How to fix your water-damaged phone in 7 steps

If you happen to drop your phone on a surface, it may work fine, albeit with some minor scratches. But if you drop your phone in the water accidentally or get wet in the rain, there is a high possibility that the phone will become defective.

If you find yourself in such a situation, it is advisable to show the water damaged phone to a reputed repair shop. However, if you delay, chances are that the internal components of the phone may get damaged, incurring higher repair costs.

To make sure there is minimal damage, you can do a couple of things that can save your phone from further damage. The steps mentioned might as well help the phone start again and function normally. Here is a look at what you need to do to fix your water-damaged phone.

7 steps do after you drop a phone in water

Dropped your phone in water? Here are seven steps that you should do to fix a water-damaged phone.

1. Remove the phone from water

2. Do not turn on the phone

3. Remove external components

4. Dry the phone externally

5. Dry the phone internally

6. Wait patiently

7. Reassemble the phone

1. Remove the phone from water

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t leave a phone in water for an extended period of time. Hence, you need to act fast to remove it from the water as soon as possible.

2. Do not turn on the phone

It is likely that the phone may turn off on its own after falling in the water. If it is still on, turn it off immediately. Do not try to turn it on; if you do so, there could be internal damage due to short circuits.

3. Remove external components

Once the phone has been turned off, remove items like the case, SIM card, SD card, and battery (if removable). Dry them separately.

4. Dry the phone externally

Use a dry and clean cloth or towel to dry the phone’s exterior. Do not shake the phone or blow-dry as doing so may cause the water to seep inside. However, you may use a vacuum cleaner with a small nozzle to suck out water from areas like ports, speakers, buttons, and SIM slot.

5. Dry the phone internally

Place the phone in a container or a zip-lock bag with materials that can absorb moisture. You may use silica gel packs, rice, oatmeal, or couscous as absorbents. Ideally, silica gel would be most effective at drawing out moisture because it is highly absorbent.

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Alternatively, you can also place the phone in front of a high-speed fan or air conditioner to dry the phone.

6. Wait patiently

Keep the phone in the drying medium for a longer period of time, such as 48 to 72 hours. The longer you wait, the chances of drying it effectively. Do not try to turn on the phone during the drying period.

7. Reassemble the phone

Reinsert the SIM card and turn on the phone to see whether it functions normally. You may need to charge the phone as it may have lost battery power during the period. Trying accessing all features like cameras, making phone calls, testing the speakers, and so on, to see if the phone is functioning properly.

If the phone does not turn on after drying it properly, do not try to open it yourself, as it may lead to more damage. It is recommended to seek assistance from a reputable phone repair shop or the official service centre of the phone. A professional repair service will disassemble the phone, fix issues like corrosion, and replace damaged parts, which a regular person will be unable to do.

The aforementioned steps can be very helpful in fixing a water-damaged phone. If the phone fails to start normally, do not hesitate to seek professional assistance who can prevent further damage and fix it.

If you are prone to accidents with your phone, especially involving liquids, it’s wise to invest in a device with an IP67 or IP68 rating. These ratings ensure dust resistance, but more importantly, they mean your phone can survive water immersion. An IP67-rated device can withstand submersion up to 1 metre for 30 minutes, while an IP68-rated device increases that depth to 1.5 metres for the same duration.