What to do if your phone gets wet
Dropping your phone in water can be a scary experience. Water can cause serious damage to the sensitive electronic components inside smartphones. However, there are some steps you can take to try to save a wet phone and potentially avoid permanent damage.
Step 1: Retrieve the phone from the water as quickly as possible
The sooner you can get your phone out of the water, the better chance it has of survival. Don’t leave it submerged for longer than necessary. Quickly retrieve it and proceed to the next steps.
Step 2: Turn off the phone immediately
As soon as you’ve gotten the phone out of the water, power it off. This will help prevent short circuiting and potential fires or explosions. Press and hold the power button until the phone shuts down.
Step 3: Remove any accessories or covers
Take off any phone cases, covers, screen protectors or plugs from the ports. You want to allow as much water to drain out as possible. Remove the SIM card and SD card as well.
Step 4: Dry the surface water
Use a clean lint-free cloth or towel to gently pat dry any water on the surface of the phone. Be careful not to scrub or shake the phone as this could damage internal components.
Step 5: Place the phone in rice
Put the phone in a bowl or bag of raw uncooked rice. The rice will help absorb any residual moisture inside the phone. Leave it submerged in rice for at least 24 hours.
Step 6: Avoid using heat sources
Do not try drying your phone with a hairdryer or other heat source. Excessive heat can damage the phone and make water damage worse. Let the rice do the drying.
Step 7: Check for signs of water in ports
After 24 hours, remove the phone from the rice and inspect the ports and openings. Use a flashlight to check for any signs of water or moisture. If present, return to the rice for another 24 hours.
Step 8: Attempt to turn on after completely dry
Only try powering on your phone after it has dried out completely. If it still won’t turn on, you’ll likely need to take it to a phone repair shop at this point.
Things to avoid if your phone gets wet
While there are steps you can take to potentially save a wet smartphone, there are also some things you should NOT do:
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Don’t charge the phone – Charging can cause short circuiting. Only try charging after completely dry.
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Don’t shake or wipe the phone – This may push water further inside and damage components. Gently dab surface.
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Don’t use a hairdryer – Excessive heat can damage the phone irreparably. Let rice absorb moisture instead.
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Don’t use cotton swabs in the ports – Fibers can get stuck and obstruct charging and data ports.
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Don’t turn on before completely drying – Turning on too soon can short circuit and permanently break the phone.
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Don’t try to microwave the phone – This seems obvious but microwaves can damage electronics and cause fires.
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Don’t ignore a wet phone – The longer moisture sits inside, the more potential damage. Act quickly if possible.
When to take your phone to a professional
If rice doesn’t work and your phone won’t turn on, do not attempt to fix it yourself. Take it to a phone repair shop instead. Phone technicians have specialized tools to dry out and assess water damage on smartphones. They may be able to revive your phone if there are any salvageable components left intact. However, extensive water damage often requires full replacement of internal parts.
Can phones fully recover from water damage?
It depends on the extent of the damage. If dried quickly, a phone can sometimes fully recover from light liquid exposure with no permanent issues. However, if water reaches critical components like the logic board and battery, full functionality is unlikely to be restored. Internal corrosion advances the longer a phone stays wet. Quick reaction times are critical for any chance of saving a water-damaged phone.
