Phone fell in water? Here's what to do, in order.
Toilet, sink, pool, a spilled drink, a rainy pocket. The first few minutes matter most for the phone, and the days afterward matter most for everything that depends on your number. Here is the sequence that gives the phone its best odds, and what to do about the gap if it doesn't make it.
Get it out and turn it off
Pull it out right away, and if it is still on, power it down. Don't tap around to check whether it works, because a live circuit and moisture together are what do the damage. Take off the case, and if your phone has a removable SIM tray, open it and take the SIM out so the tray can air out too.
Dry the outside, then leave it alone
Wipe the surface with a soft dry cloth. Hold the phone with the charging port facing down and give it a gentle tap against your palm to shake out loose water. Then set it somewhere dry with some air movement and resist the urge to power it up. A full day is a reasonable minimum, and longer is safer.
Skip the folk remedies
A bag of rice is not a proven fix, and phone makers, including Apple, advise against it because grains can lodge in the ports. Also avoid hair dryers, ovens, and radiators, since heat can warp seals and damage the battery. Don't use compressed air, which can push water deeper, and don't poke cotton swabs or paper towel into the charging port.
Wait before you charge, then test carefully
Plugging in a wet port is how a recoverable phone becomes a dead one. If your phone shows a liquid-detected warning, follow it and let the connector dry before charging. When the time is up, try turning it on. If it boots, back it up to the cloud or a computer right away, before anything else, in case problems show up later.
Get it checked even if it seems fine
Water damage can show up days or weeks later as corrosion, a battery that drains fast, a speaker that crackles, or a camera that fogs. If the water was salt water, a sugary drink, or pool water, treat it as more urgent, since those residues corrode faster than fresh water. Water resistance ratings describe lab conditions and can fade with age, and warranties often don't cover liquid damage, so ask before you pay. If the phone stays dead, a shop can sometimes recover data, but there are no guarantees, and that is the main reason to keep your backups current.
Your number shouldn't wait on a wet phone.
If MobileyMe is set up on your account, you can sign in to MobileyMe on any other phone, a spare or one you borrow, and your contacts and texts come with you. Calls you place show your number. On iPhone, an incoming call to your number rings the signed-in iPhone.
When your own phone is dry or fixed, log out of the borrowed one. Logging out wipes it. MobileyMe is free to download on the App Store and Google Play, and it works with US and Canadian numbers only.
See how it works →Questions people ask
Does putting a wet phone in rice work?
There's no solid evidence that it does, and phone makers, including Apple, advise against it. Grains can end up inside the ports, and rice does little to draw moisture out of a sealed device. Powering it off, drying the outside, and giving it time works better.
My phone is water resistant. Do I still need to worry?
Somewhat. Water resistance ratings are measured with fresh water under controlled conditions, and the seals can wear over time. Salt water, soap, hot water, and drinks are harder on a phone than the rating suggests. If it took a real dunking, follow the same steps and have it checked.
Can I charge it if it says liquid was detected?
Follow the warning on the screen. In general, a wet charging port and a live cable are a bad combination, so let the connector dry fully first. If the warning keeps appearing after you have let it dry, ask the phone maker or a repair shop what to do.
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