Phone fell in water: what to do right now
Take it out, turn it off and do not charge it. Wipe it dry, remove the case and SIM tray, and tap it gently with the charging port facing down. Leave it to dry in moving air. Do not use rice, a hair dryer or any heat. If it was in for more than a moment, get it opened and cleaned.
Updated · Rehan Traders, Shop G-88, Hafeez Center, Lahore
What should I do first (mobile pani mein gir gaya to kya karein)?
Act in the first minutes: power and water together cause the damage. Turn the phone off, keep it off the charger, and get as much water out as you can. These steps follow what Apple and Samsung advise for wet phones.
- Take the phone out of the water and turn it off. Do not keep pressing buttons to test it.
- Do not plug in a charger or cable.
- Take off the case and pull out the SIM tray.
- Wipe it with a dry, soft cloth.
- Hold it with the charging port facing down and tap it gently against your hand.
- Leave it in a dry place with moving air, such as in front of a fan, not in the sun.
Should I put my wet phone in rice?
No. Apple advises against it. Rice does not pull water out from inside the phone faster than open air, and grains and starch dust can get stuck in the charging port and speaker. Leaving the phone in moving air does the same job without that risk.
Can I use a hair dryer or charge it to check if it works?
No. Heat can damage the battery and the seals, and a hot air stream pushes water further in. Charging a wet phone sends current through water on the board, which can short it. Wait until it has been opened and cleaned, or at least fully dried, before you charge it.
My phone fell in water but still works. Is it safe?
Not necessarily. Water or salt left inside can corrode the board over the following days, so a phone that works today can fail later. Water resistance also weakens with age and after a screen or battery repair. If it went fully under, especially in salt water, tea or a drink, have it opened and cleaned.
Can photos and data be recovered from a water-damaged phone?
Often, if it is cleaned before corrosion goes too far. Whether data can be recovered, and how long it takes, depends on the damage. Turning the phone off quickly and not charging it gives the best chance.
Getting a wet phone cleaned at Shop G-88, Hafeez Center, Lahore
Rehan Traders checks water-damaged phones free of cost and tells you what is wrong, what it will cost and how long it will take. Water damage repairs take anywhere from 8 hours to several days, depending on how bad it is. Call or WhatsApp 0305 8874839, or send the phone by courier from outside Lahore.