Modern phones are more water-resistant than they used to be, but water resistance degrades over time and doesn't cover submersion, salt water, or drops at depth. Here's what to do — and what not to do.

Do These Things Immediately

  1. Get it out of the water fast. The longer it's submerged, the worse the damage.
  2. Power it off. If the phone is still on, power it off immediately. Electricity and water together cause most of the damage — not the water alone.
  3. Remove the case and any accessories.
  4. Remove the SIM card using the ejector tool or a paperclip. Set it aside to dry.
  5. Gently shake the phone to dislodge water from the ports, then pat the outside dry with a clean, absorbent cloth. Don't rub vigorously — this can push water further in.
  6. Hold the phone with the ports facing down for a minute or two to let water drain out by gravity.

Do Not Do These Things

  • Do not use a hairdryer or put it near a heater. Heat can damage the battery, warp components, and force water vapour deeper into the phone.
  • Do not put it in a bag of rice. This is a persistent myth. Rice draws little moisture and introduces starch dust into your ports. It does essentially nothing useful.
  • Do not charge it until you're confident it's fully dry. Charging a wet phone causes short circuits.
  • Do not press buttons repeatedly — this can pump water further into the internals.

What to Do Next

Leave the phone in a dry, well-ventilated place at room temperature for at least 24–48 hours. You can place silica gel packets (the small sachets found in shoe boxes and packaging) nearby — unlike rice, silica gel is actually effective at absorbing moisture.

After drying time has passed:

  1. Visually check all ports for moisture — shine a torch inside.
  2. Plug in a charger and see if a charge indicator appears.
  3. Power on carefully. If it powers on and works normally, use it but monitor closely for any unusual behaviour over the next day or two (distorted audio, camera fog, intermittent charging).

iPhone Moisture Detection

If you plug a Lightning or USB-C cable into a wet iPhone, iOS may show a liquid detection alert and block charging. Don't override this — let the phone dry and the warning will clear on its own once the port is fully dry.

What If It Doesn't Turn On?

If the phone doesn't respond after drying, corrosion may have already set in. A repair shop can sometimes clean the logic board with ultrasonic cleaning equipment and restore a water-damaged phone — it's worth getting a quote before writing it off. Act quickly, as corrosion progresses over days.

If you have phone insurance that covers accidental damage, now is the time to check your policy. Ask us if you need help understanding your options.