A wet phone does not have to be a dead phone. These tips show you how to fix it.
We’ve all been there before: You jump in the pool, and as soon as you hit the water, realize your phone is in the pocket of your swim trunks. Or maybe you tossed your jeans in the washer without checking the pockets, or heard the dreaded ?kerplunk? as your phone plunges straight into the toilet. Luckily, a wet phone does not have to be a dead phone, and these tips show you how to fix a wet phone quickly.?
Step One: Power Off
Remove the battery immediately to cut the power off. It may be tempting to power up your phone and test it, but hitting the green button can short out the circuits. If you have a GSM phone, like those from T-Mobile or AT&T, remove the SIM card. Even if your phone is damaged beyond repair, the card should still retain much of its information, like your contacts.?
Step Two: Dry
Set aside the battery and focus on drying your phone as fast as you can. The longer it takes, the more likely that the moisture will corrode the inside of your phone. Sucking or blowing the air out is the best technique, but don’t reach for the hair dryer ? the hot air can fry your phone. Instead, use a can of compressed air or a vacuum cleaner to push or pull the moisture out.?
Step Three: Dry More?
The third and final step is to wick away the leftover moisture. The easiest way to do this is to leave your phone and its battery in a bowl of uncooked rice. Let it sit overnight, then pop the battery back in and test it. If you moved fast enough, and have a bit of luck, the phone should be fine.?
More Tips for Fixing a Wet Phone
Rubbing alcohol will dissolve the phone’s internal adhesives, so avoid using it to clean your phone if you drop it in the toilet. You can use a bit on the outside to disinfect it, but use caution to prevent it from seeping inside. If it does, get used to calling from a land line!?
If you dropped your phone in salt water, dunk it in fresh water before it dries. Soaking your phone again may seem counterintuitive, but salt water forms crystals when it evaporates, and those crystals can quickly damage your phone. Make sure you remove the battery before bathing it in fresh water, then follow the other steps outlined above to dry it out.?
Has your phone or iPhone survived a trip through the washer or a dip in the pool? Let us know how you saved it in the comments below.
