Water damage is one of the most common ways that an iPhone can become damaged. If your iPhone 8 has been exposed to water, you may be wondering if it’s possible to fix it and recover your data. The good news is that in many cases, an iPhone 8 can be repaired after water damage. However, the extent of the damage and how quickly you act to mitigate it will determine your chances of success.
What causes water damage in an iPhone 8?
There are a few key components inside your iPhone that can be damaged by water exposure:
- The logic board – This contains the main processors and electronics that make the iPhone work. Water can short circuit and corrode the logic board.
- The battery – Water can corrode the battery contacts and internals, preventing it from charging properly.
- Sensors – Water can interfere with touch screen functionality and damage proximity or ambient light sensors.
- Speakers and microphones – These delicate components can be damaged by water exposure.
Water damage typically occurs when an iPhone is submerged in liquid, splashed, or exposed to very humid conditions. The water can get into internal components through the charging port, headset jack, or gaps around the screen and aluminium housing.
Quick answers:
Can an iPhone 8 be fixed after being splashed with water briefly?
Yes, if it was just splashed and dried quickly, it is likely fixable.
What are the chances of fixing an iPhone 8 after being submerged in water?
It depends on factors like how long it was submerged, but there is a good chance if you act quickly to dry it out.
Does Apple cover water damage under warranty?
Unfortunately no, Apple’s limited warranty does not cover liquid damage to an iPhone.
Is it worth trying to fix an iPhone 8 with water damage?
In many cases, it is worth trying to fix an iPhone 8 that has been exposed to water rather than replacing the device. The cost of an out of warranty repair or third party fix is often much less than the price of a brand new iPhone 8. However, the more extensive the water damage, the lower the chances of a successful repair. Here are some key factors to consider:
- How long was the iPhone in contact with water? If it was just splashed briefly and quickly dried out, the prognosis is better than if it was submerged for a long time.
- Does it turn on currently? If your iPhone 8 won’t power on at all after water exposure, it suggests more extensive damage.
- Which components seem damaged? For example, if the camera or speakers don’t work, these may be repairable, versus a damaged logic board which is tougher to fix.
- Does the screen work? Can you at least access the iPhone interface and retrieve data? This suggests less drastic damage.
- How quickly can you get professional help? The faster you can get to a repair shop, the better chance they can mitigate damage.
Even if there are significant symptoms like no power, screen failure, or inaccessible ports, data recovery may still be possible and worthwhile. An experienced repair tech can open the iPhone and work on individual components to revive the device.
What to do if your iPhone 8 gets water damage
If your iPhone 8 has been exposed to liquid, here are some steps to take right away for the best chance of saving it:
- Dry it out immediately – Remove the iPhone from the water and dry it thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth. Try to soak up any standing liquid from ports or openings.
- Don’t charge it – Don’t try to power on your iPhone or connect it to a charger. This can cause short circuiting if there is water still inside.
- Disassemble it – If you feel comfortable, open up the iPhone (following a guide) to access and dry internal components. Pull out removable parts like SIM tray.
- Use desiccants – Place your iPhone in a ziplock bag with desiccant packs or uncooked rice. These will absorb residual moisture.
- Let it sit – Leave your iPhone turned off and drying out for at least 24-48 hours before attempting to use it.
- Try recovery mode – After drying, connect to iTunes and see if the iPhone will enter recovery mode for data retrieval.
- Consult a pro – If you cannot get the phone working after drying it, take it to a reputable repair shop for assessment.
The key is to act quickly to remove or absorb as much liquid as possible, before corrosion and short circuiting can occur. With rapid action, you can greatly improve the chances of reviving an iPhone 8 from even significant water damage.
Professional iPhone 8 water damage repair options
For the best chance of success, you may need to enlist professional phone repair services for an iPhone 8 with water damage. Here are some options to consider:
Apple
You can make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store and have them assess the iPhone 8. However, since liquid damage typically voids the warranty, there will likely be a out-of-warranty fee ranging from $229 to $549 to repair an iPhone 8 depending on damage.
Third party and independent repair shops
A decent independent repair shop experienced in water damage and microsoldering may be able to fix an iPhone 8 for $100-$300 depending on damage level. Search for shops with high ratings that offer microsoldering services.
Mail-in repair services
Companies like iCracked and uBreakiFix do mail-in iPhone 8 water damage repair services, with costs averaging $200-$400 depending on parts needing replacement. This can be more convenient than visiting a shop.
DIY repair
You can buy iPhone 8 replacement parts and perform repairs yourself if you are technically skilled. For example, replacement logic boards can be found for $100-$200. Watch repair videos to learn.
Weigh the pros and cons of each service in terms of costs, convenience, turnaround time, and quality of service when deciding where to get professional help. For moderate to severe water damage, professional microsoldering services give you the best chance of success.
Can an iPhone 8 be fixed after salt water damage?
If your iPhone 8 was exposed to salt water, such as from an ocean or saltwater pool, can it still be repaired? Salt water can be even more damaging than fresh water to an iPhone 8, but successful repair is still possible in many cases if you act quickly.
The main risk with salt water is that the dissolved sodium and chloride ions are very conductive and corrosive. Salt can rapidly oxidize and shorten interior circuits and components once inside the phone.
However, by immediately rinsing and immersing the iPhone 8 in fresh water after salt water exposure, you can wash away the corrosive salts before they can do maximal damage. Just be sure to dry the phone thoroughly afterwards.
Beyond this rapid salt removal, the approach is similar to fresh water damage – letting the phone dry out completely before attempting to power it on and enlisting professional help if needed. With rapid action, there are high chances of salvaging an iPhone 8 even after saltwater damage.
Can an iPhone 8 be fixed after toilet water damage?
If your iPhone 8 has fallen into a toilet, can it be repaired? Toilet water damage is an unfortunate accident that most iPhone owners don’t even want to imagine. But even if your iPhone took an unexpected dip in the toilet, don’t panic. There are some steps you can take to give yourself the best shot at saving your iPhone 8.
The first priority is extracting the iPhone from the toilet water as quickly as possible to minimize liquid exposure. Be sure to avoid pushing any toilet water further into ports and openings as you remove it. Once extracted, follow the other emergency water damage steps – dry the phone thoroughly with a soft cloth, do not attempt to charge it, and place in rice or desiccant packs.
The main concern with toilet water is the spread of bacteria such as E.coli from toilet contents to the phone surfaces and interior. Thoroughly cleaning the affected iPhone 8 exterior and ports with isopropyl alcohol can help disinfect and reduce bacteria spread.
As long as you act fast to dry the phone out, there is a very decent chance an iPhone 8 can be revived and disinfected even after an unexpected toilet dunking. Be extra vigilant about cleaning, let the phone dry out for at least 48-72 hours, and watch for any signs of corrosion over the following days. Consult a phone repair specialist if needed to assess and restore functionality.
Water damage indicators in iPhone 8
iPhones contain special internal indicators that can detect if the phone has been exposed to liquid. This allows technicians to quickly assess whether water damage has occurred when inspecting a malfunctioning iPhone 8.
There are small circular paper-like stickers visible inside the iPhone 8 SIM card slot and headphone jack port. These are water contact indicators, and they will turn red if they come in contact with liquid. A red water contact indicator means internal water damage has likely occurred.
There are also liquid submersion indicators located on internal components like the logic board inside the iPhone 8. These are small sniffers that corrode and change color permanently when exposed to high humidity or liquid. The markings are visible under a microscope.
While red water contact stickers clearly confirm water damage, their absence does not necessarily rule it out. It is still possible for internal water damage to occur without triggering the external indicators. But the indicators provide a quick visual reference for technicians to ascertain probable water exposure when diagnosing an iPhone 8.
Cost to fix an iPhone 8 with water damage
How much can you expect to pay to get an iPhone 8 repaired after water or liquid damage? The cost will vary significantly based on the severity of damage and which components need to be replaced:
- Minor damage requiring cleaning and drying: $0 if DIY, $50-$100 via repair shop
- Charging port replacement: $50-$100
- New battery: $49-$89
- Screen repair: $129-$179 for new OEM screen
- Speaker or mic replacement: $25-$50 per component
- Logic board repair: $150-$350+ depending on damage
- Full device replacement: $379+ for replacement refurbished iPhone 8
The range is wide – from potentially just needing a good cleaning and drying for minor exposure, up to $600+ if you need a full logic board and display replacement. Factor in the value of your data and convenience as well when choosing whether to repair or replace your malfunctioning iPhone 8.
Data recovery from a water damaged iPhone 8
If your iPhone 8 succumbed to water damage, all hope of retrieving your data is not lost. Even if the phone itself no longer powers on or functions, professional data recovery services may be able to salvage photos, messages, and other data from the damaged device.
How water can damage iPhone data
When water seeps into an iPhone 8, it can damage data storage and access in a few ways:
- Corrosion of storage chips on the logic board – This can block data retrieval
- Short circuit motherboard components – Prevents system power up and data access
- Damage to display, buttons, and ports – Limits user’s physical access to data
So while the data itself may remain intact on flash storage chips, water damage can block the systems to correctly access it and render it unrecoverable through normal means.
Professional iPhone 8 data recovery process
Specialized data recovery firms like DriveSavers use sophisticated tools and techniques to extract data from even badly damaged iPhones. The general process involves:
- Carefully disassembling the damaged iPhone to access storage components
- Using imaging equipment to create a bit-for-bit copy of iPhone flash memory chips
- Transferring the imaged data to a functioning computer system
- Running proprietary software to reconstruct corrupted data on the created image
- Recovering and delivering the salvaged user data to the customer
This highly controlled professional environment allows retrieval of user data even when the iPhone itself is beyond physical repair. However, data recovery does not come cheap – expect to pay $500-$1000+ for an iPhone 8 data recovery service depending on damage level.
DIY data recovery methods
If money is a limiting factor, you may want to try some DIY iPhone data recovery methods before resorting to a professional service. Some options include:
- Drying out the iPhone thoroughly and trying recovery mode to access data.
- Using data recovery software like iSkysoft or EaseUS to scan and extract data from a connected iPhone.
- Plugging the iPhone logic board into a donor working iPhone if possible.
- Consulting online DIY iPhone data recovery forums for troubleshooting tips.
These DIY methods do require technical skill and have mixed success rates. But the cost is minimal, so may be worth attempting before paying for professional recovery.
Can you prevent iPhone 8 water damage?
While accidental spills and dunks can always happen, there are some steps you can take to help prevent liquid damage to your iPhone 8:
- Use a protective case designed to be waterproof or water resistant for daily protection.
- Avoid exposing your iPhone to rain and humidity when possible.
- Keep your iPhone away from pools, beaches, bathtubs and other risky liquid environments.
- Never charge your iPhone while it is damp or wet.
- Inspect gaskets and seals periodically and replace them if worn.
- Consider getting AppleCare+ coverage for cheaper repair costs if damage does occur.
While you can never guarantee an accident won’t happen, following sensible precautions can greatly reduce the risk of your iPhone 8 sustaining water damage and needing costly repairs down the line.
Conclusion
Water damage is a common issue that can prematurely end the life of an iPhone 8. However, with rapid drying and mitigation steps after exposure, plus possible professional repair, there is a very decent chance of salvaging a water damaged iPhone 8 in many cases.
The key is to quickly dry it out, avoid powering it on until completely dry, and seek professional help for component-level repairs if needed. Data can often also still be recovered. With some effort and persistence, an iPhone 8 can frequently be revived after even extensive water damage and continue functioning.
