What to do if your phone gets wet (and why not rice)

A phone in the sink, the pool or the toilet is one of the most common accidents there is, and what you do in the first few minutes matters more than anything after. The good news: most modern iPhones, Galaxy and Pixel phones are water resistant and survive a quick dunk in fresh water. The bad news: water resistance is not waterproofing, and damage can show up days later. Here is what to do, what not to do, and how to tell whether you need a repair.

What to do if your phone gets wet: the first 5 minutes

What not to do

• No heat: a hair dryer, oven, microwave or radiator can warp parts, weaken the adhesive seals and damage the battery.
• No compressed air: it can push water deeper inside.
• Nothing in the ports: cotton swabs and paper towels leave fibers behind and can bend the pins.
• No charging to “test” it: power plus water is what causes most lasting damage.
• No opening it yourself: modern phones are sealed with adhesive, and opening one breaks the water seal and can void coverage.

Salt water, pool water, soda or coffee

Fresh water is the easy case. Salt, chlorine, sugar and milk leave residue that keeps corroding the metal inside long after the phone looks dry. Apple and Samsung both advise rinsing the phone briefly in clean tap water after contact with liquids other than water, then drying it as above. It feels wrong, but a short rinse removes the residue that does the real harm. If the phone went into the ocean or a sugary drink and was not water resistant, take it to a repair shop soon, even if it seems to work.

Dropped in the toilet?

Get it out quickly, turn it off and follow the same drying steps. To clean it, wipe the outside with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or disinfecting wipe, which Apple says is safe for the exterior, while keeping liquid out of the openings. Do not spray cleaner onto the phone or soak it.

Liquid Detected on iPhone

iPhone XS and later can detect liquid in the Lightning or USB-C port. If you plug in a cable while the port is wet, you will see a Liquid Detected or Charging Not Available alert. Unplug the cable, tap the iPhone gently with the port facing down, and leave it somewhere dry with air flow. Wait at least 30 minutes before trying again, and longer if the alert comes back. There is an emergency override option in the alert, but Apple recommends using it only in an emergency, because charging while wet can damage the port and the phone. See what to do when your iPhone says liquid detected.

Moisture detected on Samsung

Galaxy phones show a “Moisture has been detected in your charging port” message, with a water drop icon, and stop cable charging until the port is dry. Dry the port with a soft cloth, shake the phone gently with the port facing down, and let it air dry. The alert clears on its own once the port is dry. If it stays for days after the phone has been dry, the port may be dirty or damaged; a repair shop can clean or replace it.

Is my phone waterproof? What IP68 really means

Most recent flagship phones are rated IP68. The 6 means dust tight, and the 8 means it survived the manufacturer’s own submersion test. Apple rates iPhone 12 and later to a depth of up to 6 meters for up to 30 minutes, and Samsung and Google rate recent Galaxy S and Pixel phones to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. Those tests use still, fresh water in a lab.

• Resistance wears down over time as the adhesive seals age.
• A drop, a cracked back or a past repair can break the seal.
• Pressure from swimming, waves, jets or a shower is not the same as still water.
• Hot water, steam, soap and salt are not covered by the rating.
• Apple, Samsung and Google warranties do not cover liquid damage, even on IP68 phones.

In short, the rating makes survival more likely, not guaranteed. Treat every dunk as a potential problem.

Signs of hidden water damage

A wet phone can work fine for a day and then fail as corrosion spreads. Over the next few weeks, watch for:

• Fog or droplets inside the camera lens.
• A muffled speaker or microphone. Water in the speaker grille often clears in a day; if not, see fixing a phone speaker that is not working.
• A screen that flickers, shows lines or registers touches on its own.
• Charging that starts and stops, or a battery that drains fast or gets hot.
• Random restarts, or a phone that will not turn on at all.
• On iPhone, a red liquid contact indicator inside the SIM tray slot, which a technician can check.

It still will not turn on: repair or replace?

After 48 hours of drying, try charging it. If nothing happens, see what to do when a phone will not turn on. If it still fails, you have three routes:

• AppleCare+ or Samsung Care+: accidental damage, including liquid, is covered for a service fee. With AppleCare+, that is $99 for “other damage” on iPhone. See whether AppleCare+ is worth it.
• Carrier protection or insurance: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile plans cover liquid damage for a deductible that depends on the phone. File the claim through your carrier. Some credit cards and renters or homeowners policies also cover phones, so check before paying out of pocket.
• Independent repair: a good shop can clean corrosion from the board, which sometimes saves a phone, or recover your data even when the phone cannot be saved. Ask for a diagnosis and a quote first.

If the phone is several years old and the repair quote is high, replacing it may make more sense. A dead phone often still has trade-in or parts value. See how much your iPhone is worth.

How to protect your phone next time

• Keep photos and messages backed up automatically to iCloud or Google.
• Use a waterproof pouch at the beach, pool or on a boat.
• Do not take the phone into the shower or a hot tub, even if it is rated IP68.
• Replace a cracked back or screen promptly, since cracks let water in.
• Consider AppleCare+ or Samsung Care+ if you are often near water or have kids.