Phone dropped in water — how to save your smartphone from water damage

One moment of inattention and the phone is in the water. Whether it’s the sink, bathtub, pool or even the toilet, liquid inside the device can quickly cause short circuits and later corrosion. The good news: with the right steps you can still save a lot.

We’ll explain how to handle water inside a phone, how to dry your device properly, how to recognize phone water damage, and when professional water-damage repair is worth it. You’ll also learn why the rice trick is overrated, what IP ratings really mean, and how to protect yourself against future incidents.

25.09.2025 | Reading time: 6 minutes

What to do when your smartphone falls into water?

Remember: no hair dryer, no heater, no direct heat sources. No oven experiments. Patience and airflow are the keys to treating phone water damage safely.

After drying: some checks to consider

Even if the phone got wet and boots again, delayed issues could appear. Proceed methodically.

• First start without a charging cable. After the drying period, switch it on briefly. If you see a moisture warning in the port, power off immediately and keep drying.
  
• Function test in stages. Check the display for spots, shadows or flicker; the touch screen for lag; the speaker/mic for muffled sound; the camera for fogged lenses; the charging port for a firm connection.
  
• Keep monitoring. Recognizing water damage often means watching for changes over several days. Fast battery drain, random crashes or flaky connections can indicate early corrosion.
  
• For iPhones: if the device warns about liquid in the Lightning/USB-C port, don’t force charging. For iPhone water-damage data recovery, check your iCloud backups before further attempts increase the risk.
  
  

Understanding IP ratings — “waterproof” is relative

Many current devices carry IP67 or IP68. These indicate protection against dust and fresh water under lab conditions, but not automatically against soapy water, chlorine or salt. Impacts, ageing seals and temperature changes can reduce protection. An iPhone in the bathtub or a phone in salt water are risky scenarios even with an IP rating.

At a glance

• IP67: dust-tight; short-term immersion to about 1 m for a limited time.
• IP68: like IP67, often with greater depth/time depending on the manufacturer.
• Typically valid for fresh water, not for sea or pool water.
  
  

Special liquids — salt water, soap, drinks

Salt-water damage appears faster and hits harder because salts increase conductivity and accelerate corrosion. Soapy water and sugary drinks are problematic as well.

• If you can act immediately: carefully rinse with distilled water to remove salt/soap, then dry thoroughly.
• If you’re unsure: don’t add more liquid; move straight to the drying phase and have it checked by a professional soon.
  
  

Common damages and how to spot issues?

• Display/touch: water spots, cloudiness, “ghost touches”, black screen.
• Audio: speaker sounds muffled or scratchy; microphone dropouts.
• Ports/power: wobbly charging, moisture warnings, unstable connection at the USB-C/Lightning port.
• Long-term: electrochemical corrosion on connectors, traces and component contacts.
  
  

If you notice these symptoms, you’re likely dealing with smartphone water damage, even if the device worked at first.

Insurance, warranty and law — what’s covered?

Standard warranties usually don’t cover liquid damage, as it’s considered user damage. Dedicated phone water-damage insurance can be worthwhile but depends on the policy.

Also check your home contents insurance for drops and moisture damage.
Important: if you have a policy, don’t open the device yourself and document the measures you took.

Prevention: how to “make your phone waterproof”

No device is absolutely waterproof, but you can significantly reduce your risk:

• Waterproof cases/pouches for beach, boat, pool, bath.
• Be careful in the bathroom and kitchen; don’t leave the phone on wet edges.
• Regular backups to cloud or local storage — they reduce stress in an emergency.
• Keep ports clean; remove dust and lint; check case seals regularly.
• In the rain: carry the phone in an inside pocket or waterproof pouch.
  
  

Compact and practical checklist

• Out – Off – Pat dry – Cards out – Dry 48–72 h.
• No rice, no heat, no compressed air.
• Power on first without a cable, then charge.
• If problems or warnings appear: contact a repair shop and, if applicable, your insurer.
  
  

Phone broken? How to save it and what to do next?

If your phone fell in water, take it out immediately, switch it off, dry it gently and remove the SIM and the battery if possible. Leave it in a dry place for at least 48 hours and use air-drying or silica gel before attempting to switch it back on or charge it. Check whether your smartphone has an IP rating but remember these usually apply only to fresh water and for a specific depth/time.

• Immediate actions: retrieve the phone, power it off, dry the exterior, remove cards.
• Drying: a well-ventilated spot or an airtight bag with silica gel and take your time.
• Important: if the device doesn’t work after drying, seek professional support. For critical data, there are specialist data-recovery procedures, including chip-level methods.
  

And if your device can’t be saved, you can find a new smartphone directly from yallo.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Does rice help with a wet phone?

Not really. Air + silica gel is more effective and less risky than “wet phone + rice”.

How long should I let the phone dry?

Realistically 48–72 hours. The less you move or heat the device, the lower the risk of secondary damage.

My iPhone shows moisture in the port — what should I do?

Don’t charge it. Let it dry and test again. For iPhone water-damage data recovery, check your iCloud/computer backups first.