Accidents happen, sometimes quickly, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your phone if you’ve dropped it in water. Find out what you can do to try and save your phone. From the classic rice method to more effective solutions, we’ll walk you through it so you can limit the damage.
- Procedure for drying up a cell phone
- Should you put your cell phone in rice? If yes, for how long?
- How to remove water from a phone without rice
- What is the Ingress Protection (IP) rating?
- Get your phone fixed at a lower cost
- If your phone doesn’t turn on
Procedure for drying up a cell phone
- Take your phone out of the water.
- Remove the case.
- Turn off the phone, as heat from the components and moisture can cause damage. Depending on your phone model, press and hold the power button or two side buttons simultaneously, then select Off or Power off. For the exact procedure, refer to your device’s user guide.
- Wipe the device with a clean, dry cloth. Wipe off hard-to-reach gaps with a cotton swab, without inserting it into the charging port. To ease the flow of water, you can gently tap the phone, charging port facing down.
- Remove removable components, such as the SIM card, memory card (if applicable), and battery, if possible. Do not attempt to unscrew or loosen the housing if it is not designed to be opened (as is the case with iPhone).
Did your phone fall into the ocean, pool, or a sweet drink? Salt, chlorine, and sugar can cause corrosion of some components. Even though this may seem counterintuitive, rinse the disassembled parts and the device with clean water.
- Allow the device and parts to air dry for 24 hours in a dry, well-ventilated area. To speed up the drying process, you can place them in front of a fan that blows cool air. Do not use a dryer or compressed air.
Should you put your cell phone in rice? If yes, for how long?
There are differing opinions on this point. Rice does have absorbent properties, but they don’t act fast enough to avoid water damage. In addition, particles can seep into gaps in the device and cause further damage.
If you still want to try the old trick of the cell phone in rice, wrap the device in paper towels before placing it in the bag. Then wait 24 hours before picking it up and turning it on.
How to remove the water from a phone without using rice
In addition to rice, there are other “homemade” methods you can use to try to save a phone that has fallen into water.
Silica bags
Synthetic drying agents are used to prevent moisture in many types of packages, such as handbags, shoe boxes, electronics packaging, etc. You can keep these silica bags for future use. Allow them to dry first before storing.
Alternatively, you can buy bags for just a few dollars in some hardware stores or office supply stores. Place the bags and phone in an airtight freezer bag and let stand for 24 to 48 hours.
Drying kits
Telephone drying kits are specifically designed to save a cell phone that has fallen into water. These are essentially small bags that contain a powerful drying agent. Although not necessary, these products can help you dry your phone faster.
New trend: sound to remove water from the phone
A noise that helps drying? You read that right! Generating a sound between the 20 Hz and 200 Hz frequencies reportedly could remove water from a phone speaker. Several broadcast applications or platforms, such as YouTube and Spotify, offer a soundtrack of these low vibrations. All you have to do is place your phone flat and face down, and play the track at full volume.
Although it works for ejecting water from the speakers, this method is not powerful enough to dry other components. It is therefore to be used in addition to other procedures. Also, since the phone must remain on for the sound to be heard, make sure you have followed the preliminary drying steps beforehand.
What is the Ingress Protection (IP) rating?
The Ingress Protection rating indicates the degree of water and dust protection of your phone. This is an international standard. The first number refers to resistance to solid debris and the second number refers to liquids. For example, an IP67 rating indicates that the device is completely dust-tight and protected from temporary immersion (up to 1 m) for 30 minutes.
Does the IP rating on your phone end with the number 6 or higher? You can rest assured that it should not suffer any damage if it has fallen into the water for a short amount of time. It is still recommended to follow the suggested drying method to maintain the integrity of the device for as long as possible.
Most recent phones have a high Ingress Protection rating. Here are some examples :
- Apple: iPhone 7 and later models
- Samsung: Galaxy S7 and later models
- Google: Pixel 3 and later models
Refer to the manufacturers’ website for more information.
Get your phone fixed at a lower cost
Water damage is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. However, it may be covered by a device protection plan purchased buying the phone. This type of plan can save you a lot of money in the event of an accident.
At Videotron, this is the Mobile Device Protection Program. The program covers accidental damage, such as liquid damage. The device must be registered in-store within 60 days of purchase. Learn more at a store near you.
If your phone doesn’t turn on
Has your device officially died? Before throwing in the towel, see our troubleshooting tips. If nothing can be done, you can visit a cell phone repair shop or buy a new device.
Read also:
Mis à jour 21-07-2025
Version 1.0
