How long should you leave your iPhone in rice?

Quick answer

The recommended time to leave a wet iPhone in rice is 48-72 hours. This gives enough time for the rice to absorb moisture from the phone. Leaving it longer than 72 hours provides diminishing returns.

How does rice help dry out a wet phone?

Rice is an effective desiccant, which means it absorbs moisture. When you place a wet phone in a container of rice, the rice will gradually pull water from the phone’s interior and ports. As the rice absorbs more water, it becomes saturated. Rotating the rice every 8-12 hours will allow you to keep using fresh, dry rice to absorb more moisture.

Factors that affect drying time

Several factors affect how quickly an iPhone can dry out in rice:

Type of liquid

If the phone was submerged in fresh water, it will dry out faster than if it fell in saltwater or a sugary liquid like juice or soda. The minerals and sugars in these liquids makes it harder for the rice to absorb the moisture.

How wet the phone got

If the phone was fully submerged, especially in non-fresh water, it will take longer to dry out than if it just got splashed or dropped in water briefly. The more saturated it became, the longer you should leave it in rice.

Phone case

Take any protective case off the phone before putting it in rice. The case blocks the rice from absorbing moisture from the phone’s exterior. Remove any screen protector as well.

Temperature

Warmer temperatures allow the rice to dry out the phone faster than colder temperatures. Place the rice bag near a heat vent or in the sun to speed up drying time. Avoid direct high heat though, as this could damage the phone.

Amount and rotation of rice

Use enough rice to fully surround the phone, at least 2-3 cups. Stirring the rice periodically will expose the phone to fresh, dry rice for maximum moisture absorption.

Step-by-step guide

Follow these steps when trying to dry out a wet iPhone with rice:

Remove phone case and screen protector (if applicable).
Power off the iPhone by holding the power button until you see the “slide to power off” prompt.
Shake excess moisture off the phone gently.

Place the phone in a sealable zip-lock bag or airtight container.
Fill bag/container with uncooked white rice so phone is fully buried. Use at least 2-3 cups of rice.
Seal the container to prevent rice dust from getting into phone.

Place in warm spot out of direct sunlight. Near heat vent or in sunlight works well.
Let sit for 48 hours.
Stir rice and rotate phone in bag after 24 hours.

After 48 total hours, remove phone and check for moisture in ports.
If still wet, reseal in rice for 24 more hours.
Once completely dry, remove any rice dust with canned air before turning phone on.

Try charging phone and testing for functionality.
If phone won’t turn on or charge, leave in rice longer or seek professional repair.

How to know when iPhone is dry enough

It’s hard to visually inspect a phone to see if the interior is still wet. Here are some signs your iPhone is dry enough after using rice:

No visible moisture in ports, speakers, or other openings.
Rice no longer clumping around phone.
Phone feels room temperature.

Phone charges and powers back on successfully.
Speakers, cameras, and other features work correctly.
No condensation or fog under screen glass.

If you see moisture inside the phone, ports and openings still look wet, or the phone won’t power on, it needs more time to dry out.

What to do if rice doesn’t work

In some cases, rice may not be able to fully dry out an iPhone’s interior components. If you try the steps above but your phone still isn’t working, here are some other options:

Use a different desiccant like silica gel packs instead of rice.

Take phone to a repair shop for disassembly and professional drying.
Use a vacuum chamber designed for drying phones.
Replace any corroded or damaged electronic components.

Extensive water damage that shorts interior circuits may make data recovery impossible. If the phone powers on but doesn’t function normally, it is best to take it to an experienced repair technician at that point.

Does rice damage phones?

Rice itself does not damage phones directly. However, leaving rice in the ports and openings can potentially cause issues:

Rice dust could get trapped and block speakers, microphones or charger ports.

Rice particles could get stuck under water indicators and give false readings.
Rice residue could attract moisture back into the phone.

To avoid these issues, carefully clean out any remaining rice before turning the device back on after drying is complete. Check ports and clean with canned air.

Best practices when drying an iPhone with rice

Here are some top tips for getting optimal results when drying an iPhone with rice:

Remove any case and don’t turn on device.
Rinse phone with fresh water if dropped in liquid other than fresh water.

Bury phone fully in rice in a sealed container.
Use at least 2-3 cups of dry white rice.
Place in warm spot around 85°F-90°F (29°C-32°C).

Let sit for 48 hours minimum.
Stir rice every 8-12 hours.
Check for moisture before turning on.

Charge slowly and test before normal use.

Following these best practices maximizes the moisture absorbing power of rice and avoids common mistakes that can hinder the drying process.

Does rice actually work to dry out phones?

While the effectiveness of rice is sometimes debated, it does technically work as a desiccant. The key is being patient and allowing enough time for it to fully work. There are a few reasons some people think rice doesn’t work:

Not leaving phone in rice long enough (at least 48 hours).
Trying to turn phone on before fully dry.
Having rice get stuck in ports.

Severe liquid damage requires professional repair.

So while simply dropping a phone in rice for a few hours may not be effective, leaving it buried for 2-3 days can absolutely help extract moisture in many cases. Warm temperatures or using silica gel can make rice even more effective.

Other common drying methods

While rice is the most popular DIY method, there are other ways people try to dry out wet phones at home. Here are a few other common moisture absorbing tricks and how they compare to rice:

Silica gel packets

Silica gel is extremely moisture absorbent, even more so than rice. Using it the same way as rice by burying the phone can effectively dry it out. The downside is that most people don’t have enough extra silica packs.

Cat litter

The granules in cat litter can absorb moisture similar to rice. It may be less effective than rice or silica gel though depending on the type. Avoid scented or clay varieties as they may transfer odor or dust.

Alcohol bath

Submerging the phone in 90%+ isopropyl alcohol displaces water. However, it could damage phone screens and won’t fully dry interior components. Safer alternatives are usually preferred.

Vacuum drying

Special vacuum chamber machines remove moisture rapidly without heat risk. However, they aren’t accessible to most consumers outside of professional phone repair shops.

Method	Effectiveness	Accessibility
Rice	Very good	Easy
Silica Gel	Excellent	Moderate
Cat Litter	Good	Easy
Alcohol Bath	Moderate	Easy
Vacuum Drying	Excellent	Hard

Other ways to dry a wet phone

Aside from various moisture absorbing substances, there are a few other DIY tricks people try to dry out wet phones:

Hair dryer – using low heat setting at a distance.

Sunlight – place in sunny spot to utilize warmth.
Ventilation – point fan directly at phone.
Paper towels – gently wipe up excess moisture if wet.

Be very careful with heat sources like blow dryers to avoid damaging phone. Cooler external drying methods should always be used sparingly in conjunction with rice or similar internal drying techniques for optimal results.

How to keep phone dry in the future

The best solution is preventing iPhones from getting wet in the first place. Here are some tips to keep your phone dry:

Use protective case and waterproof covering.

Avoid excessive pool/beach/water use.
Never charge phone near sink or bath.
Turn off and seal phone in plastic bags if going in water.

Have phone repairs done by professionals.
Use phone far away from drinks.
Store phone safely if living in humid climate.

Being proactive is much easier than trying to revive a phone after water damage. But if an accident does occur, rice can be an effective way to try and dry out a phone when done properly.

Conclusion

An iPhone that gets dropped in liquid is best dried out by burying it rice for 48-72 hours. Rice absorbs ambient moisture from the phone’s interior when sealed in an airtight bag or container. For optimal results, use plenty of rice, maintain warm temperatures, stir periodically, and check for full dryness before charging or using phone. While not a perfect fix for severe water damage, rice offers a cost-effective drying method that can successfully revive many wet phones when done thoroughly and patiently. Taking proper precautions to keep phones away from liquids in the first place is always the safest approach.