diagnostics. i won’t take chances having scratches on my phone so i thought maybe you can help me deal with this issue and i hope i receive feedback asap cause i’m worrying the damage may get bigger if left for longer time. Thank you so much. — Hadji Hidalgo

Solution: Hi Hadji. The Galaxy S8 is water resistant and can withstand random water splashes and non-pressurized liquid. Technically, it has Ingress Protection (IP) 68 rating. This means that it has the highest dust protection rating at level 6 and water resistance rating or 8 (water-resistant up to 5 feet for up to 30 minutes). Water resistance provided by this rating does not mean though that your device is totally immune from water damage. For example, dropping the device or physically impacting it can potentially break this IP68 protection, especially if the integrity of the device’s structure is compromised. In general though, immersing your intact phone in seawater for less than 30 minutes at no deeper than 5 feet should be okay. Just make sure not to move the device vigorously under water. Doing so can create pressure around the device, which can force tiny amount of water inside.

Moisture detected error is normal if your phone got wet

Now, your case is really expected. The moisture detected message you’re getting is normal, especially since the phone’s charging port was immersed in water. If you noticed, the charging port is not really protected and water is allowed to enter it by design. As water and electronics do not usually mix well, Samsung designed their water resistant devices to stop charging if the system detects moisture in the charging port area. In other words, the moisture detected error you’re getting is a warning to you that the charging port is still wet, or may have traces of moisture in said area. To start charging again via USB cable, these are troubleshooting steps that you can do:

1. dry the phone thoroughly using a clean, soft cloth. Avoid sticking inside something in the charging port to avoid damaging the pins.
2. gently shake the phone to dislodge any water particles that may still be present in the charging port.
3. if the error continues, leave the phone near a moderate heat source like the back or a TV or computer to allow water particles to evaporate naturally. Water usually evaporates in a few hours in room temperature. Do not leave the phone near strong heat sources like ovens or direct sunlight. Heat can damage internal components and the battery.

Wirelessly charge your phone

If you can’t wait for hours to charge and you need to use the phone even for a bit, a good workaround is to use the wireless charger that came with the box. Moisture detected error only comes up if you employ USB charging, so wireless charging should still work. Wirelessly charging your device may even hasten the evaporation process since your phone will heat up a little bit.

For those users who may encountered moisture detected error on their Galaxy S8 even though the device was never near water, our other workarounds may help. Simply follow this link and do our suggestions.

Problem 2: Galaxy S8 screen showing lines, remains black after water exposure

Hi. I have an issue with my son’s S8. He was on Parade at armisit day and got wet through. He went to use his phone afterwards and the screen was all lines. It then wouldn’t let him enter it and then went black. We’ve done the rice etc but it’s still black. He’s devastated as his grandfather who died this year bought it for him. Is it repairable at all? — Helen Thomas

Solution: Hi Helen. As mentioned above, the new Galaxy S8 has IP68 protection, which means that the device has limited dust and liquid protection. We don’t know the exact circumstances of your case but if the screen previously showed unnatural lines before eventually dying out, the phone must have suffered more than just water damage. The Galaxy S8 screen is pretty robust and can withstand certain levels of physical impact. However, any lines, discoloration, or plain simple blacknesss are some of the sure signs of a screen failure. In this case, we suggest that you contact Samsung so they can check the hardware.

Before you send the device, make sure that you check if the issue is caused by a software glitch that we’re not aware of by booting it to either Recovery Mode or Download Mode. here’s how:

Boot in Recovery mode:

1. Turn off the phone. If you can’t determine whether the phone is on or not, try checking for some indicators including the presence of blue/red LED light at the top, vibration, or sound notifications. If the issue is isolated to the screen only, you should still be ring the phone. In any way, make sure that the phone is turned off before performing this step. You may need to wait until the phone’s battery is fully drained so it turns off on its own.
2. Charge the phone for at least 30 minutes.
3. Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.
4. When the Samsung Galaxy logo shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
5. When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.
6. You can either wipe the cache partition or do a factory reset when in this mode.

Boot in Download Mode:

1. Charge the phone for at least 30 minutes.
2. Press and then hold the Home and Volume DOWN keys, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the Samsung Galaxy logo shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume DOWN keys.
4. Wait until the Download screen appears.
5. If you can boot the phone in download mode but not in other modes, that means that your only way out may be to flash a stock or custom firmware.
6. Use Google to look for a guide on how to do it.

Problem 3: Galaxy S8 fast cable charging stops working after using wireless charger

After using the wireless fast charger i got with my Samsung Galaxy S8 the only time my phone will fast charge is when using the adaptive fast charge plug. Have tried several other cables, different fast charge plugs etc. Tried plugging official cable into our 2 power banks and also 4 other portable charging units that are capable of fast charging. O2 reset the cache on the phone and still no resolution. Exact same issue has happened after my partner put her S7 on the wireless fast charger that was provided in a promo from O2 with Samsung. I’m at my wit’s end. Any help would be appreciated. — Nihilism

Solution: Hi Nihilism. Before we proceed, we assume that you’ve already tried the following steps:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Device maintenance.
3. Tap Battery.
4. Tap More settings icon at the upper right hand side.
5. Tap Advanced settings.
6. Move slider to the right for Fast cable charging option. Keep in mind that the slider for Fast cable charging will be grayed out if the phone is connected to a USB cable. Be sure to unplug any accessory that’s connected to the charging port before changing this setting.

If fast cable charging option has already been set properly before contacting us, that leaves you with these two possible causes:

• software glitch
• hardware problem like a damaged charging port, or power management IC

To see if it’s an operating system glitch, do a master reset. This will return all software settings to their known working state and hereby eliminating any possible bug that may have developed over time. Make sure to check how fast cable charging works right after doing a factory reset, when there are no apps installed yet.

To master reset your S8, kindly follow these steps:

1. Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Google account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Google credentials to finish the Master reset.
2. Turn off the device.
3. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
4. When the Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
5. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight “wipe data / factory reset.
6. Press Power button to select.
7. Press the Volume down key until Yes — delete all user data is highlighted.
8. Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
9. When the master reset is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
10. Press the Power key to restart the device.

Remember, wireless fast chargers can’t change the behavior of your phone’s operating system, especially the fast cable charging capability. The reason why the phone no longer appears to charge fast using third party gadgets must be due to something that changed some power settings in your device. It can also be a symptom of a possible hardware issue, like a malfunctioning charging port or power IC. Should the phone still fail to fast charge via cable after wiping it clean with factory reset (when there are no third party apps installed), you must contact Samsung for a phone replacement.

 

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