Dropping a phone in the sink, the toilet or a puddle is one of the most common accidents. What you do in the first few minutes can make a big difference.
Do this right away
- Get it out of the water quickly. The longer it's submerged, the more water can get inside.
- Turn it off. Power running through wet circuits is what causes the most damage. Don't check if it still works.
- Unplug it and don't charge it. Never plug in a wet phone.
- Remove the case and SIM tray.
- Gently dry the outside with a lint-free cloth. Tap it lightly, port facing down, to let water drain out.
- Let it air-dry in a dry spot with good airflow, ideally in front of a fan on a cool setting.
Avoid these
- Don't use a hair dryer on hot or put it in the oven or microwave. Heat can damage the battery, screen and seals.
- Don't push cotton swabs or paper into the ports. That can push water and debris further in.
- Don't rely on rice. Rice is not very good at drawing out moisture, and dust and starch can get into the ports. Apple specifically advises against it. Open air with a fan works as well or better.
- Don't keep turning it on to test it.
Salt water, pop and other liquids
Salt water, coffee and sugary drinks leave residue behind that keeps causing corrosion even after the phone dries. If that's what it got into, it's worth having it opened and cleaned sooner rather than later.
"Water resistant" isn't waterproof
Many phones carry an IP67 or IP68 rating, but those are tested in fresh water under lab conditions, and the seals wear over time and after drops. Treat any wet phone with care.
When to get help
If the phone won't turn on after drying, has fog behind the camera or screen, shows lines on the display, or isn't charging properly, get it looked at. Corrosion keeps spreading over time, so earlier is better, and if you need your photos and data, tell the technician up front.