How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet

What to do with a phone that fell into water or got wet

Once the accident has happened, every second counts. So don’t waste time and take immediate action. You should consider the following tips:

• Turn off the device if it is not already done.
• Remove the protective cover, if any, then the microSD and SIM cards
• If you have an older smartphone or a modular smartphone like the Fairphone 5 (review) , you may be able to remove the battery
• Take a cloth (preferably microfiber) or a piece of paper towel and gently dry the wet smartphone
• Avoid getting water into small cracks in the smartphone casing
• There are repair kits that will help you dry out your smartphone. Use one of these or use silica gel packets
• Let your smartphone dry for at least two days. During this time, use another device so that your smartphone really has time to dry completely
• If the device does not turn back on after this drying time, recharge it first. If it does not, the battery is probably damaged
• If the smartphone remains dead, the only solution is to call a professional. Send it to the manufacturer, to your favorite repairer or see if there is an authorized repairer in your city, where skilled DIYers can try their luck
• Are you skilled enough to take apart a smartphone? There are DIY repair kits and plenty of YouTube tutorials you can follow. But keep in mind that this is often a complex process and will void your warranty.
• If the smartphone reboots, you should carefully observe the first few days to see if everything works as before or if errors appear later. Play music and check if the speakers work normally; also test the touchscreen.

What to absolutely avoid doing with a smartphone that has fallen into water or is wet

I’m wondering if the things not to do in case of water damage are not more important. You risk making an already bad situation much worse. So here are some things to avoid:

• Do not immediately turn on your smartphone if it was turned off or broken
• Do not press the keys
• Do not shake it or hit it against your hand. This may cause the water to spread even deeper into the appliance.
• Also, don’t press on it, as you might blow water inside and cause even more damage.
• Do not disassemble your smartphone more than necessary; do not open the casing. This may activate the built-in moisture indicators, which will void your warranty.
• Do not expose it to unnecessary heat due to humidity. Do not use a hair dryer, do not put it in the oven or microwave, and do not place it on a radiator. Heat can damage electronic components and make your smartphone dry as a bone, but completely ruined
• Forget the rice trick! Yes, rice is often recommended for drying a device (we did it in the previous version of the article) and it can indeed help dry an electronic device. The catch is that the liquid in it can make it sticky and clog some parts of the device, causing further damage. So, it’s better to use the silica gel mentioned above. You can also air dry your smartphone.

How to protect yourself against water damage with your smartphone

If you landed here via Google because you have a wet smartphone in your hands, this point won’t help you. But for next time, I’ll list a few points that can help save you from the next debacle.

Buy IP certified smartphones

You could start by checking directly when purchasing the smartphone whether the smartphone is IP certified and if so, what its IP certification is. The best solution is to opt for a smartphone certified IP68 or IP67. Many high-end models like the Galaxy S24 Ultra (test) or the  Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (test) have this protection against water and dust.

But you can also expect high IP ratings for smartphones  under 400 euros to choose from in 2024 , with models like the Galaxy A35 (test) or the Motorola Edge 40 (test) .

Note, however, that even an IP68 certification is not a free pass for your smartphone. To learn what exactly IP68 or other certifications mean, read our article that details all IP ratings for smartphones:

• Is my smartphone waterproof? An update on IP 67 and 68 certifications

But first of all, the protection still applies to fresh water! If you throw your smartphone into your beer, into salt water at the beach or into soapy water, the criteria are completely different and the protection no longer applies!

What is certain is that you should not test the promises of manufacturers, even if they promise you a waterproof smartphone. And do not be blinded by certifications such as IP53, for these devices even rain can be dangerous.

Plan for first aid kits, waterproof bags or even spare smartphones

 

Another thing you can do well before water damage occurs: Get emergency kits. You can buy emergency kits at tech stores or on Amazon that you can use in an emergency. These are usually dry bags that you can put your wet smartphone in and leave it for two days.

You can buy them for less than 15 euros. But of course you can also get the silica gel or gravel gel we mentioned in advance and put it in your cupboard in case of emergency.

You can also get cases in which you can store a waterproof smartphone, for example for your day at the beach. You can even take your smartphone to the sea.

The last tip won’t save you from water damage, but it might help if you find yourself in that situation or have to give up your smartphone in general: Don’t hesitate to buy an affordable smartphone!

So if you need to dry a wet smartphone for two days or send it in for repair, you will have a cheap emergency smartphone. You will be able to stay reachable, check social networks and take photos at any time.

That’s it for this guide. Fingers crossed that you’re safe from water damage or can at least get your smartphone back in working order with these tips. How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet How to fix a phone that fell into water or got wet