Phone fell in water? What to do in the first 10 minutes (and why not rice)

The first 10 minutes

• Get it out of the water quickly. The longer and deeper it’s under, the more chance water finds a way in.
• Unplug any cable or accessory, and don’t plug anything in.
• If it was fully submerged or behaves oddly (flickering, restarting, getting warm), turn it off. Samsung’s guidance for a wet port starts with powering off and letting the device dry.
• Take off the case so the phone can dry properly.
• Wipe the outside with a soft, lint-free cloth.
• Hold it with the charging port facing down and tap it gently against your palm to shake out loose water.
• Leave it somewhere dry with airflow. A fan on a cool setting is fine.
• Don’t open the SIM tray until the phone is dry. Apple specifically says to make sure the iPhone is dry first.

Why rice is a myth

Putting a wet phone in a bag of rice is one of the most repeated tips on the internet, and it doesn’t help much. Rice doesn’t pull water out of sealed electronics any better than open air does, and it can leave starch and small grains in the ports and speaker holes.

Apple’s own support page for the iPhone’s “Liquid Detected” alert says plainly: don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice, because small particles of rice could damage it. Open air with a bit of airflow is the better choice for any phone.

Salt water, pool water and other liquids

Fresh water is the easiest case. Salt water, chlorinated pool water, soda, coffee and similar liquids leave residue behind as they dry, and that residue can corrode contacts over time.

Both Apple and Samsung suggest a counterintuitive step for this: if a liquid other than plain water got on the phone, rinse the affected area (Samsung specifically mentions the port) with fresh tap water, then dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth. A gentle rinse is enough; don’t hold it under a strong stream.

Apple also lists things to keep away from iPhones, including soap, detergent, acidic foods and drinks, perfume, sunscreen, lotions and oils, all of which can affect water resistance.

Drying and charging

Patience is the main tool here. For an iPhone that got wet, Apple says to wait at least 5 hours before charging with a cable or connecting accessories, and the “Liquid Detected” alert may stop it charging until the port is dry. Samsung says water in a Galaxy port usually evaporates within about 1 to 2 hours, and the phone will block wired charging while it detects moisture.

If your phone supports wireless charging, it’s usually the safer way to top up, but only once the back of the phone is dry.

If the speaker sounds muffled once the phone is working, our Speaker Cleaner plays a low tone that can help shake droplets out of the speaker grille. It won’t dry the inside of the phone or the charging port.

What not to do

• No hairdryers, ovens, microwaves, radiators or direct sun. Heat can harm the battery and the seals.
• No compressed air. Apple advises against it, and it can push water further in.
• Don’t poke cotton swabs, paper towels or pins into the ports or grilles.
• Don’t charge it while it’s still wet, or keep retrying the cable every few minutes.
• Don’t take it apart yourself. Opening the phone breaks the water seals.

When to get it repaired

Get it to the manufacturer or a reputable repair shop soon if you notice any of these: the phone won’t turn on or keeps restarting, fog or droplets behind the camera lens, lines or patches on the screen, touch problems, unusual heat, swelling, charging warnings that won’t clear after a full day, or sound that stays distorted. If the phone was in salt water for more than a moment, getting it checked early is worth it, because corrosion builds over time.

Water resistance isn’t permanent and wears down with age, so an older phone is more at risk. Apple notes that liquid damage isn’t covered under its warranty, although consumer law may give you rights. PhoneTools is not affiliated with Apple, Samsung or Google, and this guide can’t guarantee that a wet phone will recover.