Water and phones don’t mix, but a wet iPhone isn’t automatically a dead iPhone. What you do in the first few minutes makes a big difference.
Do this right away
- Take it out and turn it off. Hold the side button and a volume button, then slide to power off. Electricity plus liquid is what causes short circuits.
- Don’t charge it. Even if it seems fine, plugging a wet phone in can damage the charging port and board.
- Remove the case and gently dry the outside with a lint-free cloth.
- Get it to a repair shop as soon as you can, especially after salt water, pool water or a drink.
What not to do
- Don’t put it in rice. Rice doesn’t remove corrosion, and starch dust can get into the ports. Apple also advises against it.
- Don’t use a hair dryer — heat can damage the battery and screen.
- Don’t keep pressing buttons or trying to turn it on to “check”.
Why corrosion is the real enemy
Minerals and sugars in liquid start corroding the logic board within hours. That’s why water-damaged phones sometimes work for a day and then die. A proper repair means opening the phone and cleaning the board — not just drying the outside.
If your iPhone gets wet in Brooklyn, bring it to Avenue D Cellular for a free diagnostic. See our iPhone water damage repair service, and if the phone won’t turn on, ask about data recovery.