Dropping an expensive electronic device into water is a pretty terrible feeling. The standard advice is to dry it off and stuff it into some rice, then cross your fingers and wait. But does that actually work?
Yes it does! Just follow the steps below to ensure that your iPhone is out of harm’s way.
6 Things To Do Immediately if iPhone has Water Contact
- Remove iPhone from water as soon as possible (time matters here so move quickly)
- Turn the iPhone off immediately by holding down the power button until it shuts off
- Remove any case or enclosure right away since they can trap in moisture, screen protectors are fine to leave on unless there’s an obvious water bubble
- Dry out the iPhone as best as you can using cloth or an absorbent material. Wipe down the screen, sides, and back. Pay special attention to the power button, volume buttons, mute switch, speakers and microphones, and the audio output jack. Try to get all visible moisture soaked up
- Use a Q-tip to soak up extra water from the audio output jack and small crevices. If you’re out and about or have no Q-tips handy, a little stick or sharp pencil poking through a t-shirt or cotton material can work too
- Disconnect any headphones, ports, chargers, USB cables, or accessories immediately
Now with all visible water removed, you’re ready to put the iPhone into a rice bag.
Put the iPhone into a Sealed Bag Full of Rice
Here are the basic requirements:
- A zip-lock bag or similar container that is airtight
- Rice, any generic type
- Patience for at least 36 hours
Fill a zipper locked bag fairly full of rice so that the entire iPhone will be covered like in the picture below, then place the iPhone into the bag and seal it shut with a little bit of air in the bag.
Being patient is the hardest part, and usually the longer you wait the better. You want all of the water inside the phone to be completely absorbed by the rice before trying to power it on again. Leaving the iPhone in the air-tight rice bag for around 36 hours is recommended, but there’s no harm in leaving it in for 48 hours. Any less may work but it also could be inadequate, so longer is better.
Success! You saved your iPhone
After waiting at least 36 hours, open the rice bag and check out the iPhone. If you suspect the iPhone has any residual moisture left in it at all, do not power it on. If all seems okay, go ahead and turn it on as usual. If all goes well, it’ll power on, and your iPhone will have survived the water encounter!
Check the Water Damage / Liquid Contact Sensors
After the iPhone is completely dried out, check out the liquid contact indicators. Each iPhone is equipped with several water damage sensors that turn red when they are contacted with liquid. If these are triggered then the likelihood of free repair service is fairly slim and your warranty may not cover it. You can check these yourself by looking at the following locations, depending on your iPhone model: *Note: That the iPhone 5s/iPhone 5c is the same as the iPhone 5*
Hope these helpful hints worked. If your iPhone doesn’t start after drying out, you should take it to your nearest Apple Store for assistance. Never try to open your iPhone. Leave the technical parts and electronics to the professionals.
