Data Recovery

Data Recovery From a Mobile Phone That Fell Into Water

February 22, 2024

Introduction

Dropping your phone into water can be a nightmare. Your personal data, photos, videos, and contacts may seem lost forever. However, there is still hope for recovering data from a water-damaged phone. In this article, I will provide an in-depth guide on the possibility, process, and best practices for data recovery from a mobile phone that fell into water.

Evaluating Water Damage on the Phone

The first step is to assess the extent of the water damage. Here are some key things I look at:

Type of liquid – Saltwater, chlorinated pool water, and other liquids can cause more damage than regular tap water. The minerals and chemicals can short-circuit the phone’s internals.
Time submerged – The longer the phone stayed submerged, the worse the damage. Anything over 30 minutes significantly reduces recovery chances.
Phone condition – Was the phone on and powered when it fell into water? This can make damage worse. I also check for any physical damage like cracks from the fall.
Phone type – Water-resistance ratings vary across phones. Newer flagship phones tend to survive water better. Older budget phones have less water protection.

I give an honest prognosis based on these factors. If the damage is minimal, DIY data recovery may work. But extensive water exposure requires professional data recovery services.

Immediate Recovery Steps After Water Damage

If the phone fell into water recently, there are some quick steps I take to maximize data recovery:

Dry it – Remove any moisture using a cloth, compressed air can, or desiccant packets. Drying it quickly minimizes corrosion.
Disconnect power – Powering on an wet phone can short-circuit it. I remove the battery immediately if possible.
Remove SIM card – The SIM card tray can trap water internally. Ejecting it allows better drying.
Clean ports – I use alcohol wipes to clean any USB, headphone, or charging ports to prevent mineral deposits.
Don’t turn on – It’s crucial not to power on a wet phone. I let it dry thoroughly first.

These steps give me the best shot at recovering data from a minimally damaged phone. Extensive water exposure still requires disassembly and professional recovery.

DIY Data Recovery Methods

If the phone survived its water accident relatively unscathed, I can often recover data successfully from it through DIY methods. Here are some that I try:

Connect to a Computer

I connect the phone to a computer using a USB cable. If the port isn’t damaged, the computer may detect and access data on the phone. I can then transfer photos, videos, and contacts to the computer.

This method works if the phone powers on and connects properly. But if the port is damaged, I move on to other techniques.

SIM Card Extraction

Most contacts and messages are stored on the SIM card. Carefully ejecting it and putting it in a spare phone can give access to this data.

However, this only recovers a portion of the data. Photos, app data, and settings aren’t accessible through the SIM card alone.

Cloud Backup Extraction

If the phone was backing up data to iCloud or Google Drive, I can download the backup to a computer. This provides access to some lost files.

But cloud backups are usually intermittent and may not have the latest data. So I can’t rely on them fully.

Data Recovery Software

As a last resort before professional recovery, I use data recovery software designed for phones. They can bypass a phone’s lock screen and extract data from internal storage that may be unreadable otherwise.

The success rate varies widely. So I use reputed software like FonePaw, EaseUS, or Stellar, and run multiple deep scans. But if the phone hardware is damaged, this approach has limited usefulness.

Professional Data Recovery Service

For phones with extensive water damage, DIY options may be unsuccessful. In such cases, I turn to professional data recovery specialists. They have sophisticated tools and clean room facilities to repair and recover data from phones, including:

Ultrasonic cleaning – High-frequency vibrations dissolve mineral deposits and clean internal components.
Board-level repair – Damaged electronic boards are repaired to make data extraction possible.
Data chip removal – The data storage chip is carefully removed and read using specialized equipment.
Microsoldering – Damaged solder joints on the board are carefully repaired under a microscope.

Recovering data through these means costs $400-$1000 on average. But for critical or sentimental data, the high success rates make it worthwhile.

I advise carefully vetting and choosing an experienced phone data recovery company, like DriveSavers, Secure Data, or Gillware.

Preventing Water Damage on Phones

While data recovery is possible, it’s better to avoid water damage altogether. I take these precautions for phone water safety:

Use a waterproof phone case when going near water. Make sure ports are sealed.
Avoid using the phone in the rain, near pools or beaches. Humidity also poses a risk.
Never charge a wet phone. Dry it completely first.
Install water indicators like HydraSense which trigger alerts when moisture is detected.
Back up data regularly so it’s saved externally.
Consider waterproof phones which can withstand submersion. Popular options are the CAT S61 and Samsung Xcover Pro.

Conclusion

Recovering lost data from a water-damaged phone is often possible with the right approach. For minimal exposure, DIY drying and recovery methods may work. But extensive damage requires professional data recovery services. Regardless, acting quickly after water damage gives the best chance of success. With proper precautions, we can also prevent such stressful accidents in the first place.