Water-damaged phone: Save your phone : 8 Steps

Water-damaged phone: We typically take our phones with us whenever we go to enjoy the hot temperatures, from the seaside to the boat. It might be challenging to keep them above water, though. Data from 2021 Asurion claims reveals that the busiest time of the year for phone repairs for water damage is from June to August.

Water-damaged phone: So, how can you shield your phone from liquid damage the best? This issue is frequently posed to Asurion Experts as they assist our 300 million customers (and counting) with all of their tech care requirements. They advised you to get a waterproof pouch.

Thankfully, waterproofing is already mostly considered standard on new smartphones. A gadget is water-resistant if it can withstand exposure to water up to a specific depth but not for any length of time, whereas waterproof means it is impenetrable to water at all times.

Typically, we refer to watches, smartphones, and tablets as being water-resistant. So you can send your water-damaged phone: All recent Google Pixel phones, Samsung Galaxy smartphones, and new iPhone models include some level of waterproofing. An IP (or Ingress Protection) scale is used to assess a phone’s water resistance. Congratulations, your phone should be fine if it has a high protection rating, such as IP67 or IP68! But before you start relaxing in the hot tub with your dependable Sidekick, you should be prepared for the worst if it has a lesser rating or none at all.

Despite being labeled as “waterproof,” some of the most modern phones only provide protection if submerged for a limited period of time. Read our article on the distinctions between waterproof and water-resistant phones to learn more. Your phone will help keep itself afloat if you use a waterproof phone pouch like a CaliCase® or JOTO®.

If your phone does happen to fall into the water, follow these methods to remove the water.

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How to dry your phone after being wet

Water-damaged phone: If you accidentally drop your phone in water or it gets wet, follow these instructions:

It must be taken out of the liquid right away. The more liquid seeps into different inlets the longer it stays there.
Leave the phone off after turning it off.
Take off the protective covering.
If at all feasible, open the back and take out the microSD card, battery, and SIM card (if you have one). Have trouble taking out the SIM card? View our iPhone and Android user guide.
Your phone should be dried with a cloth or paper towel. Avoid rubbing the phone because doing so could unintentionally push fluids into the more delicate areas of the device. You might try (very) carefully cleaning the area around the phone’s creases and openings if it was entirely submerged in order to remove extra water.
Do not expose your phone to the sun’s heat. Keep it somewhere dry and cool.
We do not advise using the advice you may have heard to put your phone in rice if it gets wet. Try silica gel packets instead, like the ones that frequently accompany new items like a pair of shoes, as they have been shown to be considerably more effective. Place the phone inside a plastic zip-top bag filled with silica gel packets. Give your phone 24 to 48 hours in the bag.
Turn on your phone once it has completely dried. Charge it completely before trying again if it doesn’t turn on immediately away.

It’s great if your phone restarts! However, during the next week or so, keep an eye on it because periodically, some features won’t work as intended.
If you’ve tried these solutions and still need a little help, we’re not far away.

What signs of water damage can you look for on your phone?

Water-damaged phone: There are a few indicators that your gadget has suffered water damage:

Look for any evidence of evaporation or water beneath the screen (or dried water traces).
Check the ports for visible corrosion.
Observe the Discolored Liquid Damaged Indicator carefully (LDI). The traditional places for the LDI are the microphone, battery compartment, or SIM tray slot. If your phone has water damage, the LDI will appear maroon or scarlet.

Does rice restore phones with water damage?

Water-damaged phone: Putting your water-exposed smartphone in rice may help it absorb some moisture. However, it can also cause your phone to have other issues, such as dust and dried flour (a rice byproduct) getting into its cracks. Additionally, because rice swells when it comes in contact with liquids, it is possible for it to get stuck in your phone’s charging port or headphone socket.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can you dry a wet phone using a blow dryer?

Water-damaged phone: It is not advised to blow-dry your phone after it has been exposed to water. While it might help to dry out the moisture on the surface, it won’t do much to dry up the moisture inside your device, and the heat could permanently harm your phone’s internal parts.

How long does a wet phone take to dry out?

Give it as much time as you can to dry out. Ideally, you should give yourself 48 hours or more, but if you can, leave it at least overnight. Even while some phones can’t be revived, the longer they soak in rice, the better.

If moisture is present, gently remove it while avoiding injuring the components. Wait a while before touching it. Water that has gotten into your phone will naturally evaporate in the air, assisting in its drying out over time.