On this page
01Dropped phone in water: what to do in the first 10 minutes
If you dropped your phone in water, get it out, wipe it off and let it drain with the port facing down. Then leave it alone to dry and keep the charger away until the port is dry.
Most phones sold in the last several years are water resistant, so a quick dunk in a sink or puddle is usually survivable. The damage tends to come from what people do next: plugging in a wet port, blasting it with heat, or poking at it with a cotton swab.
-
Pull it out and take the case off
Every second underwater pushes the seals harder. Once it's out, remove the case, wallet or grip so water trapped behind it can escape.
-
Rinse it if it wasn't plain water
Salt water, pool water, soda, coffee or beer leave residue that corrodes contacts as it dries. Apple's advice for liquids other than water is to rinse the affected area with tap water, then dry it.
-
Wipe the outside dry
Use a soft, lint-free cloth. A microfiber glasses cloth is ideal. Paper towels shed fibers into the ports and speaker grilles.
-
Tap out the port
Hold the phone with the USB-C or Lightning port facing down and tap it gently against your palm a few times. You'll often see a drop or two come out.
-
Leave it to air-dry
Set it somewhere dry with some airflow, like a table near a fan on a low setting. Port facing down or propped on its side both work.
-
Wait before charging with a cable
Apple says to allow at least 5 hours before charging with a cable or connecting an accessory after liquid exposure. If you see a liquid alert, give it longer, up to a day.
If the phone has no water resistance rating, was under for a long time, or is acting strangely (flickering, hot, rebooting), power it off and leave it off until it's dry. A rated phone that went in briefly and works normally can stay on, but don't charge it.
02What not to do (and why rice is out)
Apple's support page now says plainly: don't put your iPhone in a bag of rice. Rice doesn't pull water out of a sealed phone any faster than open air, and the dust and small grains can end up in the port.
| Common trick | Do it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bag of rice | No | Apple advises against it. Starch dust and grains can get into the port |
| Hair dryer, oven, radiator | No | Apple says not to use an external heat source. Heat can damage the battery, display and adhesive seals |
| Compressed air | No | Apple advises against it. It can push water deeper and stress the seals |
| Cotton swab or paper towel in the port | No | Leaves fibers behind and can bend contacts |
| Charging to "test" it | No | Power through a wet port can corrode the pins |
| Airflow and patience | Yes | Slow, but it's what manufacturers recommend |
Silica gel packets are less harmful than rice but still aren't the official advice. If you want to use them, keep the phone out of a sealed bag so air can still move around it.
03Pool, salt water and sticky drinks
Water resistance ratings are tested in fresh water in a lab. Samsung, for example, rates its Galaxy S26 phones for fresh water only and warns that sea water and pool water can damage that protection. Salt and chlorine dry into crystals that eat at the port contacts and the seals around the speakers.
- Ocean or pool: rinse gently under a slow stream of tap water, not a high-pressure jet, then dry as above.
- Soda, juice, coffee, beer: rinse the same way. Sugar left in the buttons makes them sticky and the port unreliable.
- Soapy water or bath water: soap lowers surface tension and gets past seals more easily. Rinse and dry, and watch for muffled speakers over the next day.
For the port itself, see how to clean an iPhone charging port or how to clean a USB-C port once everything is dry.
04Liquid alerts and when you can charge again
iPhones from the XS onward can warn you when they detect liquid in the port. Many Galaxy phones show a similar moisture warning and block wired charging until the port is dry. That alert is doing its job, so don't fight it.
Apple's alert guidance says to try the cable again after at least 30 minutes, and if the warning comes back, leave the phone in a dry spot with airflow for up to a day. Apple also notes that a wireless charger can still be used while the port is wet, and there's an emergency override if you truly need a cable charge. We'd only use the override when you have no other option.
Full walkthrough in liquid detected in charging port.
05Signs it didn't survive, and what's covered
Muffled audio often clears in a day as water evaporates from the speaker mesh. Fog inside the camera or display, or a phone that gets hot on its own, needs a repair shop. Back up your photos as soon as it turns on.
Apple's standard warranty excludes liquid damage, and Google's safety guide for Pixel says liquid damage voids the warranty. An insurance or extended protection plan may cover it, so check yours before paying for a repair. Our IP68 explainer covers why water resistance fades over time.
06Next time: keep it dry around water
If your phone spends time near pools, boats, beaches or kayaks, a waterproof pouch is cheaper than a repair and works no matter how old your phone's seals are. Pick one that fits your phone's size with the case off, and test it with a tissue inside before you trust it with the phone.
A floating pouch for boats and docks, and sealed pouches for swimming and snorkeling.
Not sure a pouch beats a waterproof case? See waterproof pouch vs waterproof case, and IP67 vs IP68 for what your phone's rating can handle on its own.
Questions people ask
Does putting a wet phone in rice work?
Apple specifically says not to put an iPhone in a bag of rice. It doesn't dry the inside faster than open air, and rice dust and grains can get stuck in the charging port. Air-drying with some airflow is the recommended method.
How long should I wait before charging a phone that got wet?
Apple recommends at least 5 hours before charging with a cable or plugging in accessories after liquid exposure. If a liquid alert appears, keep it in a dry spot with airflow for up to a day. Wireless charging is an option meanwhile.
Should I turn off my phone if it falls in water?
If it isn't water resistant, was submerged for a while, or is behaving oddly, yes. Power it off and let it dry. A rated phone that was in briefly and works normally can stay on, but don't charge it until the port is dry.
Can a phone survive falling in the toilet?
Often, if it's a water-resistant phone and you grab it quickly. Remove the case, rinse it gently with tap water, wipe it with a disinfecting wipe on the outside surfaces, then air-dry it port down before charging.
Is water damage covered by warranty?
Usually not. Apple's warranty excludes liquid damage and Google says liquid damage voids the Pixel warranty, even though the phones are water resistant. Separate insurance or protection plans sometimes cover it.