Every phone has a small sticker inside called a Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) that changes color when it contacts water. This indicator is what repair technicians and carrier stores check to determine if a phone has been exposed to liquid. If the indicator has been triggered, it can affect warranty coverage, insurance claims, and repair decisions. This guide shows you where to find it on your phone and what the colors mean.
What is the Liquid Contact Indicator
The LCI is a small sticker (usually about the size of a pinhead) that is white or silver in its normal state and turns pink or red when it contacts water or high humidity. It is a chemical indicator that reacts to moisture. The color change is permanent — once triggered, it does not return to white even after the phone dries out.
Manufacturers place the LCI inside the phone where it would only be reached by liquid that has entered the device. Casual exposure to humidity from normal use should not trigger it, though extended exposure to very high humidity (steam rooms, tropical climates over long periods) can sometimes cause a partial trigger
The LCI is visible without opening the phone on most models — it is placed where you can see it through the SIM card tray slot or the charging port
A triggered LCI does not necessarily mean the phone is damaged. It means liquid reached that area of the phone. Some phones survive water exposure with no functional issues but still have a triggered indicator
Where to find the LCI on iPhone
iPhone 5 and later (all modern iPhones): The LCI is inside the SIM card tray slot. Eject the SIM tray using a SIM ejector tool or a straightened paperclip. Look into the slot with a flashlight. You will see a small dot — this is the LCI. White or silver means no water contact. Pink or red means water was detected
iPhone 14 US models and later (eSIM only, no SIM tray): These phones have no user-accessible SIM slot. The LCI is still inside the phone but requires opening the device to check. A repair technician can access it
Apple publishes the exact LCI location for every iPhone model in their support documentation. The location has been in the SIM slot for every iPhone with a SIM tray since the iPhone 5
Where to find the LCI on Samsung Galaxy
Galaxy S series and Note series: Remove the SIM card tray. Shine a flashlight into the SIM tray slot. The LCI dot is visible inside. White means no water contact. Pink or red means triggered
Older Samsung phones with removable batteries: The LCI is on the phone body under the battery and sometimes also on the battery itself. Remove the back cover and battery to check
Samsung places additional LCIs inside the phone (on the motherboard and near the charging port) that are only visible when the phone is disassembled. The SIM tray LCI is the one you can check yourself
Where to find the LCI on other Android phones
Google Pixel: Inside the SIM card tray slot, similar to iPhone and Samsung. Eject the tray and look inside with a light
OnePlus, Motorola, LG, and other brands: Most place the LCI in the SIM tray slot. Some older models with removable batteries have it under the battery. Check the SIM slot first — it is the most common location across all brands
If you cannot find the LCI in the SIM slot, check the manufacturer support page for your specific model. The location varies by model and manufacturer
Reading the indicator colors
White or silver: No water contact detected. The phone has not been exposed to liquid that reached the indicator. This is the normal, factory state
Pink or light red: Partial trigger. Moisture reached the indicator but may not have been full submersion. This can happen from heavy rain exposure, sweat accumulation over time, or using the phone in a very humid environment (bathroom steam, pool area). Some carriers and repair centers treat a partial trigger the same as a full trigger for warranty purposes
Red: Full trigger. Liquid definitely contacted the indicator. This typically means the phone was submerged, dropped in water, or had a significant liquid spill. Full red is the clearest indicator of water exposure
Blotchy or uneven color: The indicator shows a mix of white and pink areas. This can indicate minor or brief water contact. Different assessment entities may interpret this differently
What a triggered LCI means for warranty and repair
Apple warranty: Apple considers water damage to be accidental damage, which is not covered under the standard limited warranty. If the LCI is triggered, Apple will likely deny a free warranty repair for any issue, even if the current problem is unrelated to water. AppleCare+ with accidental damage coverage does cover water damage but with a deductible
Samsung warranty: Samsung similarly does not cover liquid damage under standard warranty. A triggered LCI is used as evidence of liquid exposure. Samsung Care+ covers accidental damage including water, with a deductible
Carrier insurance: Most carrier insurance plans (Asurion, etc.) cover water damage but may charge a higher deductible for liquid damage claims compared to other types of damage. The LCI is checked when you submit the damaged phone
Third-party repair: Independent repair shops generally do not deny repair based on the LCI — they evaluate the actual condition of the phone components. A triggered LCI with no visible corrosion on the board may mean the phone is fully repairable. A triggered LCI with corroded connectors means the repair is more complex and the outcome less certain
Can the LCI be wrong?
The LCI is a moisture indicator, not specifically a submersion indicator. It can trigger from prolonged exposure to high humidity without the phone ever touching liquid. Using a phone in a steamy bathroom daily over months, living in tropical climates, or exercising with the phone against sweaty skin can all cause gradual moisture accumulation that triggers the LCI
A non-triggered LCI does not mean the phone has no water damage. If water entered from a specific direction that did not reach the LCI location, or if the phone was exposed to a small amount of liquid that evaporated before reaching the indicator, the LCI can remain white while internal components have corrosion
The LCI is one data point, not a complete diagnosis. A repair technician assessing water damage also looks for corrosion on the charging port pins, residue on the logic board, mineral deposits on connectors, and damaged flex cables — all more reliable indicators of actual water damage than the LCI alone
Water resistance ratings do not prevent LCI triggers
Phones rated IP67 or IP68 (water resistant) can still trigger the LCI. The IP rating means the phone is designed to survive brief water exposure under controlled conditions (specific depth and duration in fresh water). It does not mean the phone is waterproof:
Water resistance degrades over time as the adhesive seals around the screen and ports wear down from normal use, heat cycles, and minor drops
Chlorinated pool water, salt water, soapy water, and other liquids are more aggressive than the fresh water used in IP testing and can penetrate seals more easily
A drop can slightly separate the screen from the frame, breaking the seal even though there is no visible crack
If your water-resistant phone triggers its LCI, the seals may have degraded or the exposure exceeded what the rating covers
Need a water damage assessment?
If your phone was exposed to water and you want to know the extent of the damage before deciding on repair, Marion Phone Repair can open the phone, inspect all internal components for corrosion and liquid residue, test each function (charging, speakers, microphones, cameras, touch), and give you an honest assessment of what is damaged and whether repair is worthwhile.