How to Fix a Water-Damaged Phone (iPhone & Android)

Dropped your phone in the toilet, a pool or your coffee? What you do in the next few minutes matters more than any fix you try later. This guide covers what to do right away, how long to wait before charging, and when to stop and get help, for both iPhone and Android.

One thing to skip: the bag of rice. Apple specifically advises against it, because rice particles can get into the phone and cause more damage. Airflow and time work better.

What to do in the first minute

Get the phone out of the liquid, then follow three rules:

• Don’t test it. No tapping the screen or pressing buttons “just to see.”
• Don’t charge it. No cable and no wireless charger, even if it looks fine.
• Don’t shake it hard. A gentle tap is fine. Hard shaking can push water deeper into ports and seams.

If the phone is already off, leave it off. If it’s still on, turn it off now (step 1 below).

Was it salt water, pool water or a drink? Note that now. Salt, chlorine and sugar speed up corrosion, so these spills may need an extra rinse step (step 3) and are more likely to need a professional.

How to fix a water-damaged phone, step by step

1. Turn it off properly

Use a normal shutdown. A force restart briefly cycles power, which is what you’re trying to avoid.

• iPhone with Face ID: press and hold the side button and either volume button until the slider appears, then drag it. Holding the side button alone opens Siri.
• iPhone with a Home button: press and hold the side (or top) button, then drag the slider.
• Samsung Galaxy: press and hold the side key and volume down together, then tap Power off. You can also swipe down to the quick panel and tap the power icon.
• Google Pixel 6 and later: press and hold power and volume up together, then tap Power off. On a Pixel 5a or earlier, hold power alone.
• Other Android phones: hold the power button. If that opens an assistant, try power plus volume up or volume down.

2. Remove the case and anything plugged in

Take off the case and unplug any cable or headphones. Don’t unscrew or pry open a sealed phone. Opening it breaks the seals and can cause more damage.

3. Rinse it if the liquid wasn’t fresh water (water-resistant phones only)

Salt, chlorine and sugar leave residue that corrodes the port and clogs the speakers as it dries. If a liquid other than water gets on a water-resistant iPhone (iPhone 7 and later), Apple says to rinse the affected area with tap water. Samsung gives similar advice for its water-resistant Galaxy phones.

• Check your manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and your phone’s rating first (see the IP rating section below).
• Rinse only the affected area, gently and briefly. Don’t soak the phone again or use pressurized water.
• Don’t rinse if the phone has no water-resistance rating, is rated IP54 or lower, is cracked, has been repaired, or you’re unsure about its seals. Dry it as below and get professional help instead. For phones without a rating, Samsung says to remove the SIM and memory card, dry the phone with a towel and take it to a service center.

4. Dry the outside

Wipe the phone with a soft, lint-free cloth, such as a lens cloth. Then hold it with the charging port facing down and tap it gently against your hand to drain the port. Don’t push cotton swabs, paper towels or pins into any opening.

5. Take out the SIM tray

If your phone has a SIM tray, eject it with the SIM tool and let it dry separately. Do this after the outside is dry: Apple says to make sure the iPhone is dry before you open the tray, so water doesn’t run inside. Many recent iPhones sold in the US are eSIM-only and have no tray, so skip this step.

6. Let it air-dry

Leave it in a dry spot with good airflow, port facing down. Don’t seal it in a bag or container. A fan blowing cool air into the charging port can speed things up; Apple suggests this.

Don’t use:

• Rice. Particles can get into the phone.
• A hairdryer, oven, microwave, radiator or direct sunlight. Heat can warp seals and damage the battery.
• Compressed air. It can push water deeper.

7. Wait before charging or turning it on

How long depends on your phone and what happened. The next section covers it.

How long to wait before charging or turning it on

For an iPhone, Apple says to wait at least 5 hours before charging with a cable or connecting an accessory. Android makers don’t publish a general waiting time, so go by the phone’s warning and the guide below.

Your situation	What to do before charging or turning it on	Source
iPhone, any liquid	Wait at least 5 hours before using a cable or accessory. This is Apple’s general rule after liquid exposure.	Apple
iPhone liquid-detection alert (port only)	Retry the cable after at least 30 minutes; allow up to 24 hours if the alert returns. This covers the port, not the inside: after a dunk, the 5-hour rule above still applies.	Apple
Pixel showing “Liquid or debris in USB port”	Turn it off, let it dry at room temperature and wait for “Okay to use USB port.” Contact Google if the warning lasts 2 hours or more.	Google
Water-resistant Samsung Galaxy	Samsung says water in the port usually evaporates within about 1 to 2 hours. Wait until the port is completely dry and any moisture warning has cleared. This covers the port only.	Samsung
Phone with no water-resistance rating	Don’t turn it on. Samsung warns that moisture can remain inside after drying and recommends a service center check.	Samsung
Submerged deeper or longer than its rating, cracked, or showing signs of damage inside	Get it inspected before turning it on or charging it	General safety advice
Salt water, pool water or a drink	Rinse first if step 3 applies to your phone, then follow its row above. If you couldn’t rinse it, get it inspected soon.	Apple, Samsung

Wireless charging. Apple and Samsung both say a wireless charger is fine once the phone is dry. After a full dunk, though, give it the same wait as a cable. A dry back doesn’t mean a dry inside.

A dry port isn’t a dry phone. Moisture alerts only check the charging port. If the phone was under for a while, isn’t water-resistant, or met salt water or a drink, liquid may still be inside after the alert clears. Waiting dries water out; it doesn’t undo corrosion.

Turning it on. Wait until the phone is completely dry and shows no signs of damage, following the table above. Then try turning it on before you plug it in. If the table says to get it inspected first, do that instead. If you see lines on the screen, heat or random restarts, turn it off and get it checked.

If your iPhone shows a liquid-detection alert

The iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later check for liquid in the charging port when you plug something in. You’ll see “Charging Not Available,” “Liquid Detected in USB-C Connector,” “Liquid detected in Lightning Connector” or just “Liquid Detected.” Charging through the port stops until it’s dry. Here’s what Apple recommends:

1. Unplug the cable from the iPhone and from the adapter or accessory.
2. Hold the iPhone with the port facing down and tap it gently against your hand.
3. Leave it in a dry spot with some airflow.
4. After at least 30 minutes, try the cable again. If the alert comes back, keep drying. It can take up to 24 hours.
5. If it’s dry but still won’t charge, unplug the adapter from the wall and reconnect everything.

If you reconnect while the port is wet, the alert offers an Emergency Override. Skip it unless you truly need the phone: Apple warns that charging with a wet port can corrode the pins and cause permanent damage.

If the alert shows up every time, even with a dry phone and an Apple cable, the port may need service.

If your Android phone shows a moisture warning

Many Android phones also detect liquid in the USB-C port, so don’t assume yours can’t. The wording varies by brand.

• Google Pixel: you’ll see “Liquid or debris in USB port.” Google says to unplug the charger, then turn the phone off and let it dry flat at room temperature if the port or cable is wet. Charge again once you see “Okay to use USB port.” If the warning lasts 2 hours or more, contact Google.
• Samsung Galaxy: a water-resistant Galaxy won’t charge through a wet port. Plugging in shows a pop-up and sounds an alarm until you disconnect. Samsung says to gently shake out the water and let the port dry, which usually takes about 1 to 2 hours. Drying times vary, so don’t reconnect until the port is completely dry and the warning has cleared. If it still won’t charge after that, contact Samsung.
• Other brands: follow what the warning tells you.

Whatever the brand, don’t keep plugging the charger in to test it. Every attempt with a wet port risks corroding the pins.

Once it’s dry and working, back it up right away

A phone that works after a soak can still fail later. Corrosion inside can take days or weeks to cause problems, so back it up as soon as it’s safe to use again: after the wait above, with no warnings or signs of damage. Don’t turn on a phone early just to get your data off. If you suspect internal damage, a data-recovery service is the safer route (see below).

1. Back up right away. Use iCloud or a computer for an iPhone, and your Google account (or Samsung Smart Switch to a computer) for Android. Start with photos, contacts and messages.
2. Watch it for the next two weeks. Warning signs are fast battery drain, the phone running hot, random restarts, charging trouble, or sound that stays muffled.
3. Get it inspected if any of those appear. The sooner a technician cleans out corrosion, the more of the phone can usually be saved.

Muffled sound right after the spill is normal and usually clears as the speaker dries. Apple suggests laying the phone speaker side down on a lint-free cloth so water can drip out.

How to tell if your phone has water damage

• A tripped liquid contact indicator. Many phones have a small sticker that turns red or pink after contact with water.
  • iPhone: on models with a SIM tray, it sits inside the SIM slot. Apple lists locations for models up to the iPhone 17. eSIM-only iPhones have no tray and no indicator you can see.
  • Android: many models put one in the SIM or memory-card tray. Some newer phones, including Pixel 10 models, record liquid contact electronically instead. In the US, Pixel 10 owners can run Google’s Test for liquid damage from their Google Store account. Availability varies by device and region.
• Moisture or fog under the camera lens or screen.
• Corrosion: a white or greenish crust around the charging port or SIM tray.
• Muffled sound from the speaker or microphone that doesn’t improve as the phone dries.
• Battery, charging or heat problems that started after the spill.

A physical indicator is different from the on-screen liquid alert. The alert checks the port right now; the sticker changes color after contact with water and stays that way. A red indicator means liquid got in, not that anything is broken. Apple suggests having the phone inspected if you’re unsure. Check it only after the outside of the phone is dry.

Water damage on the screen

If water reaches the display, you may see colored lines or blotches, dark patches that don’t change with brightness, flickering, or a touchscreen that misreads taps in one area.

Drying can clear minor problems if water only pooled near the edge of the display. If the symptoms remain after a full dry-out, liquid has likely reached the panel, its connector or another component. You can’t tell which by looking, but a technician can. The fix ranges from cleaning a connector to replacing the screen.

Warranty, insurance and IP ratings

Liquid damage usually isn’t covered by a standard warranty, even on a water-resistant phone.

• Apple says liquid damage isn’t covered under warranty, though you may have rights under consumer law. It also says water resistance isn’t permanent and can decrease with normal wear.
• Google says water damage isn’t covered by the Pixel warranty.
• Samsung’s standard warranty has a similar exclusion, and Samsung also says water resistance weakens over time.
• Accidental-damage plans such as AppleCare+ and Samsung Care+, and many carrier or third-party insurance plans, may cover liquid damage. Terms vary by plan and region, so check yours.

What your phone’s IP rating actually means

An IP rating describes how the phone performed in a lab test: still fresh water, a set depth, 30 minutes. It isn’t a promise for real-world use, and the seals wear with age, drops and repairs. Ratings also vary more than many people expect.

Rating	Tested for	Examples
IP68	Submersion beyond 1 m for 30 minutes; the maker sets the depth	iPhone 12 to iPhone 17 (6 m); Galaxy S26 series (1.5 m)
IP67	Submersion to 1 m for 30 minutes	iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd gen), iPhone 8; Galaxy A56 5G
IP48	Submersion, but less protection against dust and grit	Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7
IP54	Splashes only, not submersion	Galaxy A16, Galaxy A17

If your phone is rated IP54 or lower, or has no rating, treat it as not water-resistant when following the steps above.

When to stop and see a professional

Get the phone inspected if:

• It won’t turn on after a full drying period.
• The moisture warning won’t clear.
• You can see corrosion around the ports.
• The screen still shows lines, dead zones or unresponsive touch after drying.
• It turns on but drains fast, overheats or restarts on its own.
• It has no water-resistance rating. Samsung recommends a service center for these.
• It met salt water, pool water or a drink and couldn’t be rinsed soon after.
• It won’t turn on and holds data you can’t afford to lose.

Tell the technician what liquid it was and how long ago it happened. Don’t keep plugging it in or try to open it yourself in the meantime.

Can you recover data from a water-damaged phone?

Often, yes, if you don’t make things worse first.

• Check your backups. Your photos and contacts may already be in iCloud or your Google account. Sign in from another device to see.
• Stop trying to turn it on. If it won’t start, each attempt can short-circuit a wet board.
• Use a shop that does data recovery, not just screen repairs. Modern phones encrypt their storage, so recovery usually means repairing the phone enough to start it. Cost and success rates vary.
• If it does turn on, back it up immediately.

How to protect your phone from water damage

• Know your rating, and its limits. Even for its IP68 models, Apple advises against swimming or bathing with the phone, showering with it, or taking it into a sauna.
• Use a waterproof pouch for beach, boat and pool days. Pouches rated for submersion protect better than factory seals that have aged.
• Consider an accidental-damage plan if spills are likely in your household.

Quick FAQ

Does putting a phone in rice work?

No. Apple advises against it because rice particles can get inside the phone. Airflow and time work better.

How long should I wait before charging my phone?

For an iPhone, at least 5 hours, according to Apple. Other phones have no official number, so wait until the port is dry and any warning has cleared. The wait-time table above covers each situation.

Can a water-resistant phone still get water damage?

Yes. Water resistance is tested in lab conditions and wears down over time. Liquid damage is usually not covered by warranty.

Can a water-damaged phone fix itself?

Partly. Water evaporates, and minor symptoms like muffled sound often clear as it does. Corrosion doesn’t go away on its own, so problems that remain after a full dry-out need a technician.

My phone turned on after getting wet. Is it OK?

Maybe, but don’t assume so. Back it up immediately and watch for battery drain, heat or restarts over the next two weeks.

Can water damage show up days later?

Yes. Residue left inside can corrode parts gradually, so a phone that seems fine can fail days or weeks later.

Can water damage to the screen be fixed?

Often. If lines, dark patches or touch problems remain after drying, a technician can tell whether it’s a connector or the panel itself.

How much does water damage repair cost?

It varies too much for one number. It depends on the phone, which parts are affected, and whether you have an accidental-damage plan. Get a diagnosis and a quote before agreeing to repairs.

Conclusion

Turn it off, keep every charger away, rinse it only if it’s water-resistant, undamaged and the liquid wasn’t fresh water, and dry it with airflow, not rice or heat. Wait before powering it up, back it up the moment it works, and get help if problems remain.