What to Do When Your Phone Gets Wet (and Why Rice Is a Myth)

The first 10 minutes

1. Get it out of the liquid immediately.
2. Don't plug it in. Charging a wet phone is the fastest way to turn a minor problem into a dead board.
3. Remove the case and wipe the outside with a soft, lint-free cloth.
4. Tap it gently against your palm with the charging port facing down to help water drain.
5. Leave it to air-dry in a dry spot with good airflow — a fan blowing cool air nearby helps.

Saltwater, pool or drinks?

Sugar, chlorine and salt leave residue that corrodes contacts. For iPhones, Apple's guidance is to rinse the affected area with a little clean tap water, then dry it as above. If anything other than plain water got inside, a professional check is a good idea.

Why rice doesn't work

• Uncooked rice doesn't pull water out of a sealed phone any faster than open air.
• Rice dust and starch can get into the charging port and speaker grilles.
• It gives false confidence — people wait on rice instead of getting real help when it's needed.

Apple itself advises against putting an iPhone in a bag of rice.

Also avoid

• Hair dryers or heat — heat can damage the battery and screen adhesive.
• Cotton swabs or paper towels pushed into the port.
• Compressed air blasted into openings — it can push water deeper.

"Water-resistant" isn't waterproof

Modern phones have water-resistance ratings, but seals age, and drops, heat and repairs can weaken them. Treat every splash as a potential problem.

Signs you need a professional repair

• The phone won't turn on, or keeps restarting
• Spots, lines or a dim patch on the screen
• Liquid-detection alerts that won't clear after it's had time to dry
• Muffled speakers or microphones after a day of drying
• Charging problems — see 5 charging-port fixes

Frequently asked questions

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