Water damage is one of the most common issues that can affect iPhones. If your iPhone has been exposed to water, even a small amount, there are some telltale signs you can look for to determine if water has affected the device.
Physical Signs of Water Damage
Some of the most obvious signs of water damage are physical cues that you can see on the iPhone itself. Here are some things to look for:
- Water droplets or condensation inside the phone
- Corrosion on metallic parts like screws or brackets
- Erosion of water sealants around ports, buttons, or perimeter
- Cracked or bulging casing from water exposure
- Foggy or stained internal components
- Rust on internal screws, solder points, or metal shielding
- Residue left after water evaporates such as calcium or salt deposits
Take a close visual inspection of the entire phone to look for any signs of water infiltration or corrosion. Pay close attention to the charging port, headphone jack, SIM card slot, buttons, seams and perimeter seals. If you see any evidence of water exposure, it’s a clear sign your iPhone has suffered water damage.
Functional Issues Caused by Liquid
Water can cause all kinds of functionality problems in an iPhone, from minor glitches to complete device failure. Here are some of the common issues water damage can cause:
- Not powering on when pressing the power button
- Not charging or holding charge when plugged in
- Speakers not working or reduced audio volume
- Problems with touch screen responsiveness
- Buttons or switches not responding
- Front or rear camera failing or working intermittently
- Corrosion causing short circuiting internally
- Interference with WiFi, Bluetooth or cellular signals
- Inability to make or receive calls
- Apps crashing or freezing unexpectedly
Any functionality issues that occur immediately or shortly after your iPhone gets wet are good indicators of water damage. The liquid can quickly cause corrosion, electrical shorts, and component malfunctions. If your phone starts acting up right after a water exposure incident, getting it checked for water intrusion is highly recommended.
Warning Messages on Screen
Your iPhone may display certain warning messages on the screen if it detects the presence of liquid internally. Here are some of the error messages you may see:
- “Liquid Contact Indicator Red” – The LCI sensor inside the phone has been triggered.
- “Device Too Hot. Turn Off Until it Cools Down” – A sign of short circuiting due to water.
- “Accessory Not Supported” – Water is interfering with an accessory connection like headphones.
- “Accessory May Not Be Supported” – The accessory circuitry has been damaged.
- “This accessory is not supported” – Water has corroded the accessory port or related circuitry.
Any of these warning messages indicate water has made its way into the sensitive internal electronics of the iPhone. Do not ignore these alerts. The longer the iPhone remains on with moisture inside, the more damage can occur.
Problems with the Headphone Jack
One of the most vulnerable components of the iPhone is the headphone jack. It is a small port that water can easily seep into, leading to audio problems and corrosion of the connector contacts. Here are some typical water damage issues with the headphone jack:
- Headphones only playing in one ear or no audio at all
- Crackling or popping sounds when using headphones
- Music cutting out or volume decreasing/increasing on its own
- Unable to plug headphones in completely due to corrosion
- Headphone controls not functioning
- On-screen headphone controls missing
Any time you experience headset problems immediately following water exposure, it likely indicates water has reached the headphone jack and caused corrosion. Make sure to get your iPhone checked for water damage right away to prevent permanent damage.
Problems Charging the Battery
The charging port is similarly vulnerable to water. If moisture seeps into the charging port, it can cause issues like:
- iPhone won’t charge when plugged in
- Charger cable connection intermittent or loose
- Charging port getting hot during charging
- Charging slowly or taking longer than usual
- Battery percentage going down instead of up while charging
- Needing to hold charger cable at certain angle to charge
- iPhone display not turning on when charging
Corrosion buildup from water creates resistance that inhibits the electrical flow needed for charging. Any charging difficulties that start after getting your iPhone wet indicate water intrusion into the charging port. Do not keep trying to charge it, as this can cause short circuit damage.
Backlight or Display Issues
Since water should never come in contact with the display or backlight, any issues with the screen visibility or function after a water exposure event implies damage has occurred:
- Dim display even at full brightness
- Dark blotches or spots on LCD panel
- Display flickering, flashing or distortion
- Dead pixels – dots that do not light up on the screen
- Horizontal or vertical lines on the display
- Unresponsive touch screen
- Touch screen registers wrong buttons
- Water droplets or moisture visible under display glass
If you notice any of these screen abnormalities seeming to occur overnight, it often means water has infiltrated the light-sensitive electronics behind the LCD. This requires immediate repair before permanent failure occurs.
Face ID or Camera Not Working
Two very delicate components of iPhones are the front-facing TrueDepth camera system for Face ID and the rear camera modules. Even a little bit of water in the wrong place can make them glitch or fail entirely:
- Unable to enroll a new Face ID facial profile
- Face ID not recognizing existing enrolled faces
- Blurry, distorted or darkened camera image
- Horizontal lines in photos or videos
- Green, blue or pink tint to image
- No image on viewfinder, black screen
- Flash not working
- Rattling or buzzing sounds from camera
- Front or rear camera not focusing
Since these components contain sensitive optics and electronics that do not tolerate moisture, water damage requiring repair is likely if you experience any facial authentication or camera problems immediately after submerging your iPhone.
How to Dry Out a Wet iPhone
If your iPhone has been exposed to liquid, it’s important to dry it out as quickly as possible to give yourself the best chance of saving it. Here are some tips for drying out a wet iPhone:
- Immediately power off the iPhone. This helps prevent short circuiting.
- Do not charge the wet iPhone, as this can damage it.
- Dab away excess moisture with a microfiber cloth.
- Use a hair dryer on low heat setting to blow dry the iPhone.
- Place the iPhone in front of a fan to air dry it.
- Leave the iPhone in a sealed bag of dry rice overnight to absorb moisture.
- Set the iPhone out on an absorbent cloth or paper towels.
- Avoid using things like ovens or microwaves to dry, which can damage the iPhone.
The key is to gently dry the iPhone as quickly as possible without applying direct heat. Remove any case and wipe away all water before drying. Check port openings for trapped liquid. Drying it out may save it temporarily, but water damage may still occur over time. It’s best to get professional help assessing it for repair needs.
Conclusion
Water and smartphones do not mix well, as even a small amount of liquid can damage the sensitive electronic components inside an iPhone. If your iPhone has encountered water through an accidental spill, drop into water, or submersion, look for signs like moisture in ports, glitchy performance, charging issues, and camera or display problems. These all indicate water has infiltrated your iPhone and caused some level of damage. Make sure to quickly dry it out and have it inspected by a repair shop. Water damage often worsens over time and leads to catastrophic failure if left unchecked. Getting your wet iPhone assessed right away gives you the best chance of reversing the damage and saving your device.