What Happens If You Drop Your Phone in Water?

When you drop your phone in the water, a number of things can happen.

Since water is conductive, components can short out.

That can cause a temporary shutdown, but it might also result in permanent damage.

The first, and most important, is to shut the phone off before any additional damage occurs.

You then need to do everything it’s possible for you to do to dry the phone off.

Heres how to fix a phone that fell in water:

Turn the phone off.

Before you do anything else, shut the phone off.

As long as the phone remains on, theres a constantly increasing chance that it will be permanently damaged.

If your phone has a case, remove it first.

The case may trap water against the body of the phone, where it can seep inside the equipment.

Remove the SIM card.

Pat the SIM card dry, and set it aside.

If your phone has a removable battery, remove it.

This will also effectively turn the phone off if you werent able to do so through other means.

If you are able to remove it, pat the battery dry and set it aside.

Most phones have batteries that aren’t easily accessible.

If your battery isn’t removable, skip this step.

Remove anything else you could.

If your phone has an internalstylusor any other compartments or covers, remove them.

You want to open up the phone as much as possible to let it dry.

Wipe the phone dry.

Remove any remaining water from the outside of the phone.

If possible,clean your phone with a soft microfiber clothto avoid scratching the screen.

Gently shake the phone.

If any water comes out, wipe it away with your microfiber cloth.

Place the phone in a drying agent.

If you dont, you’ve got the option to find desiccants like DampRid at most grocery stores.

Submerge the phone in the absorbent substance, but dont place it in a sealed container.

Its important that the water in the phone is able to evaporate.

Leave your phone alone for 24 to 48 hours.

Avoid leaving your phone in a humid area.

If the air is humid, the water in the phone wont be able to evaporate.

Check to see if the phone works.

If the phone doesnt work after youve allowed it to fully dry, it may be a lost cause.

Leave the phone unplugged until you’re sure it’s dry.

We got into a little more detail in ourHow to Fix a Cracked Phone Screenarticle.