A method and apparatus are described for generating a synthetic tactile sensation in a connector in an electronic device. In the described embodiments, a sensor is coupled to a receptacle for the connector and configured to sense a mating of the receptacle and a plug for the connector. An actuator is coupled to the receptacle, and a processing subsystem is coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to use the actuator to generate a synthetic tactile sensation based on information received from the sensor.