If your iPhone accidentally falls into a pool, don’t panic. There are several steps you can take to try to save your phone and potentially recover lost data.
Act Quickly
The number one thing to do if your iPhone falls in water is to act quickly. The longer your phone stays submerged, the more damage the water can do. Try to retrieve your phone from the water as fast as possible. The sooner you can get it out, the better chance it has of survival.
Dry It Off
As soon as you fish your phone out of the pool, you’ll want to dry it off immediately. Don’t try to turn it on or test it out yet. Make sure to pat dry any excess moisture on the outside of the phone with a clean, soft cloth. Be gentle while doing this – don’t scrub vigorously. You want to absorb as much water as you can without damaging the phone.
If possible, use a can of compressed air to blow out any water in the ports, buttons, speaker, and microphone. Compressed air can help fully dry out these areas.
Remove the SIM Card
Once the phone is dry on the outside, your next step is to eject the SIM card. The SIM card tray tends to be vulnerable on an iPhone, so you’ll want to get any potential moisture out from that area right away. Use a SIM card removal tool, paperclip, or small pin to pop out the SIM card tray and remove the card. Make sure to dry both the SIM card and SIM card tray before reinserting.
Do Not Charge the Phone
It can be tempting to plug your wet iPhone into a charger, but this is one of the worst things you can do. Charging an iPhone that has water damage can cause short-circuiting, which can permanently damage the battery and logic board. Avoid charging your phone until you are sure it has dried out completely.
Dry Out All Openings
Use a can of compressed air to blow out any water in all the ports and openings. Make sure to dry out the lightning port, headphone jack, speaker holes, front microphone hole, rear microphone hole near the camera, side button, volume buttons, and SIM card tray. If you have a case on your phone, take it off and make sure there is no moisture trapped between the case and iPhone.
Do Not Use Rice
You may have heard the advice to put your wet phone in a bowl of rice, but this is not actually an effective way to dry it out. Rice does not absorb moisture fast enough to help a wet iPhone. The ports and openings on a phone are so small that rice grains can actually get stuck inside, causing more damage.
Use Silica Gel
A better option than rice is silica gel. Silica gel beads work like desiccant packs and will absorb moisture quickly. Place your phone in an airtight container or bag with a few packets of silica gel for at least 24 hours. The silica gel will help draw moisture out of your iPhone.
Place Near a Fan
Point a fan directly at your iPhone to help speed up the drying process. The constant airflow will evaporate any water on and inside your device. Let your phone sit in front of a fan for several hours to make sure all moisture has been removed.
Avoid Heat
Do not try to dry your iPhone using a hairdryer, oven, heater, or any source of heat. High heat can damage the internal components of your phone and cause more harm. Stick to fan drying or silica gel only.
Use Water Indicator Stickers
Water indicator stickers are small stickers that change color when exposed to moisture. They can detect water damage inside your iPhone. Place a water sticker inside your SIM card tray, lightning port, headphone jack, or any opening to check for residual moisture.
Check for Signs of Damage
Once your phone has dried out, inspect it closely for any signs of water damage. Look for things like clouded or cracked lenses on the cameras, a foggy or malfunctioning display, non-responsive buttons, damaged speakers/microphone, and issues with charging ports.
Test Functions Before Turning On
Before powering your iPhone back on after water damage, test out some of the functions. See if the buttons work, cameras take photos, headphones play audio, etc. Make sure the basic features seem operational, so you don’t short circuit anything by turning it on.
Cross Your Fingers and Turn it On
If your phone seems to be in decent shape, go ahead and press the side button to power it back on. There is always a risk that turning on an iPhone with liquid damage could short circuit the logic board and battery. Hopefully that is not the case, but be prepared for your phone to potentially not turn back on or start functioning abnormally.
Check for Lost Data
If your phone successfully turns on after water damage, check to make sure you still have access to all your data. Login to iCloud and sign into apps to see if contacts, photos, videos, notes, and other information is intact. Unfortunately, some data loss is common with water damage.
Back Up ASAP
If your phone seems to be working fine after being in the water, your next step should be to back up your iPhone right away. Create an encrypted iTunes or iCloud backup to preserve your data in case problems arise down the road. It’s possible for issues from liquid damage to show up later.
Be Cautious About Using It
Even if your iPhone appears to be fine at first, it’s best to be cautious about using it normally right away. Limit usage for at least a few days and watch out for any weird behavior. It’s possible for short circuits and corrosion to happen over time after water damage.
Get it Professionally Inspected
It’s a smart idea to take your water damaged iPhone into an Apple Store or repair shop for a professional inspection. They will be able to accurately assess the situation, check components like the logic board for corrosion, and determine if any repairs will be necessary.
Do Not Try to Quick Fix it Yourself
Avoid any DIY fixes like putting your phone in the oven or using a hairdryer to try to dry it out. Do not open up your iPhone yourself to dry out the interior or clean any components. You risk permanent damage by attempting unauthorized repairs yourself.
Be Prepared to Lose Data
Keep in mind that even if you follow all the right steps, water damage can still result in data loss or destruction beyond repair. Be mentally prepared for potential bad news once a professional technician examines your iPhone.
Consider Data Recovery Services
If important data is inaccessible due to water damage, consider professional data recovery services. Companies like DriveSavers specialize in recover lost data from water damaged devices. However, these services can be expensive and are not guaranteed.
Do a Factory Reset as a Last Resort
If your iPhone experiences serious software issues or glitches after water damage and does not seem salvageable, a factory reset may be your last resort. This will wipe the phone and restore it to factory settings. Make sure anything important is already backed up.
Accept That it May Need to be Replaced
If professional inspections determine your iPhone is beyond repair due to extensive water damage, you may have to accept that it will need to be replaced. Water can seriously destroy electronic components, making your phone defunct.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
For a replacement due to water damage, contact your cell phone insurance provider and file a claim if you have coverage. Insurance may provide a replacement refurbished iPhone of the same model if yours is damaged beyond repair.
Utilize AppleCare+ if Applicable
If you purchased AppleCare+ for your iPhone, you may be able to use your coverage to receive a replacement device at a reduced cost. There is a deductible fee but it is much cheaper than buying a brand new iPhone.
Trade it in for Credit if Salvageable
Even if your water damaged iPhone is glitchy, you may be able to trade it in to an Apple Store or device reseller for some credit towards a replacement. They will assess the condition and give you partial credit if it is salvageable.
Buy Refurbished if on a Budget
If buying a brand new iPhone is not in your budget, consider a refurbished model. Refurb iPhones from Apple come with a fresh battery and outer shell, as well as a 1 year warranty. They perform like new at a fraction of the cost.
Invest in a Waterproof Case
After your water damage experience, it’s highly recommended to invest in a waterproof case for your replacement iPhone. Look for an IP68 rated case that keeps your phone protected in up to 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.
Get a Lanyard/Strap
Use a lanyard, hand strap, or phone grip attachment so you are less likely to accidentally drop your phone in water again. These accessories make it easier to securely hold onto your iPhone.
Enable Find My iPhone
Make sure Find My iPhone feature is turned on so you can use the Find My app to locate your iPhone if it falls in water again. This will make retrieval much easier next time.
Avoid Exposing it to Liquids
Be very careful not to expose your replacement iPhone to moisture again. Avoid swimming with it, using it in the rain, etc. Water damage is often irreversible, so keep it away from all liquids.
Get Phone Insurance
Look into monthly phone insurance to cover any future water damage incidents. Carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile all offer affordable phone insurance for iPhone users.
Be Extra Careful Near Pools
Take special precaution to keep your iPhone away from pools and beaches. Only use it an at least 10 feet from any body of water to avoid accidents.
Set Up Automatic iCloud Backups
Make sure your iPhone is automatically backing up important data to iCloud on a daily basis. That way if it suffers water damage again, your information will be preserved.
Conclusion
Dealing with an iPhone that has been submerged in water can be a stressful situation, but following these tips will give you the best chance of saving your device or recovering your data. The key things to remember are to act quickly, thoroughly dry off the phone, have it inspected by a professional, and be prepared for potential data loss. With caution and care, you may be able to recover from an accidental water incident and get your iPhone working again.