Dropping your iPhone 7 in water can be a scary and frustrating experience. Water can quickly damage the internal components and render your phone unusable. However, there are some steps you can take right away to potentially save your iPhone and recover lost data.
Step 1: Retrieve the iPhone from the water immediately
It is important to get the iPhone out of the water as soon as possible. The longer it remains submerged, the more water can seep into the inner workings of the device. Carefully retrieve the iPhone from the water without pushing any of the buttons. Be sure to remove any case from the iPhone as well so you can dry the entire device thoroughly.
Step 2: Turn off the iPhone
After retrieving the iPhone from the water, do not try to turn it on. Water could short circuit the device if it still has power running through it. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on the top of the iPhone until the red slider appears to power it down completely.
Step 3: Dry the iPhone thoroughly
It is critical to remove all moisture from the iPhone after water exposure. Carefully dry the outside with a soft lint-free cloth. Do not try to charge it or insert a cable while it is still wet. Here are some specific drying suggestions:
- Use a can of compressed air to blow out any water in the ports and openings.
- Place the iPhone in front of a fan to air dry. Aim the fan directly at the ports.
- Leave the iPhone to dry for at least 24 hours in a dry environment.
Step 4: Place the iPhone in rice
Putting a wet iPhone in rice can help absorb any residual moisture. Bury the iPhone completely in uncooked rice and let it sit for at least 24 hours. The rice will slowly extract water from the iPhone.
Step 5: Avoid heat to dry the iPhone
Do not attempt to dry out the iPhone with any heat sources like a hairdryer, heater, or toaster oven. Exposing it to high heat can damage the components and insulation inside.
Step 6: Check for liquid indicator
iPhones have small liquid contact indicators inside the SIM card slot. This will appear red if water has entered that area. A triggered indicator means water damage is likely.
Step 7: Do not try to charge or turn on
After drying out the iPhone, you will likely be eager to test it out. However, it is best not to try charging or powering it on until you are sure all internal components are totally dry. This may take at least 24-48 hours. Leaving it longer can allow for complete evaporation.
Step 8: Clean out ports and jacks
Use a toothpick, soft brush, or canned air to carefully clean out the ports and openings of the iPhone. Water and debris can get stuck and prevent proper function. Clean out the following areas:
- Lightning port
- Headphone jack
- Microphone and speaker openings
- Front and back camera lenses
Step 9: Check for signs of water damage
Before attempting to turn on your iPhone, inspect it closely for any signs of water damage. Look for:
- Corrosion on metal parts
- Damaged screen pixels or bleeding color
- Fog or condensation under the glass
- Distorted or muffled speakers
- Microphone not working
Severe water damage typically requires professional repair or replacement of the iPhone.
Step 10: Try to turn on the iPhone
After at least 24-48 hours drying time, you can attempt to turn on your iPhone by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button. If it powers on successfully, check the basic functions and look for any glitches or odd behavior. Back up your data immediately if possible.
If the iPhone does not turn on
If the iPhone fails to power on, leave it for another 24 hours to dry out completely. Then, try connecting it to a computer or wall charger with a Lightning cable. This may activate the boot process. If there is still no response, the internal damage is likely too extensive for DIY troubleshooting.
Step 11: Use moisture-absorbing products
There are various products designed to help dry out wet electronics and prevent corrosion:
- Moisture-absorbing packets: Add these silicone gel packs to the rice when drying.
- DampRid: Place the iPhone and drying rice in a sealed container with an open box of DampRid.
- Electronic dryer: Use a dedicated electronic dryer product and follow instructions.
Step 12: Contact Apple Support
If you followed all troubleshooting steps but the iPhone still does not work, it likely has internal water damage. You can contact Apple Support for further diagnosis and next steps. Be prepared to explain the water exposure situation in detail.
Apple may be able to do a remote diagnostic to test for hardware issues. They can also guide you to send the iPhone to an Apple Repair Center for inspection and repair. However, liquid damage is not covered under the iPhone warranty.
Best ways to dry an iPhone with rice
Using rice is one of the most popular DIY methods for drying out a wet iPhone. Here are some tips for quick and effective rice drying:
- Use uncooked white rice – Avoid instant or brown rice varieties.
- Bury the iPhone completely in rice so it makes contact on all sides.
- Use enough rice to fill a bowl or deep container so the iPhone is covered.
- Leave the iPhone submerged in rice for at least 24 hours, up to 72 hours.
- Stir the rice once or twice during the process to maximize moisture absorption.
- Add moisture-absorbing gel packs to the rice for enhanced drying.
How to dry iPhone camera after water damage
The camera components are very susceptible to moisture damage on an iPhone. To thoroughly dry out the camera:
- Use canned air to blow out droplets in the front and back camera lenses and openings.
- Do not rub the lenses with anything abrasive while drying.
- Use a cotton swab dampened with isopropyl alcohol to gently clean the outer camera glass.
- Place the iPhone with the camera facing down toward circulating air.
- After drying, inspect the camera for fogginess, debris, or damage to the hardware.
How to save wet iPhone with different drying materials
| Material | Drying Effectiveness | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|
| Rice | Very effective – rice absorbs moisture well | Easy – just submerge iPhone in bowl of rice |
| Silica gel packs | Effective – remove moisture from air | Moderate – may need a lot of packs to surround iPhone |
| Instant couscous | Moderately effective – absorbs some moisture | Easy – use like rice |
| Paper towels | Barely effective – only absorbs surface moisture | Easy – wrap iPhone in towels |
As you can see, rice is the easiest and most effective DIY iPhone drying material. Silica gel packs also work well to draw moisture away from the iPhone’s internal components.
How to prevent water damage on iPhone
The best way to handle water damage is to prevent it in the first place. Here are tips to keep your iPhone safe from liquids:
- Use a waterproof case – Cases seal the iPhone inside to protect it when wet.
- Attach a waterproof covering over charging ports.
- Avoid using the iPhone in the rain without protection.
- Keep drinks away from the iPhone.
- Turn off the iPhone before going near water.
- Dry your hands before handling the iPhone.
- Never take an iPhone in the shower – steam can damage it.
- Only use original Apple cables – third party ones may leak.
Being cautious around water and liquids will significantly reduce the chance of water damage happening to your iPhone.
Does iPhone 7 have water damage indicators?
Yes, the iPhone 7 does have internal liquid contact indicator stickers that react when they come into contact with water. There are a few locations:
- SIM card tray – indicator is visible when tray is removed
- Under display on right side of earpiece
- Near Taptic Engine component
The indicators turn from white to red if they get wet. A triggered indicator means water has reached that spot in the phone. However, the iPhone may still work if water did not get to key components.
Can iPhone 7 be fixed after water damage?
It is possible to fix an iPhone 7 after water damage, but depends on the severity and components affected. Here are some factors:
- If damage is contained to non-essential components like speakers, they can simply be repaired or replaced.
- Damage to critical components like logic board, requiring replacement of the whole board.
- Corrosion that cannot be cleaned from connectors and ports.
- Short circuit damage to the battery or charging ports.
For limited damage, do-it-yourself iPhone repair is possible by ordering replacement parts online. More extensive damage requires professional repair by a microsoldering expert to replace damaged components on the logic board.
Cost to fix water damaged iPhone 7
According to repair experts, here are the approximate costs to fix an iPhone 7 with water damage:
- Screen repair – $129 to $149
- Battery replacement – $49 to $69
- Charging port fix – $25 to $45
- Speaker or microphone – $9 to $25
- Full logic board repair – $150 and up
Severe damage requiring full board repair may end up costing over $300. At that point, replacing the iPhone may be more cost-effective.
Conclusion
Dropping an iPhone 7 in water can certainly cause damage, but is not always the end of the device if acted on quickly. Following the proper steps to dry it out completely and checking for signs of damage can potentially save the iPhone and avoid costly repairs. Be sure to back up data right away and have Apple diagnose any issues. With some luck and the right drying methods, an iPhone 7 can be revived after taking an accidental swim.