If you’re wondering what to do with a wet phone, the first thing you need to do is turn it off. Then, if it has a removable battery, take it out immediately. There are several ways to dry a phone without breaking it, but first, you should take a deep breath and think your way through the situation.
Is it okay if my phone gets wet?
Getting your phone wet used to be a major reason to panic. Even sweating too much when it was in your pocket could accidentally fry your device. Luckily, that’s not the case anymore.
Check how much water resistance your phone has and compare it against the depth of the liquid it fell into. For example, Apple’s smartphones have been water resistant since the release of the iPhone 7. Models since then have had a minimum IP67 rating, which is a max depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes, and the latest models can take a depth of 6 meters.
So, if your phone is water resistant, just open the SIM tray, and allow the phone to dry in the open air for 5-6 hours. The most important thing here is ensuring the charge port is fully dry. If you’re especially concerned, you could gently use a hair dryer to help the process.
How do I dry my phone without breaking it?
If you’re using a model of phone that isn’t water resistant, things are a bit more complicated. Once it’s shut off, you need to pull any SIM or SD card trays. Then you need to start pushing water out of the device. The best way to do this is by using an air compressor to blow it out. If you don’t have access to one, a hair dryer set on low or just shaking it will help.
Now, you can leave your phone somewhere to dry. Packing it in absorbent material like silica or rice can help. However, don’t seal the container because condensation can form, and you’ll be back at square one.
The important thing here is to let the phone dry for as much time as possible. A week would be great, but it should be a few days minimum before you try turning it on.
