Accidentally dropping your phone in water used to mean almost certain damage. These days, many phones are water-resistant — but that does not mean waterproof, and there are still right and wrong ways to handle a wet phone. Here is what to do if it happens, and what to definitely avoid.
First: Get It Out of the Water Quickly
The longer your phone is submerged or wet, the more chance water has of getting into places it should not. Pick it up immediately and move away from the water source. Do not put it in a bowl of rice — this is a popular myth and does not work; rice takes too long to absorb moisture and tiny grains can get into the ports.
What to Do Straight Away
- Turn it off if it is still on. Electricity and water do not mix, and powering down quickly reduces the chance of a short circuit.
- Remove the case — water can sit trapped between the phone and the case and cause damage.
- Wipe the outside with a dry, clean cloth. Dab gently rather than rubbing.
- Shake it gently to get water out of the charging port and headphone jack. Then hold the phone with the port facing down for a minute or two.
- Leave it to dry in a warm, dry room. A sunny windowsill, near (but not on) a warm radiator, or just on a dry surface. Give it at least a few hours — ideally overnight — before switching it back on.
What Not to Do
- Do not charge it while it is wet. Even slightly damp charging ports can cause damage or set off a safety warning. Wait until you are sure the port is completely dry — at least a few hours after getting wet.
- Do not use a hair dryer on it. Hot air can push water further in and damage internal components. Room-temperature air is fine but direct heat is not.
- Do not press lots of buttons. This can push water into different parts of the phone.
What Does Water Resistance Actually Mean?
Many modern phones have an IP rating — a number that tells you how well the phone is sealed against dust and water. A rating of IP67 or IP68 means it can withstand being submerged in water to a certain depth for a limited time. But this applies to clean water, not salt water, chlorinated pool water, or soapy water, which can cause damage more quickly. Water resistance also degrades over time as seals wear down, so an older phone may not cope as well as when it was new.
When to Seek Help
If your phone shows signs of damage after drying out — a flickering screen, a camera that will not focus, a battery that drains very quickly — it may need professional repair. Water damage can cause problems that appear days after the initial incident. A phone repair shop can often do a diagnostic check to identify any internal damage.
Acting quickly and calmly is the most important thing. A phone that gets a brief dunking and is dried out properly has a much better chance of working normally afterwards than one left wet for a long time.