Dropped Your Phone in Water? What to Do (and Why Not Rice)

Do this straight away

Take it out of the water and switch it off. Don't keep testing whether it works.
Don't charge it. Electricity plus water is what causes the real damage.
Remove the case and SIM tray.
Dry the outside with a lint-free cloth and gently tap the phone, port-side down, to get water out.
Leave it somewhere dry with good airflow.

Why not rice?

Apple and Samsung both advise against putting a phone in rice. It doesn't pull water out from inside the phone, and rice dust and starch can get into the ports. A dry spot with air moving around it works better.

Salt water, pool water and fizzy drinks

These are worse than clean water because they leave residue that corrodes the circuit board over the following days. If your phone went in the sea, a pool or a drink, get it checked as soon as you can, even if it seems fine.

Water resistant doesn't mean waterproof

An IP68 rating is tested in fresh water in a lab, and the seals weaken with age and after any previous repair. Water damage is still common on newer phones.

When to get help

If the phone won't turn on, the screen has lines or blotches, the speakers sound muffled after drying, or it got wet with salt water or a drink, book a water damage diagnostic. We'll tell you honestly whether it's worth repairing before we do anything.

Quick answers

Can a water damaged phone be fixed?

Often, yes, especially if it's switched off quickly and checked early. Corrosion gets worse with time, so sooner is better.

Will I lose my photos?

Not necessarily. Even if the phone can't be fully repaired, it's sometimes possible to get it running long enough to back up your data.

Written by the technicians at Rugby Phone Repair Hub, who repair phones at customers' homes and workplaces across Rugby every day.

Dropped your phone in water? Do this now