Water damage is one of the most common ways that iPhones get damaged. If your iPhone has been exposed to water, you may be wondering if it can still function afterwards. The good news is that in many cases, it is possible for an iPhone to still work after getting wet. However, there are some important factors to consider when determining the extent of the water damage and what you can do to try to revive your iPhone.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about iPhones and water damage:
- It is possible for an iPhone to still work after getting wet or being exposed to water damage. However, the longer it remains wet and the more water exposure there is, the lower the chances.
- Immediately power off and dry out a wet iPhone to help minimize water damage. Do not try to charge it while it is still wet.
- Indicators that your iPhone may have serious water damage include not powering on, distorted or blurry screen, speakers/microphone not working properly, and problems with buttons or ports.
- Do not attempt to turn on or charge an iPhone that you suspect has water damage until it has fully dried out over 24-48 hours minimum.
- Disassembling a wet iPhone and cleaning internal components with isopropyl alcohol may help revive it after water exposure.
- Water indicators inside the iPhone like in the SIM card slot turning red confirm liquid exposure, but iPhones can still work sometimes even with tripped water sensors.
- If your iPhone has minimum exposure it may temporarily function after drying out, but issues like corrosion can develop over time leading to eventual failure.
How to Tell if Water Caused Internal Damage
Figuring out if your iPhone sustained major internal water damage is crucial to determining if it can be revived. Here are some signs that your iPhone may have serious water damage:
- iPhone won’t power on – If your iPhone won’t start up at all after getting wet, this indicates water reached internal components and caused a short circuit or corrosion.
- Distorted visuals – A blurry, distorted, flickering, or black display screen points to water reaching sensitive electronic display and graphics processors.
- Speakers and microphone not working – Malfunctioning speakers and microphone indicate water got into those delicate components.
- Problems with buttons – Sticky, unresponsive, or inconsistent physical buttons suggest water exposure inside the case.
- Charging issues – An iPhone that won’t charge properly after water damage means fluid likely reached the charging port and internal connections.
- Unresponsive touchscreen – A touchscreen that is no longer accurate and responsive likely has moisture damage to the digitizer and associated electronics.
- Red water contact indicators – Internal water damage sensors like those in the SIM card slot that have turned red confirm water exposure.
The more issues that are present and the more components affected, the greater the water damage is likely to be. If your iPhone shows no signs of life or obvious physical damage after getting wet, it likely has major internal water damage. But even with some of these issues, it can still potentially be revived in some cases.
Drying Out Your Wet iPhone
If your iPhone has gotten wet, it is crucial to dry it out fully before attempting to use it or charging it. Here are important tips to dry out a wet iPhone:
- Immediately power off the iPhone – This helps prevent electrical shorts and gives time to dry out.
- Avoid charging – Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone to avoid electric shock or shorts.
- Dry with soft cloth – Gently blot up excess moisture with a soft, lint-free cloth.
- Don’t use heat – Avoid applying heat like blowdryers or microwaves as it can damage components.
- Absorbent rice – Burying the iPhone in uncooked rice can help absorb moisture.
- Wait 48+ hours – Allow 48 hours minimum undisturbed drying time before attempting to use.
- Check for remaining moisture – Make sure ports, speakers, buttons are completely dry before powering back on.
Patience during the drying process allows moisture in hard to reach areas like under screen or in ports to fully evaporate. Let your iPhone dry out for at least 48 hours if not longer before attempting to power back on after water exposure.
Water Resistant iPhones
Some newer iPhone models are rated for limited water resistance:
| iPhone Model | Water Resistance Rating |
|---|---|
| iPhone 7 / 7 Plus | IP67 – Up to 1m depth for 30 minutes |
| iPhone 8 / 8 Plus | IP67 – Up to 1m depth for 30 minutes |
| iPhone X | IP67 – Up to 1m depth for 30 minutes |
| iPhone XS / XS Max | IP68 – Up to 2m depth for 30 minutes |
| iPhone XR | IP67 – Up to 1m depth for 30 minutes |
| iPhone 11 | IP68 – Up to 2m depth for 30 minutes |
| iPhone 12/12 Pro | IP68 – Up to 6m depth for 30 minutes |
| iPhone 13/13 Pro | IP68 – Up to 6m depth for 30 minutes |
While water resistance provides some protection against temporary incidental water exposure, it is not a guarantee against water damage. Extended exposure beyond the rating or damages can still allow fluid to enter. Make sure to dry out and power off water resistant iPhones immediately after getting them wet.
Reviving an iPhone After Water Exposure
If your iPhone was exposed to moisture or submerged but shows no immediate signs of serious damage, it’s possible reviving it may be an option. Here are some tips to try:
- Dry it thoroughly – Give your iPhone plenty of time to fully air dry before attempting to power back on.
- Check for signs of damage – Inspect for external corrosion, check if speakers/buttons/ports function.
- Try charging – Use a known good cable and charger and see if it will charge up.
- Power back on – After thorough drying, try powering your iPhone back on to see if it works.
- Check for restored functionality – Test speakers, microphone, WiFi, Bluetooth, cameras, etc. for proper operation after powering back on.
- Backup data – If phone powers back on, immediately backup data in case issues manifest down the line.
- Monitor closely – Check for delayed problems like glitches or corrosion developing over the following days.
If you are lucky, an iPhone dried out quickly after light water exposure has a chance of powering back on fully functional. But continue monitoring it closely for potential delayed problems. Back up data right away just in case. Any issues that develop may indicate extended water contact reached internal components.
When to Avoid Turning an iPhone Back On
Turning on a water damaged iPhone before it has sufficiently dried out can cause major problems. Avoid attempting to power on your iPhone if:
- It was immersed in liquid for an extended period
- Internal components appear visibly corroded or rusted
- There are obvious external damages like melted plastic
- Diagnostic tests indicate shorts or unresponsive components
- It emits any odd smells like burning or ozone
- It won’t power on even after thorough drying
Forcing power in these situations can cause shorts, electric shocks, or further damage. Only try turning back on an iPhone after water exposure if drying is complete and no obvious external red flags are present.
Cleaning Internal iPhone Components
For moderate to extensive water exposure, disassembling an iPhone and cleaning internal parts may be required for it to properly function again. This involves:
- Take the iPhone apart to access the interior components
- Disconnect the battery immediately to avoid shorts
- Carefully inspect for corrosion and mineral deposits
- Use 90%+ isopropyl alcohol and soft brush to gently clean affected parts
- Allow all interior areas to fully air dry before reassembly
- Replace any corroded connectors or parts as needed
Thoroughly drying out and cleaning the interior can remove shorts, corrosion, and debris to allow components damaged by water to work again. Just take care when disassembling an iPhone as not to cause any additional damage.
What to Do If Your iPhone Stays Unresponsive
If your iPhone remains unresponsive even after thorough drying and cleaning, it likely has internal damage that cannot be repaired:
- Contact Apple Support and escalate to a senior advisor to explore all available options
- Inquire about possible costs of Apple official repairs or replacements
- Ask if any temporary exceptions can be made to standard fees and policies
- Consider third party electronics repair shops for lower cost component level repairs
- If uneconomical to repair, back up data to salvage and then properly recycle
- As a precaution for the future, look into waterproof cases and insurance
With extensive water damage that prevents powering back on, repair costs may exceed the value of an older iPhone. In that situation, salvaging any retrievable data and recycling the device may be the most practical route. Just be sure to exhaust all options before giving up on an unresponsive wet iPhone.
Can a Wet iPhone Be Fixed Later On?
Even if a wet iPhone initially powers back on and seems to work, water damage can cause ongoing issues like:
- Gradual corrosion of internal components
- Intermittent glitches, freezing, shut downs
- Discoloration or damage of screen/case
- Audio problems like static or distortion
- Random device crashes or freezes
- Ports malfunctioning like charging issues
- Unresponsive or inaccurate touchscreen
These types of delayed problems stemming from liquid exposure indicate water reached and damaged internal components. To fix an iPhone once these issues emerge, options include:
- Take to Apple for official inspection and repairs
- Use independent repair shops to replace damaged parts
- Attempt DIY repairs to components like screen or battery
- Use it as-is if issues are minor and tolerable
- Do a full device swap by upgrading or insurance claim
Immediate water damage is repairable in some cases, but gradual corrosion or instability becomes harder to fix over time. It’s generally best to be proactive with repairs before intermittent issues turn into complete component failures.
Conclusion
While water exposure can certainly damage iPhones, fast action to dry out the device and proper repairs can often revive them fully or extend their lifespan. Immediately powering off a wet iPhone and giving it sufficient drying time maximizes the chances of being able to turn it back on. For minor exposure without serious immediate issues, an iPhone may continue working normally after thorough drying. But for more extensive water contact, repairs like professional cleaning or component replacement can be required in order to restore proper function. Even then, gradual corrosion problems can emerge down the line. Overall, quick response is key for water damaged iPhones. Turn it off, dry it out, and seek repairs if needed right away for the best results. With luck and proper handling, many iPhones can be revived after getting wet.