How to fix iPhone water damaged? (2023)

FAQs

Can an iPhone with water damage be fixed? ›

There's a good chance that your water damaged iPhone can be repaired. Once your phone is wet it's critical not to charge it or try to dry it out by putting it in rice as this can cause further damage to the device. It is much better to simply turn it off and book a repair appointment with iSmash online.

Many people swear by uncooked rice, advising owners to put their damp iPad or iPhone in a big bowl of the stuff (cover it completely) and leave it there for 48 hours or so. The rice will absorb the moisture effectively, and most of us have some uncooked rice in our homes (or can get hold of some fairly easily).

Allow at least 5 hours before charging or connecting a Lightning accessory. To dry iPhone, tap it gently against your hand with the Lightning connector facing down to remove excess liquid. Leave the device in a dry area with sufficient airflow.

Do not worry, though, if your phone got damaged after being immersed in the water, as most of these components are repairable. For a start, the SIM and SD card slots, headphone jacks, charging ports, and microphone holes are the common ingress point for water to damage your phone.

Water turns into a phone's kryptonite when it works its way into the ports, jacks and speakers. Once inside, it flows into the circuits. The result? The water, which acts as a conductor, carries a current which then overloads the phone with energy, frying the circuit board.

Fill a plastic zip-top bag with silica gel packets and bury the phone in the bag. Leave your phone in the bag for 24–48 hours. After you've allowed your phone to fully dry, switch it on. If it doesn't turn on right away, charge it fully and try again.

Do not -- we repeat, do not -- use a blow dryer; the heat can damage the phone. If you have a phone or a gadget with a cover that comes off, take it off, and take out the battery, the SIM card, and anything else that can easily be removed. Dry all those things off.

Most iPhone and iPod devices are equipped with Liquid Contact Indicators (LCIs) that you can see from the outside. An LCI will activate when it contacts water or a liquid containing water. The indicator's color is normally white or silver, but when it contacts water or a liquid containing water, it will turn fully red.

In a small number of cases swamped phones are able to dry out on their own over the course of days or weeks. But it's not common. And while some newer phones are water resistant and can withstand a quick drop in a bucket or toilet, none are water proof.

This is true for any iPhone model: your best chance to fix a wet iPhone is to follow the steps above and then leave the phone on a towel to dry by itself for 24-48 hours. Don't charge it, don't turn it on, don't use rice or anything else. You can open a window and let your phone air out.

Can I dry my iPhone in the oven? ›

Do not blow-dry your wet phone or stick it in the oven! Heat can damage the delicate electronics inside.

Cell Phone Liquid or Water Damage

There are over 900 contact points inside your device. Any liquid, water or even mud left unaddressed on your devices contacts will leave harmful minerals that can cause corrosion. The impact of liquid damage isn't always apparent – and can take days, weeks even months to appear.

Place your phone in an airtight container and completely cover it with your choice of desiccant. Leave the container for 24-48 hours for the material to draw all the moisture out of your handset.

Restart your iPhone or iPad. Make sure that your screen is clean and free of any debris or water. Disconnect any Lightning or USB-C accessories. If your screen works after removing an accessory, try using a different outlet, cable, or charger.

If your iPhone's touchscreen is not working, first try to force-restart the phone. Make sure your touchscreen is clean and dry so it can sense your fingertips. Remove cases or screen protectors that may be interfering with the touchscreen.

According to Apple, you should leave your phone in a dry area with some airflow to help remove moisture. You can even place it in front of a fan blowing cool air to "help the drying process," the company says.

To modify a well-known phrase …“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of [rice].” Gazelle.com, advises readers not to bother with the “rice trick.” After testing it and other solutions, they found rice to be the least effective for absorbing liquids.

Instead, use silica gel packets. They are used in packaged and boxed products (such as shoes) to absorb moisture, and can do the same for your phone. Place a few silica gel packets under your phone and on top. Let the phone sit for a few hours while the silica gel packets absorb the water.

Does the hair dryer trick work for iPhone? ›

Heating the battery with a blow dryer or hot surface will raise the internal voltage enough to reconnect the protection circuit, he says. Please use this method at your own risk. This is not a permanent solution to repairing a broken phone.

It might take up to 24 hours to fully dry.

This means that the devices can withstand water up to a depth of six meters (19.7 feet) for up to 30 minutes. The IP68 water resistance rating means that the ‌iPhone 12‌ and ‌iPhone 13‌ can hold up against splashes, rain, and accidental water exposure, but intentional water exposure should still be avoided if possible.

You can expect to pay between $45 and $599 for professional water damage repair. The wide range is due to multiple factors: Extent of damage: It's much cheaper if your iPhone simply needs to be dried, but if internal components are damaged, you'll need to pay for replacement components and their installation.

Should You Get Your Water Damaged Phone Fixed? This really depends on your objectives. If you expect to get back a fully functioning phone that works like new and continues to work like new for the next 2 years, then no. You shouldn't get your water damaged phone fixed because you will likely be upset at the results.

Trade in Your Water-Damaged Phone

Some trade-in sites will accept devices with water damage, though they will consider it broken when it comes to pricing. Even if you've exposed your phone indirectly to moisture, such as through steam or rain, the internal sensor that indicates water in the phone may trigger.

Find out if liquid has damaged your iPhone or iPod

An LCI will be activated when it comes into contact with water or a liquid containing water. The indicator's colour is normally white or silver, but when it comes into contact with water or a liquid containing water, it will turn fully red.

Any liquid, water or even mud left unaddressed on your devices contacts will leave harmful minerals that can cause corrosion. The impact of liquid damage isn't always apparent – and can take days, weeks even months to appear.

The former standard means that your phone can be submerged in up to one meter of freshwater for about 30 minutes without any seeping into the device, while IP68 means that the device can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.