What should I do if I drop my phone in water?
Get it out fast, unplug any cable and power it off. Tap it gently against your hand with the charging port facing down, wipe it with a lint-free cloth and leave it in a dry spot with airflow. Do not charge it for at least 5 hours, and do not use heat or push anything into the port.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Get it out and power it off
Take the phone out of the water right away, unplug any cable or accessory and switch the phone off.
Step 2: Wipe it with a lint-free cloth
Dry the outside with a soft, lint-free cloth, such as a lens cloth.[1]
Step 3: Tap out excess liquid
Tap the phone gently against your hand with the charging connector facing down to shake out excess liquid.[1]
Step 4: Check the speaker and microphone
Lay the phone speaker side down on a lint-free cloth and see whether water drips out.[1]
Step 5: Leave it somewhere dry with airflow
Put the phone in a dry area with some airflow. A fan blowing cool air toward the connector may help.[1]
Step 6: Keep heat and objects away
Do not use an external heat source, and do not put a cotton swab, paper towel or any foreign object in the connector.[1]
Step 7: Wait before you charge
Do not charge it or connect an accessory for at least 5 hours.[1]
Step 8: Check it over once dry
Power on and test the screen, speaker, microphone, cameras and charging. Back up your data right away if it works.
Get it out, power it off, and dry it
Pull the phone out of the water as fast as you can, unplug any cable or accessory and switch the phone off.
Wipe the outside with a soft, lint-free cloth, such as a lens cloth.[1] Then tap it gently against your hand with the Lightning or USB-C connector facing down to remove excess liquid.[1] Next, check the speaker and microphone: place the phone speaker side down on a lint-free cloth and see if water drips out.[1] Water in the port might degrade speaker or microphone performance until it completely evaporates.[1]
Let it dry the slow way
Leave the phone in a dry area with some airflow.[1] A fan blowing cool air directly into the charging port might help the drying process, and Apple words it this way: "Placing your iPhone in front of a fan blowing cool air directly into the Lightning or USB-C connector might help the drying process."[1]
What not to do matters as much as what to do. Apple says: "Don't dry your iPhone using an external heat source or insert a foreign object, such as a cotton swab or a paper towel, into the Lightning or USB-C connector."[1] That rules out hair dryers, ovens, radiators and a sunny dashboard, and a toothpick or a wad of tissue in the port. Do not open the SIM tray either until the phone is dry.[1]
If the liquid was not plain water, rinse the affected area with tap water rather than leaving it to dry on the phone.[1] Apple gives that instruction for iPhone; check your maker's guide for other brands.
When you can charge it again
The rule is to unplug all cables and not charge the device until it is dry.[1] Using accessories or charging when wet might damage your iPhone.[1] Apple's timing is to allow at least 5 hours before charging with a Lightning or USB-C cable or connecting an accessory.[1] If you charge wirelessly, wipe the phone with a soft, lint-free cloth and make sure it is dry before it goes on the pad.[1]
Apple says newer iPhones (iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later) can warn you when there is liquid in the connector.[1] If yours does, keep waiting rather than overriding the alert.
After it dries: test, back up, and keep watch
Power the phone on and test the screen, touch, speaker, microphone, both cameras and charging. If it works, back it up that day. Moisture damage can show up later, as a phone that will not charge, a muffled speaker or a battery that drains fast, so keep testing it over the next few weeks.
Water-resistance ratings do not change the first steps. Apple says its iPhone ratings were tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and that resistance is not permanent and might decrease as a result of normal wear.[1] Liquid damage is not covered under warranty, but you might have rights under consumer law.[1] Check your own insurance or protection plan before paying for a repair.
Stop and call a pro if
- The phone will not turn on or will not charge after it has dried. A repair technician can open the phone and inspect the board, which more drying cannot do. See what a charging port repair costs.
- It was salt water, a sugary drink or anything dirty. Residue can stay behind after the surface dries, so a shop can inspect and clean inside the phone sooner rather than later.
- The battery looks wrong. The U.S. Fire Administration says: "Stop using lithium-ion batteries if you notice an odor, change in color, too much heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises."[2] A bulging case, a lifted screen or a hot phone sitting idle all count. If the battery becomes damaged, contact the battery or device manufacturer for specific handling information.[3] Keep the phone away from anything flammable and do not charge it. See what a battery replacement costs.
- The data matters and the phone is dead. Stop trying to power it up and ask a repair shop about recovery before you do more harm.
- Water got behind the screen or camera glass. Fogging or a stuck pixel pattern under the glass means liquid is inside the case and drying from outside will not reach it.
Getting help in Virginia
If you do need a shop, read how to judge a third-party phone repair shop, and if the phone is gone, how to move everything to a new one. Loclis lists repair businesses near you: browse charging port repair or see more phone and tablet answers.
When you are ready, describe the damage once and local repair businesses quote it.
Common questions
- Can I charge my phone right after it got wet?
- No. Apple's guidance is to unplug all cables and not charge the device until it is dry, and to allow at least 5 hours before charging with a cable or connecting an accessory. Using accessories or charging when wet might damage the phone.
- Should I put a wet phone in rice?
- Apple does not recommend it. Its drying advice is to tap out excess liquid, wipe the phone and leave it in a dry area with some airflow. A fan blowing cool air toward the connector might help.
- Can I dry my phone with a hair dryer or in the sun?
- No. Apple says not to dry an iPhone with an external heat source, so keep it in a dry area with airflow instead.
- Is water damage covered by my phone warranty?
- Usually not. Apple states that liquid damage is not covered under warranty, though you might have rights under consumer law. Check your own insurance or protection plan to see what it covers.
- What if it was salt water, soda or something other than fresh water?
- For iPhone, Apple says that if a liquid other than water splashes on the phone, you should rinse the affected area with tap water. If the phone does not work normally afterward, or the liquid was dirty or sticky, have a repair shop look at it rather than waiting.
- My phone works after drying. Am I in the clear?
- Not always. Problems can show up later as charging trouble, a muffled speaker or battery drain. Back up your data while it works and watch for those signs.
Sources
- [1] About splash, water, and dust resistance of iPhone 7 and later, Apple Support. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] Battery Fire Safety, U.S. Fire Administration, FEMA. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [3] Used Lithium-Ion Batteries, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
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