iPhone Tips: What to do if you drop your iPhone in water

Note

In any circumstances, if you drop your iPhone in water, TURN IT OFF RIGHT AWAY.

Before trying to turn on your iPhone after this repair, it is best to consult a professional or go to an Apple Store to see if it is safe to do so.

If a complete restore is needed, you can restore your iPhone via iTunes.

5 Easy and Fast Ways to Save a Water Submerged iPhone

1. Get the iPhone out of the water as soon as you can and switch off the iPhone by pressing the top Sleep/Wake button for 5 seconds until you see the following screen, then slide to power off. Of course if the iPhone is already turned off don’t turn it on.

   • Turning off the iPhone as swiftly as possible is the single most important step to prevent water damage. Keeping it off for good couple of days after the incident is as crucial.

   • It is not water per se which damages the iPhone but the short-circuits which can be produced by the electricity running in the iPhone’s circuit board.

2. Dry off the iPhone with a towel or a piece of fabric. Do NOT use a hair-dryer, nor place the iPhone in an oven as the excess heat will damage the iPhone beyond repair.

3. Grab a plastic bag, preferably a common zipper storage bag and fill it up with uncooked rice or alternatively, silica-gel packets. Place the iPhone in the plastic bag and make sure the device is fully immersed in the rice. If you cannot get hold of rice or silica, you can alternatively place the iPhone in a very dry and well ventilated place (i.e. a room used to dry clothes equipped with a cold-air blow fan).

4. Take out as much air as possible from the bag and zip it up. If you do not have a zipper bag, use a regular one, or as a last resort, a bowl.

5. Let the iPhone remain in the rice for at least 24 hours (preferably 48 hours) after which the device should have completely dried up.