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Last updated: 12 January 2022
Follow these steps to prevent permanent damage:
Even if you’ve dried off all the visible water, there will be water inside the phone itself which, you know, ought not to be there! So how do you get to it?
You need something that’ll draw out and absorb all the water that’s gone inside your device. So, place your wet phone in a sealed bag with:
Whichever option you choose, it’s important you remember that the bag must be sealed. If it isn’t, the rice or desiccant products will draw moisture from the air outside rather than focusing solely on what’s trapped inside your phone.
Finally, we’d like to stress again that must leave your phone to dry out for 24-48 hours (the longer the better) in order to give enough time for the water to be absorbed – don’t be tempted to test it too soon! You may want to place your sealed bag in a warm, dry place like an airing cupboard, too.
Fixing a water damaged iPhone essentially follows the same process that we outlined above. The only difference is that, unfortunately, iPhone batteries are built in and so can’t be removed.
Therefore, if your iPhone goes swimming, simply turn it off straight away and follow the rest of our guidance. If your phone was already off at the time it got wet, leave it that way.
While you’re acutely following all our guidance on what to do, we thought we’d reiterate a few things you must not do if you want to save your phone from a sorry fate.
Once your phone has dried, test it. If it works then congratulations! If it doesn’t, then unfortunately the damage may be too severe. You could try taking it to a technician to see if they can offer their expertise, but there are no guarantees that they can fix it.
If you have insurance or a warranty, claim on it! That’s why you’ve got it. Call up your provider and heed their advice; they may be able to repair or replace your phone. If you don’t have insurance, and you’re no stranger to your phone getting water damage, then it’s possibly worth taking out a mobile phone insurance policy in advance of any future accidents. Some mobile phone deals offer insurance as part of a benefits package, or you could claim on house insurance if the accident happened at home.
Lastly, if your phone can’t be saved it may be time to get a new one. Many models these days are either water-resistant or fully waterproof, so run a mobile comparison to see what tariffs are available on these handsets. Read out guide on cheap phone deals .
If you want to be super safe, consider buying a fully waterproof case. Not only will your phone be protected, you can take some pretty cool snaps when you go swimming! If you get a new phone, you can recycle your old phone, even if it's water damaged.
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