If your cell phone gets wet, it’s important to dry it as quickly as possible to avoid permanent damage. There are a few effective methods you can use to dry out a wet phone, depending on how wet it got and what resources you have available.
How to Dry a Wet Cell Phone
Here are some quick answers to common questions about drying a wet cell phone:
Should I turn my phone off if it gets wet? Yes, immediately turn your phone off if it gets wet. Leaving it on could cause electrical shorts and damage phone.
Can I dry my phone in the sun? Yes, sunlight can help dry out your phone quickly. Just make sure to avoid direct sunlight and heat.
Will rice dry my wet phone? Yes, placing your phone in a bowl of uncooked rice will help absorb moisture. Make sure phone is off.
How long should I leave my phone in rice? Leave your phone in rice for at least 24 hours to dry fully. Check it periodically.
What temperature should I use to dry with heat? Use a low heat with a hairdryer or place near a vent at 100-110°F max. Avoid high heat.
Read on for more details on the best methods for drying a wet cell phone.
Turn Off Your Phone
As soon as your phone gets wet, the first step is to immediately turn it off. Don’t try to turn it back on until it’s fully dried. Leaving your phone on while wet can cause short circuits and electric currents can permanently damage electronic components inside the phone.
Press and hold the power button on your phone until you see the “slide to power off” prompt. Swipe to power off your phone completely. Resist the temptation to try turning your phone back on to check if it still works. Give your phone adequate time to fully dry before attempting to turn it on again.
Remove SIM Card, Memory Card and Battery
After powering off your phone, remove any removable components if possible. This includes the SIM card, SD memory card and battery. These components can also be damaged by moisture.
Carefully open any protective cases or ports and use a small tool to pop out the cards and battery. Set them aside to dry separately from your phone. Removing these items can help your phone dry faster and prevent moisture from spreading.
Dry Exterior Water
Use a clean, dry cloth or towel to lightly wipe away any pooled water on the exterior of your phone and removable components. Be gentle while wiping and avoid getting any moisture in phone ports.
You can also use a can of compressed air to blow water droplets out of small openings and tight spaces. Make sure to hold the can upright when spraying to avoid cold liquid discharge.
Do Not Use Heat to Dry Phone
Avoid placing your wet phone on or near heat sources such as stovetops, radiators, microwaves, or in direct sunlight for long periods. High temperatures can damage electronics and screens.
Excessive heat can cause the water to evaporate too quickly inside your phone which could lead to mineral deposits forming on circuits and corrosion. The safest drying methods use only ambient temperature, rice, airflow, or gentle heat under 110°F.
Dry Phone in Rice
One of the most popular methods to absorb moisture from a wet phone is to submerge it in uncooked rice. Rice is very absorptive which draws water away from your phone.
Fill a sealable bag or container with rice, making sure your phone is fully surrounded. Leave your phone buried in rice for at least 24 hours. The rice will gradually extract moisture from your phone’s interior openings and ports.
Check on your phone and stir the rice periodically to expose all sides to the rice. Replenish with fresh dry rice if needed. When rice near phone appears saturated, your phone should be sufficiently dry.
Tips for Using Rice
- Use uncooked raw rice – avoid instant or already cooked rice
- Stir phone in rice every few hours
- Bury phone fully surrounded by rice
- Leave in rice for minimum 24 hours
- Check rice saturation and change when wet
Use Drying Agents
There are commercial drying agents designed to extract moisture from phones and electronics. These work similarly to rice by absorbing water from wet items.
Some common moisture absorbing products are:
- Silica gel packs
- Moisture absorbing beads
- Damp-Rid or other drying crystals
Place your phone in an airtight container surrounded by the drying agent for at least 24-48 hours. The drying crystals or beads will pull moisture from your phone and help dry its internal components.
Try a Desiccant Packet
Small desiccant packets filled with silica gel beads can also be effective for phone drying. These are included with some products to absorb environmental moisture.
Bury your phone in a sealable plastic bag with multiple desiccant packs. The silica gel will absorb the moisture from your phone. Use enough packs to fully surround your phone in the bag.
Use Low Heat from Hair Dryer
You can use a hair dryer on a low, cool setting to help dry your phone. However, take caution not to hold it too close or use excess heat.
Hold the dryer 6-8 inches away and move it around constantly to prevent overheating any components. Only use for a few minutes at a time. The airflow will help evaporate moisture.
Make sure to keep the dryer on low cool setting and monitor the temperature. Do not exceed 110°F when heat drying electronics.
Place Near Vent or Fan
Situating your phone near a vent or fan can provide gentle airflow to help moisture evaporate without adding heat. Position your phone a few feet away and allow the ambient air movement to dry it.
You can also place a small fan next to your phone 6-10 inches away to provide a light breeze. Just keep your phone out of direct sunlight and avoid blowing debris into ports.
Use Water Displacement Spray
Electronic cleaning sprays that displace moisture can aid drying. Spray the product into phone ports and openings. The fluid will help push out water and add a protective coating.
Make sure to only use cleaning sprays designed for electronics. Follow directions and spray conservatively into ports only. Allow phone to dry fully afterwards before charging or turning on.
Absorb Remaining Dampness
After using drying methods, there may still be some lingering moisture left. Use the rice or desiccant method again to absorb any remaining dampness.
Let your phone sit surrounded by rice or drying crystals for another 12-24 hours. This will draw out any last bits of moisture left inside your phone to achieve maximum dryness.
You want the inside of your phone completely moisture-free before attempting to turn it on again. This prevents shorts, corrosion, and functional damage.
Allow Phone to Dry Thoroughly
It takes time for moisture to fully evaporate from inside your phone. Don’t assume your phone is dry and power it on prematurely.
Wait at least 24 hours after using a drying method before attempting to turn your phone on again. Completely dried phones have the best chance at working properly after water exposure.
If you see fog under the screen glass or ports after drying, additional time is needed. Let your phone continue to sit in rice or a desiccant environment until fully dry.
Check for Damage Before Turning On
Inspect your phone carefully once it has dried completely. Look for signs of visible water damage or corrosion around ports and openings.
If you notice fogging or condensation still inside the phone, residual moisture is still present. Continue drying methods until this dissipates.
Carefully reinstall any SIM card, memory card and battery before attempting to power on your phone again.
Power Phone On and Test
After your phone is completely dry and reassembled, press and hold the power button to turn it back on. Be patient while it powers up.
Check that the screen illuminates normally and apps function. Test call quality, speakers, camera and microphone for any issues.
If your phone powers on but seems damaged, takes poor photos, or has audio problems, liquid may still affect internal parts. Consider professional data recovery.
When to Visit a Repair Shop
For severe water damage or phones that won’t power on after drying, a professional repair may be needed.
Phone repair experts have tools to disassemble phones and dry out individual components. They can also assess damage and attempt data recovery if needed.
Common types of liquid damage repaired at phone repair shops include:
- Phones submerged in water
- Speakers and microphones not working
- Corrosion visible inside ports
- Fog or condensation under screen
- Short circuit, won’t power on
- Battery or logic board damage
For extreme liquid exposure, professional drying and cleaning can often recover phones with water damage and avoid permanent failure.
Prevent Water Damage to Phones
To avoid having to dry out a wet phone in the first place, take precautions to keep your phone protected from moisture:
- Use a waterproof phone case
- Avoid taking phone near water
- Never charge phone near sinks or tubs
- Install moisture indicators
- Turn phone off near pools & beaches
- Avoid spills while phone charging
- Invest in phone water damage insurance
Carefully handling your phone around sinks, tubs, pools and outdoor environments can prevent many instances of phones getting wet. But accidents happen with liquid spills and rain. Use the right drying technique for your situation to maximize the chance of recovering your phone quickly when it does get doused.
Conclusion
If your phone happens to take an accidental plunge, gets caught in pouring rain, or splashed by a spilled drink, don’t panic. Turn it off immediately and dry it out. Rice, desiccants, airflow and low heat can all be effective for drying phones when used properly.
Just remember to be patient and allow time for full drying before powering your phone back on after water exposure. With the right technique, there’s a good chance your phone can recover from a thorough soaking!
