Water damage is one of the most common issues that can affect iPhones. iPhones are not waterproof, so exposing them to water or moisture can cause serious problems. Water damage can happen from a variety of sources like dropping your phone in water, getting caught in the rain, spills and leaks. When water gets inside your iPhone it can damage important components and corrode the internal circuitry. Recognizing the signs of water damage quickly is important so you can try to dry out and save your iPhone before the damage becomes irreparable.
Physical Signs of Water Damage on iPhone
There are a number of physical signs that can indicate your iPhone has gotten wet and suffered water damage:
- Condensation or moisture underneath the screen – One of the most obvious signs of water damage is visible condensation or moisture underneath your iPhone’s screen. This indicates water has gotten inside your phone and has condensed under the screen.
- Blurry or distorted display – When water seeps into the internal components it can cause the circuits to short out and malfunction. This can result in a blurred, discolored or distorted display as the graphics and touch input becomes unreliable.
- Flickering, frozen or unresponsive screen – As water causes components to short out and corrode, it can lead to a screen that flickers, freezes up, or becomes completely unresponsive. The phone may work intermittently or not at all.
- Bubbles or fogging in camera lenses – If moisture gets in the iPhone’s camera lenses it can cause foggy patches, bubbles or blurred spots in photos. This indicates water has gotten inside the camera housing.
- Muffled or inaudible speakers – Water can muffle a phone’s speakers and cause audio to become distorted, muted or cut out entirely. This happens as water causes corrosion of the speaker cones and internal circuits.
- Cracked or damaged casing – In some cases dropping an iPhone in water with enough force can cause physical cracks or damage to the casing from the impact. Carefully inspect your phone for any new cracks or impacts.
- Charging issues – Attempting to charge a water damaged iPhone may not work at all or could result in irregular charging. This is due to corrosion of the charging port or internal components.
- Malfunctioning buttons – If water seeps into the seams and gets under the iPhone’s buttons it can cause them to stick and malfunction. Buttons may become hard to press, stop clicking, or stop working.
- Peeling or eroded SIM card – A very wet SIM card might start peeling or show signs of damage from water exposure once removed from the SIM card slot.
- Oxidation or corrosion inside ports – If you shine a flashlight inside the charging port, headphone jack or other openings you may see signs of oxidation or corrosion from water exposure and damage.
Performance Issues from Liquid Damage
In addition to physical signs, water damage can cause a variety of performance issues:
- Random app crashes or glitches
- Slow response when opening apps
- Overheating or hot spots on the casing
- Decreased battery life
- Freezing and unresponsive touch screen
- Unexpected shut downs or reboots
- General software instability
- Cellular and WiFi connection problems
- Faulty vibration or haptic feedback
Water causes electrical shorts and corrosion that can lead to unpredictable glitches, crashes and general software instability. Any variety of apps and iPhone features may start malfunctioning if water damage is present.
Signs of Draining Battery from Water Damage
One common iPhone issue caused by water damage is faster battery drainage. Here are some signs your battery is draining abnormally due to liquid exposure:
- Battery drains significantly faster than normal
- Phone gets hot while charging
- Battery no longer holds a full charge
- Battery percentage drops rapidly even when not in use
- Phone randomly shuts down with battery remaining
- Low battery warning comes on earlier than expected
The internal corrosion caused by water can put more load on the battery. Short circuits from water damage also cause the battery to work harder and drain faster trying to power the iPhone.
How to Check for Water Damage on iPhone
If you suspect your iPhone has water damage but aren’t sure, here are some methods to help detect it:
- Check for moisture in the SIM card slot and headphone jack using a flashlight. Carefully blot any moisture with a microfiber cloth.
- Open the SIM card tray and inspect the card and surrounding areas for corrosion, moisture or fogging.
- Check if the iPhone camera lenses or flash have condensation or fogging inside.
- Look for oxidation or white/red corrosion inside the charging port and dock connector using a flashlight.
- See if the display has moisture or condensation when shining a flashlight at an angle under the screen.
- Check for tiny bubble-like dots under the screen glass which indicate trapped moisture.
- Install a battery monitoring app and check if the battery is showing abnormal drainage.
- Backup iPhone data and restore it, monitoring if issues like crashes persist after wiping the phone.
Being methodical and checking all openings, components, and software can determine if water damage is responsible for any iPhone issues you’re experiencing.
Fixing an iPhone with Minor Water Damage
If your iPhone shows signs of slight water exposure but is still somewhat functional, here are some steps to try and fix it:
- Immediately power off the iPhone if it’s still on and avoid charging it. This helps prevent electrical shorts as it dries.
- Remove the SIM card and dry it off with a soft cloth.
- Vigorously shake out water and dry the iPhone with lint-free cloth.
- Place it upside down on an absorbent towel to draw moisture out.
- Leave the phone to air dry for at least 24 hours in a dry environment.
- Check openings like the SIM slot for remaining moisture.
- When fully dried, attempt powering on the iPhone.
- If it works, back up data immediately in case issues crop up again.
- Monitor battery performance and functionality for a few days.
- Contact Apple Support if problems persist for a full checkup.
This process can resuscitate an iPhone with minor exposure but liquid damage can be unpredictable. Quick action gives you the best chance of saving it.
Water Damaged iPhone Won’t Turn On
One of the most serious signs of iPhone water damage is it not turning on at all. Here are some fixes to try if your iPhone won’t power on due to water exposure:
- Dry it thoroughly for at least 72 hours and try again. Extended drying time can help severely wet iPhones.
- Try connecting it to power – some water damaged iPhones only respond when plugged into power while turned off.
- Clean any corrosion in the Lightning port in case that is preventing charging and power on.
- Take it to an Apple store and ask for a diagnostic test to check if components like the logic board are damaged.
- Use moisture-absorbing products like silica gel packs near the iPhone for a few days then test again.
- As a last resort, speak to Apple or a repair shop about replacement options for any damaged internal components.
An iPhone that experienced significant water exposure may not power on due to electrical shorts or damaged connectors. Letting it dry fully before further disassembly or component replacements can bring it back to life.
Best Methods for Drying a Wet iPhone
When trying to revive a water damaged iPhone, proper drying is crucial. Here are effective methods for drying out an iPhone and removing moisture:
- Lightly dab the exterior with an absorbent cloth – Don’t rub as that spreads moisture.
- Use a can of compressed air to blow lingering moisture out of cracks and openings.
- Place it upright in a bowl of dry rice to draw moisture out from the inside.
- Leave it powered off for 72 hours minimum, up to a week for very wet phones.
- Set it on an absorbent towel and position a fan nearby to circulate air.
- Insert moisture-absorbing gel packs or silica packets in a sealed bag with the phone.
- Avoid heat sources which can further corrode components inside the iPhone.
- Check port openings, buttons, seals for residual moisture.
- Charge the phone after drying only when inspection shows its fully dry internally.
Be patient and allow sufficient drying time for the best chance of restoring your iPhone after water exposure. Rushing the drying process risks short circuiting still-wet components.
Water Damage Repair Options for iPhone
If DIY drying does not successfully fix your water damaged iPhone, repair options include:
- Apple Support – Make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store for a diagnostic. Apple can replace damaged parts that are out of warranty for a fee.
- Third party repair shops – Many independent repair shops offer microsoldering and board-level repairs to fix iPhone water damage and recover data.
- Mail-in iPhone repair services – Companies like iCracked and uBreakiFix accept mailed-in iPhones for inspection and water damage repairs.
- AppleCare+ claim – If you have AppleCare+ coverage on your iPhone you can pay the incident fee for water damage repair.
- Insurance claim – Mobile phone insurance through carriers or third parties may cover water damage repair or replacement.
- Out of warranty replacement – Apple or third parties can recover data and replace your iPhone’s damaged parts for a cost.
Severe internal water damage often requires professional microsoldering work or replacement parts. It’s smart to have the phone inspected to determine if DIY repairs are viable.
iPhone Water Damage Repair Costs
Typical repair costs for water damaged iPhones include:
- Apple Out-of-warranty repair – $319+
- Third party iPhone repair shop – $60 – $250
- AppleCare+ with water damage – $99 service fee
- iPhone replacement via insurance – $50 – $250 deductible
- Mail-in iPhone repair service – $60 – $180
- Replacing a water damaged iPhone – $599+ for new device
Costs vary widely based on the severity of damage, parts needing replacement, and who does the repair work. Mild fixes can be cheaper, while significant damage requiring a replacement phone is more expensive. Finding the right solution for the level of damage makes the most economic sense.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover iPhone Water Damage?
Typical homeowners insurance policies do not cover iPhone water damage, but exceptions include:
- The damage occurred from a covered peril like a storm, flood, or pipe leak.
- You have personal property coverage endorsements for portable electronics.
- The phone was lost or damaged during a theft claim event.
- The damage happened offsite so a valuables or umbrella policy could apply.
Standard homeowners and renters insurance does not cover accidental iPhone water damage. It’s worth checking your policy or calling your insurer to learn if any exceptions allow for a claim.
Preventing iPhone Water Damage
While not waterproof, you can take steps to help prevent iPhone water damage:
- Use a protective waterproof case when at the beach, pool, boating or doing water activities.
- Never charge an iPhone near water sources where it could be splashed or fall in.
- Be cautious using iPhone in the rain, as water can seep into gaps.
- Keep your iPhone away from damp areas like bathrooms that can lead to moisture collecting.
- Avoid placing the iPhone in pockets or bags that could get wet unexpectedly.
- Take care when drinking around your iPhone to avoid spills, especially in the ports.
- Inspect the SIM card slot, headphone jack and charging port to ensure they are debris and moisture-free.
- Never try to purposefully wash or rinse off your iPhone, even if you think it needs cleaning.
Making accidental water exposure unlikely goes a long way in preventing costly iPhone liquid damage. Be mindful when using your phone in wet environments.
Conclusion
Water damage can happen easily but also be avoided with proper care. Recognizing the signs of moisture within your iPhone and quickly drying it out are key to recovering from minor exposure. For more serious water damage, leaving the phone powered off and seeking professional repair help allows for the best chance of fixing your iPhone. With vigilance and fast response, an accidental splash or dunk doesn’t have to spell doom for your precious iPhone.
