Dropped Your Phone in Water? Here’s What to Do First

Whether it slipped out of your pocket at the beach, took a dive into the sink, or bravely attempted a backflip into a puddle, water and phones are not friends.

Even “water-resistant” phones aren’t waterproof — and yes, we see water-damaged iPhones and Samsungs every single week in Christchurch.

Here’s what to do immediately to give your phone the best chance of survival.

Turn It Off Straight Away

If the phone is still on, power it down.

Water + electricity = short circuits, and short circuits = expensive repairs.

Leaving it on is the fastest way to make a bad situation much worse.

Remove the Case and Dry the Outside

Moisture can get trapped behind cases, especially chunky ones.

Take it off and gently pat the phone dry with a cloth or paper towel. Don’t shake it — that just helps the water move around inside.

Do Not Charge It

This is the big one.

People often plug their wet phone in “to see if it still works.”

Charging a wet phone can fry the charging port, power IC, or battery.

Keep it away from chargers until it’s properly inspected.

Skip the Rice Trick

Rice doesn’t fix water damage.

What it does do is leave starch dust inside your phone — the exact opposite of helpful.

If you want to bury something in rice, make it your regrets… not your phone.

Leave It Somewhere Warm and Dry

Warm, airflow-friendly spots like a desk or a sunny room help moisture evaporate naturally.

Don’t use hairdryers, heaters, or ovens.

Avoid Pressing Buttons or Tapping the Screen

Every press can push water further inside.

Let it sit still and dry externally.

Bring It in for a Proper Inspection

Water can reach areas you can’t see — the speaker mesh, the charge port, the screen backlight, the connectors, the logic board.

Even if the phone seems fine at first, corrosion can start days or weeks later.

We open the device, dry it properly, clean corrosion, and test everything to prevent future failure.