Pore　wetting　is　one　of　the　key　factors　blocking　the　development　of　membrane　distillation　(MD).　This　study　aimed　to　develop　a　wetting　model　and　an　equilibrium　equation　of　the　gas/liquid　interface　for　membranes　in　direct-contact　MD　(DCMD).　The　model　was　verified　by　experimental　results　and　correlated　with　the　membrane　porous　structure,　feed　flow　rate/hydraulic　pressure,　and　feed　temperatures.　It　was　found　that　reducing　membrane　pore　size　had　a　greater　impact　in　maintaining　the　gas/liquid　interfacial　stability　rather　than　controlling　the　surface　hydrophobicity.　Furthermore,　pore　wetting　caused　by　membrane　fouling　from　surfactant　adsorption　and　calcium　sulfate　deposition　can　be　reduced　via　membrane　cleaning　to　restore　its　original　hydrophobicity.　DCMD　operation　at　low　feed　pressure　could　inhibit　membrane　wetting,　particularly　operation　at　negative　pressure,　which　greatly　improved　the　flux　stability　when　liquid　with　a　low　surface　tension　was　used　as　a　feed.　Other　factors　like　feed　pressure　and　membrane　configurations　were　also　discussed　for　their　effects　in　pore　wetting.　©　2025　Elsevier　B.V.