How To Fix A Cell Phone That Fell In Water

The world suddenly freezes when yous see your telephone dunked in water. Whether it'due south in a pool, the bounding main, or a toilet, you lot know nil skilful will come out of the side by side few seconds. Later all, that'south a high-tech device worth a pregnant amount of cash, and chances are it will be deemed unusable. Not to mention all your important files might be gone! You lot may want to learn how to fix a water-damaged phone.

Let'due south outset past saying trying to rescue a water-damaged phone is a bit of a money flip. Nothing can guarantee a positive issue, simply information technology's always worth trying. Our upcoming tips may give you a higher chance of success.

Consider these: The all-time waterproof phones

Be proactive and protect your phone

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

You may desire to get a waterproof phone with a good IP rating to brand sure it will survive a dip. Not all of u.s.a. volition have the luxury of owning a water-resistant handset, though. If your phone tin can't handle liquids and yous know you'll be putting it in danger at your side by side beach retreat, buying something like a waterproof phone pouch might be worth it.

Additionally, it's e'er nice to consider getting phone insurance, whether from your carrier, the retailer you bought the phone from, or a third party. We take a handy list of the best phone insurance options out there. Just make sure to read the fine print to ensure the insurance policy covers accidental and water damage.

Turn information technology off ASAP!

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

I know it's difficult to react chop-chop afterward such a devastating effect, but you lot must snap out of information technology! The longer your device stays underwater, the lower its chances of survival are. Yous must dig in there and take that telephone out of the water right away. Yes… even if it's in the toilet!

Once the telephone is out of the h2o, make sure it's off and stays that style. Even if it seems okay… it is important to shut it off but in case. If the phone is all the same on, but shut information technology down. Those who still have a removable battery should have it off. Turning off the device ensures that water doesn't attain and damage important phone parts while electronics are active. H2o reaching operating components is more likely to cause permanent damage.

More: The best phones with a removable battery

What non to practise later on y'all dropped a phone in h2o

the google pixel 5a on a bench with water splashed droplets

Jimmy Westenberg / Android Say-so

The following actions can mean the difference between a totaled telephone or a survival story. Yous better exist careful what you lot do. Earlier we leap into finding a solution, let'south try to prevent major failures yous could cause.

Practice non turn on the phone, equally we already mentioned. Electrical components don't play well with h2o when operating.
Don't plug it in either! For the same reason.
Don't press any keys. This can button water farther into the telephone. It'due south all-time to mess with the telephone every bit little as possible.
Don't shake or blow into the device. This may also button water into deeper areas of the telephone. Especially effort to avoid accident driers — non only because of the blowing office, but as well because of the post-obit point.
Do not apply whatsoever oestrus to the phone. Recall, excessive rut can also harm the phone.
Don't move the phone effectually too much. Same bargain; yous don't desire the h2o moving around inside the phone.

More than: Common Android problems and how to ready them

Disassemble the water damaged phone

Eric Zeman / Android Dominance

Don't mistake this footstep with "take the whole darn telephone apart!". What we mean is that you lot should remove everything that is user-removable. If your back comprehend is removable, take information technology off. Similarly, try to remove the battery (if you tin can), SIM card, and SD card. Lay it all out on a paper towel. Virtually phones have no removable backs nowadays, simply do what you can.

Now, if you are an experienced tech specialist of sorts, know the ins and outs of a phone, and don't heed voiding your warranty, you tin can go ahead and take the whole phone apart as well. It might help with drying upwards every unmarried piece faster. Only be careful, if you don't know what you're doing, this could crusade more damage than good.

Related: To solve the smartphone e-waste problem, we first demand fewer disposable devices

Try to dry the exterior

Phone with micro fiber 2 - Fix water damaged phone

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authorization

We first take to try to get rid of all the excess water found in the exterior of your phone. Use a cloth or paper towel to dry out everything every bit much every bit yous tin can. Just make sure you don't mess with the phone too much. Gently dry out everything out without moving things effectually too much. All this water can make its way inside the phone, which isn't proficient news.

You could try a vacuum cleaner

Of course, in that location are areas the newspaper towel can't admission. And while nosotros told you not to blow annihilation into the phone, we didn't tell you not to suction the h2o out. In fact, a vacuum cleaner tin can suck off $.25 of h2o from the telephone without too much run a risk. Just brand sure the suctioning doesn't make the phone move around excessively.

Also read: How to clean and disinfect your phone to help prevent the spread of germs

Fourth dimension to dry out the water damaged phone

Sony Xperia 1 II vs Apple iPhone 12 Max EOY 2020 - Fix water damaged phone

Robert Triggs / Android Authorisation

The hardest part is now, considering it involves leaving the phone alone for some time. We know simply waiting isn't piece of cake, simply information technology's necessary. If you have another telephone or one you can borrow, make sure the SIM carte is completely dried out and stick it into the working handset. Otherwise, resort to smoke signals, public phones, and all that archaic stuff.

So how practise you lot dry your telephone out? Yous could leave the telephone on the counter or inside a drawer, simply some people like giving it a little help. The thought is to put it in an surroundings that will ease its drying process. Next to a window works neat, as the moving air (if the window is open) and sunlight might help a chip. Information technology could also help to put them next to a fan or air conditioning vent.

Sony Xperia 5 III front facing on windowsil

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Some other very common practise is to put the telephone in a Ziploc bag full of rice and let it balance for about two or iii days. Why rice? Mainly considering information technology is something readily bachelor at about homes. Rice is dry out, and hence very good at absorbing humidity in the air, making the phone'due south environment drier and helping dry out the device.

With that said, if you tin can make your mode to a store, there are better alternatives. Amidst better options are silica gel packs, which are those little packets you frequently detect in shoes or electronics boxes (and you can't eat). It's not like all of u.s.a. take these laying around, but if you lot recall ahead of time you, could get good deals on Amazon.

And while nosotros are on the whole thinking alee topic — you could also buy a water rescue kit. I happen to like Kensington's EVAP bundle, which includes a special bag and silica gel packs. Kensington states this is 700% more constructive at drying moisture than rice is, though it's hard to say how true their claim is. However, it might be worth the investment.

The moment of truth

David Imel / Android Authority

So you lot did everything you could and a few days have passed by. It's time to see if all your efforts paid off. Take the phone out of wherever you left it and put it all together. Then plug the phone in and try to plough information technology on. If it works, you lot have succeeded! Stay on the lookout for any odd behavior, though, at least for a few days. Also, test all the components. Make a call to meet if the microphone and earphone work, examination the speaker, etc.

Now, if the phone doesn't work, it's time to accept defeat and take it to a professional and see if it can be salvaged. You can also claim insurance if you have it. Not to audio like a medico, but later this point we have really done everything nosotros could. Sometimes you accept to let the phone go.

Did your telephone die? Let's help you find a new one. Take a await at our lists of the all-time Android phones and best budget Android phones. You might too desire to consider a used or refurbished phone to relieve some coin.