Don't despair when your phone gets wet. You may still be able to save it even if your phone falls into the toilet, sink, or bathtub. The most important thing to do is act quickly. Get the phone out of the water as quickly as possible, then turn it off, remove the battery, and remove all accessories. Try removing as much water as possible with a towel and a vacuum cleaner. Next, place the phone in a bowl filled with instant rice or other absorbent material for 48 to 72 hours before turning it on. With quick action and a little luck, the phone might still be able to be salvaged and reused.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Act Fast to Minimize Water Damage
Step 1. Remove the phone from the water as quickly as possible unless the device is connected to a power source
The longer the phone is submerged in water, the more severe the damage can be. If your phone has been submerged for a long time, you may not be able to turn it back on.
Step 2. Disconnect the power if the phone is dropped into the water while it is plugged into a power source
If the phone is still plugged into the charger and dropped into the water, turn off the power to the wall outlet before you remove it from the water. You could be electrocuted if you pick up your phone that is submerged in water but is still connected to a power source.
The safest way to do this is to turn off the power from the fuse
Step 3. Turn off the phone immediately even if it looks like it's still working
If you leave it on, the phone may be damaged by a short circuit. When the phone is exposed to water, assume that the device is full of water, no matter if it is still working or not.
Do not turn on the phone to check if it is still working or not
Step 4. Remove the phone battery and cover, then place it on a tissue
After you get your phone out of the water, quickly grab some tissue or a soft cloth. Place the phone on it when you remove the battery and cover. On most phones, you'll need a screwdriver (plus) to open it. For iPhone, you will need a special “pentalobe” screwdriver.
- If you don't know how to remove the battery, read your phone's manual.
- This is one of the most important steps to save the phone. Even if it's wet, many of the circuits inside the phone can survive in water if it's not connected to a power source (battery).
- To find out if the phone is really water damaged, check the corner near the battery compartment. There should be a white box or circle. If it's red or pink, the phone has been damaged by water.
Step 5. Remove the SIM card from the phone if there is one
Once removed, dry the card by patting it with a dry tissue or cloth. Place the card on a tissue or dry cloth until you reconnect the phone to the cellular network. Skip this step if your phone doesn't have a SIM card.
Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) are stored on the SIM card. Usually, this data is more valuable and worth keeping than the phone itself
Step 6. Remove all accessories attached to the phone
Remove protective caps, ear buds (small headphones that fit into your ear), memory cards, and anything else that's attached to your phone. Open all slots and crevices on the phone to expose it to air to dry it.
Method 2 of 2: Drying Phone
Step 1. Place the phone in a bowl of instant rice for 48 to 72 hours
Place 4 cups (1 liter) of rice in a large bowl, then immerse the phone and the removed battery in it. The rice will help absorb any remaining moisture in the device.
- Move the phone to another position every hour until you go to sleep. With this action, the remaining water inside the phone will drain and find its way out of the device.
- Regular white or brown rice does not absorb water as well as instant rice, and cannot be used.
Step 2. Use silica gel instead of instant rice if you have one
Put the silica gel, the phone, and the removed battery in a case. Leave the phone there for 48 to 72 hours to allow the gel to have time to absorb any remaining moisture on the phone.
- Silica gel is a small package that is usually included in shoe boxes, purses, noodle packages, and other new products.
- Speed is the most important thing to save a wet phone. So, use instant rice or another drying agent if you don't have silica gel.
Step 3. Cover the phone with 4 cups (1 liter) of cat litter crystals
If you don't have instant rice or silica gel, you can use another option. Put a layer of cat litter crystals (the granules that cats use to defecate/pee) in a container that is at least 1-2 liters in size). Next, place the unlocked phone and its battery on top of this layer. Pour the remaining cat litter crystals to cover the phone completely.
- Cat litter crystals can be found at pet or grocery stores.
- Do not use soil-based or other types of granules. Only cat litter crystals made of silica gel can be used.
- Other drying ingredients (such as steamed pearls, rice, and instant oatmeal) work well too.
Step 4. Suck the water that is on the phone with a vacuum cleaner
Attach the attachment to the end of the vacuum cleaner, then set it to the highest setting and suck the water close to all the holes in the phone.
- If you have one, the best vacuum for this step is a wet/dry type.
- This is the fastest method and can completely dry the phone and get it working within 30 minutes. However, don't try to turn it on too quickly, unless the phone has been exposed to water for only a very short time.
Step 5. Remove the water present in the phone using an air compressor
Set the air compressor to a low psi (pounds per square inch) setting. After that, blow air on the surface of the phone and all its ports.
- As an alternative, you can use compressed air packaged in cans.
- Using a high psi can damage the components inside the phone.
- Do not dry your phone using a hairdryer. The warm air can damage the components in the phone.
Step 6. Clean the phone and its battery using a soft cloth or towel
When you spray air or vacuum to dry your phone, gently wipe the device to remove any water that escapes. Your priority is to dry the inside of your phone, but you should also dry the outside.
Do not move or shake the phone excessively to prevent the water from moving
Step 7. Leave the phone in the open air while being supplied with air from the fan as another option
Place the phone on a dry towel or other absorbent surface. After that, (if you have one) turn it on and position the fan in such a way that the airflow blows over the surface of the phone.
Step 8. Wait for about 48 to 72 hours, then turn on the phone
Before turning on the phone, do a check to see if the phone is really clean and dry. Wipe the phone or use a vacuum cleaner to remove any dirt on the device or a removed battery. Next, plug the battery into the phone and try turning it back on.
The longer you wait to turn on your phone, the more likely it is that it will work properly
Tips
- Take the phone to an authorized dealer if the device still won't work. They might be able to fix it.
- Be careful when placing the phone in rice because the grains can get into the charging/headphone port.
Warning
- Never unplug the charging cable that is attached to a cellphone that is still submerged in water because it can give you an electric shock. Take the phone out of the water after you unplug the power cord that is plugged into the wall outlet.
- Do not disassemble the phone, unless you are trained to do so.
- Do not dry the phone using heat as this can cause further damage to the phone.
