Dropped your phone in water? The first few minutes matter. Here's exactly what to do — and the common mistakes that cause more damage than the water itself.
Do this immediately
- Get it out and power it off. Don't check if it still works — powering it on risks a short circuit.
- Dry the outside and remove the SIM tray, case, and anything else you can.
- Don't charge it. Putting power through a wet phone is the fastest way to kill it.
Do NOT do this
- Don't use rice. It's a myth — rice is slow and leaves starch dust in the ports. It does almost nothing.
- Don't use a hairdryer — heat pushes moisture deeper and can warp components.
- Don't shake it — that spreads water further inside.
The best move
Leave the phone switched off in a dry, well-ventilated spot for 24–48 hours, ideally with silica gel packets. Then try powering on.
If it won't recover
Water often damages the battery or charging port specifically. If the phone powers on but won't hold charge or charge at all, a battery or charging-port kit is often the fix. Badly corroded logic boards, though, need a professional.