What to Do If Your Phone Falls in Water

Dropping a smartphone into water is a stressful accident, but taking fast and correct action can significantly improve its chances of recovery. Water and moisture can short-circuit electronic components and cause rapid corrosion. Knowing how to handle the situation immediately after submersion helps minimize damage to your device.

What to do first

1. Retrieve and power off immediately: Take the phone out of the water right away. If the phone is still on, turn it off immediately to stop electrical currents from short-circuiting the board. If it turned off automatically, do not attempt to power it back on.
2. Disconnect charging cables safely: If the phone was plugged into a charger when dropped in water, safely disconnect the wall adapter before reaching into standing water or touching the cable.
3. Remove accessories and trays: Take off any protective case or cover. Eject the SIM card tray and microSD card tray if applicable. Removing these components opens airflow paths and prevents trapped moisture around internal slots.
4. Wipe down exterior surfaces: Gently wipe all visible water from the phone using a clean microfiber cloth or absorbent towel. Carefully dry around speaker grilles, physical buttons, and charging ports without pushing water deeper inside.
5. Drain excess liquid: Gently tap the device against the palm of your hand with the charging port facing downward to encourage trapped droplets to exit.
6. Let it dry completely: Place the phone in a dry room with strong airflow, such as near an open window or in front of a cool fan. Leave the device undisturbed to air-dry for at least 24 to 48 hours.

What NOT to do

• Do NOT turn the phone on or press buttons: Pressing buttons can force liquid deeper into internal switches, while powering on the phone causes instant short circuits.
• Do NOT use external heat sources: Avoid hairdryers, heat guns, microwave ovens, or direct sunlight. High heat degrades internal adhesive seals, warps plastics, and damages sensitive display screens.
• Do NOT blow into ports: Using compressed air or blowing with your mouth pushes liquid deeper into sensitive internal electronics.
• Do NOT use uncooked rice: Raw rice is ineffective at drawing out moisture from modern sealed phones. Furthermore, fine starch dust and grains can enter open ports, lodge inside openings, and cause physical damage.
• Do NOT plug in a charging cable: Charging a damp phone can permanently destroy the charging port and internal motherboard circuits.

When to seek professional repair

If your phone was submerged in salt water, chlorinated pool water, or dirty liquids, internal corrosion begins rapidly once dried. In these cases, contact an authorized repair center to have the internal components professionally disassembled and cleaned. You should also consult a repair technician if the phone fails to power on after 48 hours of drying or exhibits screen distortion, rapid battery drain, or non-functional ports.

How to prevent water damage

• Use a certified waterproof pouch when using your device near pools, beaches, or open water.
• Keep phones away from high-humidity zones like bathrooms, saunas, or steam rooms.
• Avoid holding your device directly over sinks, bathtubs, or open drinks.

Taking prompt, calm action and giving your phone ample time to dry offers the best probability of restoring full functionality.