Quick answer
Yes, water can definitely damage a laptop screen. Water can cause the screen to short circuit, leading to discoloration, flickering, or complete failure of the display.
What happens when water gets on a laptop screen?
When water comes into contact with a laptop screen, a few things can happen:
- The water can short circuit the electronics behind the screen, damaging components like the LCD controller board or backlight inverter.
- It can cause corrosion of metal components and connections.
- It can interfere with the capacitive touch input on touchscreen laptops.
- The water itself can get trapped between the display layers, causing visible water stains/damage.
In most cases, water damage will immediately cause visible symptoms like flickering, discoloration or black/dark patches on the screen. In other cases, it may seem fine at first but gradually get worse over time as corrosion sets in.
How to dry out a wet laptop screen
If your laptop screen gets exposed to water, quick action can help minimize the damage:
- Wipe off excess moisture gently with a soft, lint-free cloth.
- Avoid rubbing the screen, which can push water further inside.
- Do NOT try to power on the laptop if any moisture is present.
- Prop up the laptop at an angle to allow water to drain out.
- Place the laptop in front of a fan or use a hairdryer on low heat to blow air and dry out the screen.
- Let it sit for at least 24-48 hours to fully air out.
The key is to be patient and allow the laptop to fully dry before attempting to turn it on again. Depending on the extent of the water exposure, you may get lucky and have it power back up normally.
How to clean water spots/stains from a laptop screen
If drying out the laptop doesn’t get rid of water spots or stains between the display layers, try these cleaning methods:
- Use a soft microfiber cloth designed for cleaning monitors/TV screens. Gently wipe away any water residue.
- Diluted isopropyl alcohol (50/50 mix with water) can help dissolve and remove stubborn water stains.
- Specialized LCD cleaning fluid can also help break down any remaining water deposits or stains.
- Vinegar is a mild acid that can help remove mineral deposits left behind after water dries.
- Avoid using paper towels, abrasive cloths or strong cleaning agents like acetone or ammonia – they can scratch the screen.
Be very gentle when wiping the screen after any liquid cleaner. Let the screen fully dry before powering on the laptop again.
Will rice fix a wet laptop screen?
Putting a wet laptop in rice is a common recommendation for drying it out. Here is how effective rice actually is for laptop screens:
- Rice can help absorb moisture – Rice is hygroscopic, meaning it can pull in and absorb ambient moisture if left for long enough.
- But rice works slowly – It can take days for rice to absorb liquid spills from a laptop. The machine may suffer progressive corrosion damage in the meantime.
- Rice doesn’t actively dry – Simply absorbing ambient moisture is less effective than active drying methods like fans or desiccant packs.
- Rice can get stuck inside laptop – Loose rice grains can actually end up trapped inside keyboards or vent holes, causing future issues.
So while rice can play a role in the drying process, it is generally more effective to use active drying methods, followed by dry rice as an absorbent once moisture levels are low. Don’t rely solely on rice to save a soaked laptop screen.
Does water damage to a laptop screen eventually go away?
Unfortunately, water damage to a laptop screen does not go away on its own over time. Here’s why:
- Corrosion from water continues deteriorating connections until repaired.
- Trapped moisture causes ongoing liquid crystal deficiencies in LCD screens.
- Short circuits often damage components beyond self-repair.
- Cosmetic water stains are permanent without specialized cleaning.
- Dried mineral deposits left behind also persist.
In most cases, visible water damage on a laptop screen is permanent unless steps are taken to properly dry, clean and repair the machine. Do not expect it to mysteriously resolve itself – immediate action is required.
Can you fix water damage on a laptop screen?
Water damaged laptop screens can often be repaired, but it depends on the extent and type of damage:
- spotting/staining – Usually repairable by cleaning/replacing LCD panel
- backlight failure – Repairable by replacing backlight power inverter
- partial screen flicker/darkness – Indicates LCD controller damage – repairable by replacement
- visible corrosion – Reversible by cleaning, but may require replacement of damaged parts
- complete display failure – Indicates extensive water corrosion damage – full LCD replacement may be required
A technician will need to fully dismantle, diagnose and find exactly which components have been damaged by water exposure and must be replaced or repaired. This requires electronics expertise and special tools.
Some minor water exposure issues like spotting or backlight failure can be fixed DIY with screen replacement. But extensive disassembly should be left to qualified professionals. Water damage is unpredictable – the only way to know if a screen can be repaired is through hands-on diagnosis.
How much does it cost to fix a water damaged laptop screen?
The cost to fix a water damaged laptop screen can vary quite a bit based on the severity and type of repair needed:
- Screen cleaning to remove stains – $50 to $150
- LCD panel replacement – $150 to $350
- Backlight power inverter – $50 to $150
- LCD controller board – $100 to $250
- Complete LCD assembly replacement – $250 to $700+
Factors like laptop brand, screen size, touch vs non-touch also impact pricing. For example, MacBook LCD repairs tend to be more expensive. Repair costs also scale up for larger screens.
In some cases, the total bill to fix water-related failure of the screen and other components can end up over $1000. At that point, replacing the entire laptop may be a better option vs. sinking more money into repairing a water damaged machine.
Can a laptop screen be fixed if fully black?
If a laptop screen has gone completely black/dark after water exposure, it is still potentially fixable:
- Check if laptop boots up fine on external display
- Shine flashlight on black screen to check for very faint image
- If external video and backlight work – LCD cable/panel may be faulty
- Carefully disassemble and diagnose for corrosion damage
- Replace any corroded connectors, wires, LCD cable
- Try replacing LCD panel itself if backlight is on
However, a fully black screen often indicates serious water damage to multiple components. The video signal, backlight power, LCD cable and panel/filters may all be corroded. Unfortunately, this level of damage may not be economical to repair compared to a full replacement.
Is a laptop with water damage worth fixing?
Whether fixing up a water damaged laptop is worthwhile depends on several factors:
- Repair costs – Weigh projected expenses vs replacing laptop
- Age of laptop – Older machines may not justify expensive repairs
- Sentimental value – Consider personal value if it’s a special computer
- Data recovery – Repair may be worth data retrieval costs
- Availability of replacement – Some rare configs are hard to find
In general:
- Minor screen damage is often worth fixing
- Major component-level damage is riskier to repair
- Very old or very new laptops may be better off replaced
Have an experienced technician assess water damaged laptops before deciding on repairs vs replacement. Get a quote upfront to make an informed choice.
Tips to prevent water damage on a laptop
Here are some quick tips to keep your laptop safe from liquid damage:
- Keep drinks away from laptops
- Shut lid if moving laptop around
- Don’t use laptop outside if rain possible
- Install a waterproof cover if using near pool/beach
- Ensure ports & vents are shut when not in use
- Move laptop if it gets splashed immediately
- Consider a spill-proof case or keyboard cover
Avoiding water exposure in the first place is much easier than dealing with the consequences later! But accidents do happen – so be prepared with the right response.
Can you use a laptop with a damaged screen?
If the internal electronics of a laptop remain intact after water damage, it may still be possible to use it even with a damaged screen in a few ways:
- Connect the laptop to an external monitor via HDMI or other display output.
- Use screen mirroring to send the laptop display to a TV wirelessly.
- Connect the laptop to a tablet like an iPad via sidecar mode to use the external display.
- Use remote desktop software to control the laptop from another working device.
- Try closing the lid and using an external keyboard/mouse in “closed clamshell” mode if outputs still work.
So while the built-in screen may be damaged by water exposure, there are ways to leverage the still-working laptop via external display workarounds. Just make sure the rest of the machine is functioning normally before considering these options.
Conclusion
Water getting inside a laptop screen can definitely cause permanent damage due to corrosion, short circuits, stained LCD layers and more. Quick action is needed to try drying it out before turning it on again. Repair costs can range from minor to extensive based on the components affected. Preventing liquid damage in the first place is ideal, but immediately powering off and drying out a wet laptop screen properly gives it the best chance of being usable again. Even with a damaged screen, external display workarounds may provide limited laptop functionality. Overall, liquids and laptops simply do not mix well!
