What to do if your phone falls into water. How to save a phone that has fallen into water

Six simple steps to save your device.

Accidentally dropped your smartphone into a sink or pond, left your phone in your jeans while they were going to be washed, or spilled juice, tea or coffee on your phone? This can happen to anyone at least once, and not all phones are protected from moisture, such as Samsung Galaxy S7, Apple iPhone 7 or Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. Spilled liquid is dangerous due to both short circuit and corrosion of the smartphone. If the correct measures are not taken in time, a smartphone that has been in water will experience a complete or partial malfunction. The site’s team of experts has tried all known methods of solving the problem and offers simple steps to save your phone.

1. Get your phone out of the water

The very first thing you need to do if your phone falls into water is to pull the device out of the water as quickly as possible (if you spilled liquid on it, go to step 2 of these instructions). Seconds can count - liquid can easily leak and penetrate into the phone case if it is not protected from water. However, if your phone is being charged from the network at this moment, then under no circumstances touch the device and the charger! It may be dangerous! First, turn off the power to the outlet, and only then remove the phone from the water.

The longer the phone is in the water, the less chance of a favorable outcome. Even if the cover and case elements fit tightly together, water can freely penetrate to the chips, for example, through ports and connectors for charging and headphones, or openings in speakers and microphones. But even if the phone has been in contact with water for a long time, you still have a chance to save the device.

2. Remove the battery, SIM card and memory card

Free the phone from the case (if there is one), remove the cover of the device and remove the battery from the phone case (if the case is collapsible and the battery is removable) so that the chips on the board do not oxidize. Next, take out a SIM card and a memory card - contacts and data on them are sometimes more valuable than the smartphone itself.

Do not turn on your phone under any circumstances. It is better not to press any buttons or keys again, as this may cause the water to go even further into the body. If you have connected any peripherals, then turn them off, if the ports are covered with plugs, then leave them open for ventilation.

3. Wipe your phone

Thoroughly wipe down your smartphone and anything you took out of the phone. A dry, absorbent rag or towel is suitable for this. Carefully remove every drop from accessible surfaces (depending on whether your phone has a collapsible case or not), because even one remaining drop can destroy the phone. Be careful not to leave pieces of paper or fabric inside the cabinet, in corners, or in crevices. If there is still water inside the device, you can try to gently “shake” the liquid out of it. However, you should not get carried away and do it with force - there is a risk that water may penetrate even deeper into the device.

4. Disassemble your smartphone

As a rule, it is enough to get by with the cover removed and the battery removed. However, if you believe in your abilities and have experience, then disassemble the phone into the smallest possible individual parts. This is done so that the air (or absorbent substance) has a large contact area for good circulation and drying.

It is worth considering that in this case you will lose the warranty, but most often the warranty on a smartphone does not cover cases of “swimming” in water, so in this regard you will not lose much. We advise you to record or photograph the disassembly process step by step, this will help you quickly and correctly reassemble the device after drying. After you have disassembled the phone, repeat the steps from the previous paragraph.

If you spill juice, tea, coffee, wine or beer on your phone, be sure to wash the stains with distilled water or alcohol so that there are no traces left that can then dry out. These drinks contain many chemical elements that, remaining on the surface of the device elements, destroy them, so they must be removed. If this is not done, then your device will die at the most unexpected moment, taking with it valuable information to the “other world”.

5. Dry your phone

Now all that remains is to dry the smartphone. There is an opinion that it is best to dry your phone with a hairdryer, but we do not recommend resorting to this method. If there is moisture left somewhere, the hairdryer can send it even deeper into the case, which can only “finish off” the phone. Also, do not dry the device in the oven or microwave. For such situations, a vacuum cleaner with narrow attachments is more suitable.

If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner at hand and, at your own peril and risk, decide to use a hairdryer, then turn on the warm stream not much warmer than room temperature and keep your distance (distance to parts). A vacuum cleaner, on the contrary, will draw out moisture. You need to bring it with a narrow nozzle to each of the holes and gaps and hold it for a few minutes. Just in case, make sure that everything is securely fastened and will not go inside the vacuum cleaner (especially if you disassembled the smartphone).

You can also dry electronics in rice, but it is preferable to use silica gel. You can also simply dry the components in a dry room on plain paper for about one and a half to two days. The disadvantage of silica gel and rice is that they themselves quickly become saturated with moisture and over time the rate of moisture absorption decreases. You will have to turn your smartphone or replace the absorbent every couple of hours, so air drying is much easier.

By the way, if you use substances that draw out moisture, it is better to put them with the phone in a small sealed package.

6. Assemble and turn on

After one and a half to two days, you can assemble and turn on the device. First, check your phone to make sure all connectors and parts are dry and clean. If yes, then you can assemble the device. If you have not disassembled the phone in detail, then simply insert the battery. Try turning on your smartphone with or without a battery, but from the mains. There could be several scenarios here. If in both cases mobile phone turns on, then make sure everything is working properly. If not, but the computer responds to it via the USB cable, or the phone turns on or responds to charging from the network, then perhaps a new battery will help. If in both cases nothing works, then you should contact the service center. It may often happen that the phone starts, but does not work correctly; in such cases, you can repeat the above steps (there is probably still liquid left somewhere) or take it to a service center for repairs and tell them that the phone was in water and that you they did to him. Please note that even if the smartphone turns on or works after replacing the battery, a corrosion process may begin inside your device, which will act like a time bomb and “kill” it at the most unexpected moment. It can go on for quite a long time, and only people can help you deal with it. service center by treating the board with an anti-corrosion solution.

By following these simple instructions, you can try to save and revive your phone. However, remember that there is simply no 100% guarantee in such cases. To protect yourself from such situations, you can buy special waterproof cases or follow simple precautions. Take care of your gadgets!

Let us remind you that on our website you can view the results of smartphone tests. Our experts tested the quality of popular models in the laboratory and, based on the test results, compiled a rating of smartphones.

Want to understand other important issues? Read

Electronics are terribly afraid of water. Therefore, if your phone falls into the water, quickly start rescuing the “drowning person”. The sooner you come to the rescue, the more likely it is that the mobile device will “come to life” under your strict guidance. Analogies with a drowning creature are appropriate here. Think less about whether the patient is alive or dead, start acting faster! Wait a couple of minutes - and the phone will no longer be saved.

This recipe for saving a mobile device is applicable to any hardware. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a phone or a tablet, Android or iPhone. Water can leak into the player, electronic watches, and fitness trackers.

Cases of dangerous penetration of water into the phone

• The phone fell (in a puddle, sea/river, etc.) and does not turn on
• You went swimming in the water with your phone, forgetting to take it out of your shorts
• You foolishly dropped it in the toilet while taking a selfie or looking at pictures
• The phone was doused with water
• Wash the phone in washing machine and it's still intact
• Ate and dropped the phone in the soup while talking

So, the liquid got inside. What urgent procedures need to be performed with a phone that has fallen into water?

First steps to take if water (liquid) gets into your phone

Get the drowned phone out of the water as quickly as possible. Do not make sudden movements so that the liquid does not distribute inside and penetrate even further: into the electronics, under the case.

Every second counts. In the best case, water will not get on the electronic components of the phone. At worst, if the phone falls into the water - even a waterproof phone or the tablet will stop turning on, unable to withstand the depth and will fail instantly.

Advice. If you dropped your mobile phone in the toilet, you can put on gloves (don’t be disdainful: the life of your iron friend is at stake). And for the future, know that it is better not to talk on the phone and write at the same time in the toilet. This is inconvenient and even dangerous.

Quickly turn off the phone (take out the battery)

Turn off the phone (if it is still working) and remove the battery by removing the phone cover. This will prevent short circuiting - one of the main dangers and the reason for the phone to fail.

Advice. There is no need to test the phone's performance immediately after you have saved it from drowning. The worst thing is to leave the battery in the phone and start calling friends, checking the quality of the connection. With these rash actions you will literally kill your phone.

Make the most of your phone

In addition to the battery, you need to remove all parts that can be dismantled. SIM card and SD card - first of all. This is done:

• for the safety of removed components (it is almost impossible to restore contacts on a SIM card)
• so that the phone dries faster and there is no interference with the air during drying.

If you know how to remove other, smaller parts of the phone, do so.

Drying your mobile device

Remember also that the faster the water dries, the greater the chance that it will not penetrate inside. To begin, gently wipe the phone with a dry cloth and wipe off any moisture on the surface.

To speed up the drying of your phone, a hairdryer or vacuum cleaner is suitable. Use a narrow nozzle so you can dry the holes. The iPhone is especially sensitive to such temperature changes.

You need to dry the phone carefully and at a sufficient distance so that the microcircuits are not exposed to thermal effects - they simply do not melt. For a hairdryer, use only cold drying mode!

Advice. Dry your phone at a distance that you consider comfortable for yourself. The fact is that a hairdryer can do a bad job if you haven't wiped down your phone. Moisture under air pressure will penetrate inside.

Additional drying of the inside of the phone

The drying process cannot be rushed. After making sure that there are no droplets of moisture on the surface of the phone, leave it alone for 48 hours. Place your phone on a dry, absorbent cloth (such as a towel).

Advice. For effective drying, dip your phone in a pile of dry rice. It absorbs moisture perfectly. It is advisable not to eat rice after drying. Especially if you took the phone out of the toilet.

Conclusion. What to do if you couldn’t save your phone from water

These methods do not always help in cases where the phone has been dropped into water and does not turn on (often some component falls off - for example, a microphone or camera - what is located on top). We hope these tips helped you save money on new iPhone or Android.

If it doesn’t help and the phone still gives up, contact the repair shop.

Think positive and believe in miracles. You did your best. If you managed to save your friend in this way or you have questions, write and share.

It happens that telephone sometimes it can fall into the sink or, even worse, into the toilet. A mobile phone can be forgotten in a jeans pocket that has been loaded into the washing machine, and sometimes it can get damaged due to someone's prank, such as being pushed into a swimming pool without warning. Got caught in the rain without an umbrella? Dropped your phone in your pet's bowl? Most likely, you will have to buy a new one, but if you act quickly, there is still a chance to save your mobile phone. This article provides some useful tips on how to revive a wet phone.

Steps

The phone must be removed from the water as soon as possible. Ports speakerphone, the hole for the microphone, charging, USB cable, as well as the gaps between the phone and the plastic charging cover allow water to pass freely in a few seconds. The phone must be removed from the water and turned off immediately, as water that gets into it can cause a short circuit.

If the phone was in the water for only a few seconds, then there may be no consequences. Even if you wash your phone in a washing machine, there is still a chance to save it. Before you buy new phone, it is worth trying all the methods described in this article.

• If your phone falls into water while connected to charger, then removing it from the water yourself can be dangerous. This requires the help of a professional who will take the necessary measures and do it safely (most likely, you will need to turn off the electricity to the entire house). Water is an excellent conductor of electricity, so rescuing your phone yourself may result in an electric shock. However, if the phone was not connected to the charger, then you can remove it yourself - this should be done as soon as possible.
• Do not panic. If you remain calm, you will do everything quickly and correctly.

1. Immediately after removing the phone from the water, you need to wipe it with paper towels or a soft cloth, then remove the cover from the phone and remove the battery.

   • To find out if your phone has actually been damaged by water, you need to check the indicator in the corner of the battery hole. It looks like a white square or circle, possibly with red lines. If it turns pink, this indicates that the phone is damaged by water.
   • To find out how to remove the battery and find the indicator, it is best to refer to the instructions that came with the phone.

2. Remove the SIM card. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) can be stored on the SIM card. For many, the safety of contacts is much more important than the safety of the phone itself.

   • SIM cards are quite resistant to water damage. However, it is worth removing it and wiping it dry, setting it aside and allowing time to dry until the phone itself is ready for use.

3. You need to turn off all peripheral devices, such as headphones, memory cards, as well as anything that can clog gaps, crevices and cracks in the phone (cases and protective films).

   It is better to use a soft cloth or towel. If at least one If a drop of water remains inside, it may destroy the phone by corroding the circuits or causing a short circuit. You need to wipe off as much water as possible to prevent it from penetrating inside the phone:

   • Gently wipe off any remaining water from the outside. There is no need to shake or turn the phone over to avoid water getting inside it.
   • When using towels - paper or not, you need to make sure that lint or wet paper does not clog small gaps and holes in the phone. Gently dry your phone, removing as much water as possible.
   • Rubbing water with alcohol helps the water evaporate quickly from the surface of the phone.

4. Use a vacuum cleaner. If you have a vacuum cleaner on hand, use it to blow out the water. To remove residual moisture, you need to blow off each part of the phone for 20 minutes.

   • This is the most quick method, which allows you to completely dry your phone in just thirty minutes. However, if contact with water was enough long, then this method is unlikely to help.
   • You should not bring your phone too close to the vacuum cleaner hose, otherwise static electricity will form, which is even worse for the phone.

5. Do not use a hair dryer to dry your phone. It may seem surprising, but use a hair dryer Not recommended (even not in the “gentle” mode). Using a hairdryer can blow moisture from the surface further into the phone, this is especially dangerous for electrical components hidden deep inside the phone. And if the air from the hair dryer is too hot, then its jet can melt some parts of the phone.

   • If moisture gets inside the phone, then the chance of corrosion of individual elements and their oxidation increases, especially circuits that contain minerals are at risk. Ultimately, this may cause your phone to malfunction.
   • There is no need to blow air into the phone; on the contrary, a stream of air should blow out the water. From Bernoulli's law it follows that warm, dry air, moving quickly over the phone, reduces the static pressure of the compressed air, which will not allow all the moisture to be blown out of the phone. The main conclusion that follows from this is that you can spend several hours in a row trying to dry your phone with a hairdryer and not achieve the desired result.

6. Use a substance that can draw out moisture. An inexpensive option is to place the phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice overnight. The rice will absorb any remaining moisture.

   • Effectively use products that absorb moisture. One of the best remedies is rice. You need to place the phone in a plastic bag and cover it with rice, then to create an airtight seal, the bag needs to be sealed (you can use a plastic container). Also included in materials that absorb moisture is silicone gel - often found in small bags in a box with new shoes, handbags, and so on. Moreover, those bags that have been stored in boxes with shoes or clothes for some time have probably already exhausted their absorbent properties. The phone should be left in the desiccant container at least overnight.
   • While the phone is drying, you need to turn it over from time to time so that the water that inevitably flows down has a better chance of finding its way out of the phone through all sorts of cracks and holes.

7. Place the phone in a sunny place to allow all openings of the phone to dry completely.

   The phone should be left on absorbent wipes or paper towels, even if it has previously been vacuum-dried or placed in a container of rice.

   • This will help absorb any remaining moisture from the device.

8. It is worth checking the phone, placed in a container with absorbent material, every hour for the first 6 hours. If moisture has collected on the surface, you need to dry it again with paper towels or blow it with a vacuum cleaner. After at least 24 hours, make sure that the external appearance of the mobile phone is dry. It's worth checking all the ports, compartments and slots. If your phone looks dry and clean, you can replace the battery and try turning it on. Pay attention to possible strange sounds and noises that accompany the switching process; if there are any, this is a sign that the phone is not functioning properly.

   If the phone looks dry, but does not turn on, then the battery may have run out. If the phone turned on after it was charged, then the battery was probably damaged by water and should be replaced.

   If connecting to the charger also did not help turn on the phone, then you should contact the place where it was purchased.

   Perhaps specialists can repair it. But there is no need to hide the fact that it was damaged by water - the phone still has indicators that show the cause of the malfunction. The more detailed the circumstances are, the easier it will be for specialists to identify the breakdown and fix it. Do not try to disassemble the phone yourself.

   • Leave this to the professionals, as such experiments can lead to short circuits or poisoning from harmful chemicals contained in some elements of the mobile phone. If the phone turns on, but does not work properly, then it is likely that moisture has damaged some elements. Remove all covers, battery, memory cards and SIM card

9. – you may find corrosion. Then it needs to be cleaned off the surface of the affected parts using a clean, dry brush or toothbrush. There are many instructions on YouTube on how to do this correctly. Buy a protective phone case. This case will protect your phone from damage during falls, as well as from water ingress. For touch screen phones protective film

• - necessity!
• Moisture is primarily dangerous for the internal circuits of the phone. If you manage to turn off your phone before the water reaches them, then most likely you will be able to save it!
• Sometimes in stores you can find kits designed to resuscitate a wet cell phone. It is better to purchase one in advance so as not to waste time when an emergency occurs.
• If the phone has been damaged by salt water (for example, dropped into the sea or ocean), then it is necessary to wipe it with clean water so that salt crystals at least do not remain in the battery connector.
• Excessive heat may damage your phone. Most phone instructions warn against leaving the device in a car in the summer or exposing it to any other heat. The most important thing is to dry your phone before charging it. Using a vacuum cleaner, you can dry your phone in just 20 minutes; you need to blow air from all sides of the phone, constantly turning it.
• You can use a vacuum chamber if you can find one, for example, in schools and universities. Of course, it is unlikely that everyone can use the training equipment, so arrangements will need to be made first. In such a chamber, water will “boil” even at room temperature after sufficient time has passed, and therefore will evaporate, even if it is not heated. This method will work if you keep the phone in the camera for at least 30 minutes. This way, those parts that are difficult to access will also dry out.
• Since in this case the phone cannot be repaired under warranty, you can try to disassemble it into parts to dry them more effectively. Buy special screwdrivers and prepare a dry, clean toothbrush. Spray all parts with compressed air spray and/or a vacuum cleaner for a few minutes and then put the phone back together.
• It is very important to continue to dry your phone from time to time, even if it seems that it is already quite dry. This is wrong. Placing your phone in front of a running heater or fan for an extended period of time will help dry it more efficiently. You need to overcome the desire to use your phone to check calls, messages or just play. It should be left alone to dry for several hours.
• Alcohol treatment of the phone is useful - you need to remove all parts (battery, SIM cards, etc.) and put the phone face down in a container with a small amount of alcohol. This won't damage your phone, but will help dry it out and evaporate moisture.
• Another option is to keep the phone at body temperature for several hours. That is... closer to the body.
• Take your phone with you if you plan to fly on an airplane. Very dry interior air is great for drying your phone.
• When using compressed air, direct the jet Not at a right angle, and with some inclination, and aim at the cracks, connectors and gaps. If the phone is cold, then it needs to be warmed up, since cold air can create excess moisture, which condenses on the elements inside. This process must be accompanied by other methods, that is, the use of a vacuum chamber or vacuum cleaner. Follow all instructions on the compressed air container label as the contents may be toxic.
• When placing your phone in rice, you should remove the cover, take out the battery, and put them in the same container, but separately.

Warnings

• Do not expose your phone to prolonged heat if you do not want its individual elements to melt.
• Remember that the manufacturers of most modern cell phones include a water damage indicator that changes color depending on the presence of liquid inside the phone. This helps determine the cause of the phone breakdown, because if the phone does not work due to being in water, They will refuse to repair it under warranty. An exception may be additional insurance for your phone against exposure to water. It is worth noting that damage indicators only change color in very high humidity conditions.
• Do not place your phone (or any other electronic or metal-containing object) in a microwave oven. This will damage not only the phone, but also the microwave.
• Do not heat the battery; it may leak or explode. Lithium-ion batteries sensitive. If you use a hair dryer, be sure to remove the battery before drying your phone.
• If you use alcohol, be sure to do it outside. However, you should not apply heat in any form to the phone. Do not insert the battery until the smell of alcohol has completely disappeared.
• Even if the phone was dried, the water could have time to damage the internal elements, subjecting them to corrosion. The phone's components are located so compactly inside the phone that even one drop of water is enough to cause a short circuit.
• To dry your phone, you need to disassemble it as much as possible. Cell Phones, as a rule, are waterproof, so they can be used during light rain. But on the other hand, this means that water, once inside the phone, has little chance of finding its way out of the phone.
• The faster it is removed from the water and turned off, the higher the chance of saving your phone.
• Do not leave your phone wet for a long period of time. Dry it as soon as possible.
• Do not turn on your phone until you are sure it is dry. This may cause a short circuit.

What you will need

• Materials that absorb moisture (rice or packets of balls, such as those found in new shoe boxes, noodle packages, etc.)
• Towels, paper towels
• Vacuum cleaner
• A bowl
• Sealed bag or container (optional)
• Cotton fabric