Quick Answer
If you’ve accidentally dropped your phone in water, don’t panic. There are several steps you can take to try to save your phone and potentially recover your data:
- Retrieve your phone from the water as quickly as possible. The less time it spends submerged, the better.
- Immediately power off the phone by holding down the power button for several seconds until it turns off. Do not try to turn it back on.
- Remove any protective case, then open the SIM card tray to help drain out liquid.
- Use a microfiber cloth or soft towel to gently soak up excess moisture on the surface of the phone. Avoid rubbing it.
- Place the phone in an upside-down position on a dry towel or bag of uncooked rice. The rice will help absorb moisture.
- Let the phone dry out for at least 24-48 hours before attempting to turn it on again.
- After drying, try charging the phone to see if it powers on. If it won’t turn on, you may need professional data recovery.
The most important steps are retrieving the phone quickly, immediately powering it off, drying it thoroughly for 1-2 days, and resisting the urge to turn it on prematurely. This gives you the best chance of saving the phone and avoiding short circuits.
Assessing Water Damage
Not all water damage is the same. The type of water and extent of exposure can determine your phone’s prognosis and chances of survival. Here are some factors to consider:
Type of Liquid
- Clean Freshwater – Water from a sink, shower, or rain puddle. This has a higher chance of survival than other liquids.
- Saltwater – Ocean or pool water. The salt can cause corrosion and conductivity issues.
- Soapy Water – Water with soap, shampoo, etc. Chemicals can further damage electronics.
- Chlorinated Water – Pool or hot tub water with chlorine added. Causes corrosion.
- Sugary Drinks – Soda, juice, etc. The sticky residue is very difficult to clean.
Depth & Duration
- A quick splash or brief dip has a better outlook than being fully submerged.
- The longer your phone spends in liquid, the more damage it will sustain.
A phone that’s briefly splashed or dropped in clean water may only need drying out for 24 hours, while one left underwater for 10+ minutes will almost certainly suffer irreparable damage.
Immediate First Aid Steps
If your phone has taken an unexpected swim, follow these steps right away to mitigate damage:
1. Retrieve Your Phone
Fish your phone out of the liquid as quickly as possible. Even a few extra seconds submerged makes a difference. Shake off any excess liquid gently.
2. Power It Off
Immediately power off your phone by holding down the Power button for 5+ seconds, until the screen goes black. This helps prevent electrical shorts and further damage.
Important: Do NOT press any other buttons, attempt to unlock it, or turn it back on yet.
3. Remove SIM Card
Eject the SIM card tray and gently wipe it dry with a cloth or towel. Removing the SIM helps drain out trapped liquid.
4. Dry Off Exterior
Carefully dry the surface with a clean microfiber cloth or towel. Try to soak up any beads of moisture without vigorously rubbing the phone.
Leave any protective case on for now to avoid directly handling wet internal components.
5. Do Not Use Hairdryer or Heater
It may be tempting to aim a hairdryer or heater at your wet phone, but the intense direct heat can damage electronic components. Let it air dry at room temperature instead.
6. Absorb Moisture with Dry Rice
Place your phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice so the rice can act as a desiccant and draw moisture away from the phone. Rice is highly absorbent and helps soak up leftover droplets of water.
Set your powered-off phone face up on the rice. Cover it fully and let it sit for at least 24 hours, up to 2 days. The rice will gradually extract water from all crevices and interior openings.
7. Never Charge a Wet Phone
Do not attempt to charge, plug in, or connect a wet phone to a power source. This poses a serious risk of electric shock, short circuit, and further damage.
The phone must be completely dried out before charging again. Expect to go 1-2 days without power as part of the recovery process.
8. Be Patient During Drying Time
It requires immense patience, but do not turn on your phone until the minimum drying time has passed. This allows moisture in hard-to-reach areas to evaporate fully.
Turning on a phone too early often leads to permanent electrical failure once power hits still-wet components. Wait at least 24 hours before attempting to power it on again.
Cleaning & Drying Process
Once you’ve done initial first aid, the next phase is thoroughly cleaning and drying your phone. This process can take 1-3 days.
Day 1 – Water Extraction & Air Drying
On the first day, your goal is removing all moisture possible:
- Leave phone powered off in rice for 24 hours minimum. 48 hours is even better.
- The rice will absorb surface liquid and interior water accessible via openings like the SIM slot.
- Check on it occasionally. Gently shake or move the rice around to expose all sides.
- Do not attempt to turn phone on until rice method is complete!
The rice drying procedure is most effective for the first 24-48 hours. After 1-2 days, you can proceed to air drying.
Day 2 – Air Drying
On the second day:
- Remove phone from rice and give it another moisture check. Use a flashlight to look for water in crevices.
- Brush out any rice dust stuck in ports or buttons.
- Dry out any still-damp spots with a cloth.
- Leave phone open in a dry, ventilated space for air drying. Point a fan on it for airflow.
- Moisture will continue evaporating from interior components.
- Do NOT try turning on phone yet! Still too early.
Position the phone for optimal air circulation so all sides dry evenly. Aim a fan nearby to facilitate evaporation.
Day 3 – Test Power Up
On day 3:
- Inspect phone and make sure no moisture remains.
- After 2 days of thorough drying, attach charger and attempt to power on phone by holding Power button.
- If phone powers up successfully, you may have saved it!
- Charge up to 100% and test full functionality before regular use.
- If phone won’t turn on or seems faulty, data recovery may be needed.
The ultimate test comes when you try to turn the phone on after drying. If it works, congrats! Backup data ASAP and monitor for issues. If it fails to turn on, professional recovery may be required. But proper drying maximizes your chances of success.
Advanced Drying Techniques
In addition to rice and air drying, a few other methods may help draw out absorbed moisture:
Cat Litter
Like rice, cat litter contains absorbent granules that soak up water effectively. Some people find it works even better than rice. Bury phone in a box or bag of fresh, clay-based litter.
Silica Gel Packs
Silica gel packets rapidly absorb moisture. Collect them from packaged goods or purchase for phone drying purposes. Arrange phone surrounded by silica packs.
Sunlight
The warmth of the sun helps evaporate liquid and speeds up drying time. Place phone in direct sunlight for 30-60 mins at a time. Just don’t overheat phone.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Use 99% isopropyl alcohol and cotton balls to carefully dab or wipe away moisture in crevices. Especially helpful for drying speaker, microphone or charging ports. Evaporates quickly.
Professional Data Recovery
If your phone suffers permanent water damage, files and photos may still be recoverable through professional data recovery service. They use specialized tools to access and extract data from non-functional devices. This does have an associated cost, but can rescue your precious data.
Some options for phone data recovery:
- Local repair shops – Check around for a trusted phone or computer repair shop that offers data recovery services.
- Mail-in recovery – Companies like DriveSavers allow you to mail in a damaged device for data restoration.
- Remote access – Send your phone to a remote data recovery facility with a cleanroom for advanced repairs.
Evaluate success rates, costs, and service turnaround to pick the best recovery method for your situation.
Waterproof Cases for Protection
The simplest way to avoid water damage is equipping your phone with a waterproof or water-resistant case. Quality cases provide extra insurance if your phone takes an accidental dip.
Popular waterproof case options:
| Case | Protection Level | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| LifeProof FRE | Waterproof up to 6.6 ft | $50-90 |
| Otterbox Defender | Water resistant | $40-60 |
| Catalyst | Waterproof up to 33 ft | $40-90 |
| Ghostek Nautical | Waterproof up to 3.3 ft | $20-40 |
A good waterproof case keeps your phone protected in up to 30+ feet of water. Look for an IP68 rating to ensure it meets waterproofing standards. This safeguards your investment against life’s spills and splashes.
Water Damage Prevention Tips
While drying a water-logged phone can be successful, prevention is the best policy. Here are practical tips to avoid leaks and spills that lead to water damage:
- Get a waterproof case – As mentioned above, this is the first line of defense.
- Watch around sinks – Keep phone away from bathroom counters and dishwashing areas prone to splashing.
- No beach baths – Keep phone wrapped in a towel or tucked in a bag away from saltwater and waves.
- Stay alert in boats & pools – Assign a dry storage spot on the boat and leave poolside.
- Weather prep – Check forecasts and keep phone shielded in rainy or snowy weather.
- Kid & pet proof – Watch for spills or splashes from little hands or paws.
- Install updates – Maintain latest software for features that alert you to liquid detected in ports.
Remaining vigilant against moisture will significantly cut the chances of your phone taking an unexpected swim. But despite best efforts, accidents happen! If your phone does become waterlogged, stay calm and take immediate action to rescue it.
Conclusion
A few moments in liquid can be devastating for your phone, but is not necessarily a death sentence. By quickly retrieving it, powering off, thoroughly drying with rice and airflow, and waiting at least 48 hours before turning it on again, you have a fighting chance to revive it. Water damage is stressful, but methodical steps for extraction, cleaning, and gradual drying can restore full functionality in many cases. Just be sure to wait out the complete drying process for ideal results. If your phone has moved on to the big circuit board in the sky, professional phone recovery services still provide hope for retrieving precious data.