9 things you should do after accidentally dropping your iPhone in water

Here are some important things to do after you drop your iPhone in water or get wet in the rain, shower, or other liquid. But first, some basics.

Is my iPhone waterproof or waterproof?

Any iPhone ever released is not waterproof. Instead, the iPhone 7 and later are water resistant, which means they will protect your device from splashes, water, and dust, but this is not guaranteed. And if water gets inside your iPhone and destroys it, Apple won’t take any responsibility as the warranty doesn’t cover liquid damage!

But don’t be discouraged. The device should work fine if your waterproof iPhone is dropped on a glass of water, drink, or juice in a restaurant, gets wet in light rain, or falls into a tub of water. However, make sure you follow the tips we explain below.

iPhone 7 and newer models have an official IP rating with varying degrees of depth and how long they can be submerged in water. Here is a table to help.

iPhone models and their IP ratings

This is the officially declared IP rating of the iPhone, as listed on the corresponding Apple Support specifications page.

No official IP rating

• Original iPhone to iPhone 6S
• iPhone SE (1st generation)

Degree of protection IP67 (maximum depth 1 meter up to 30 minutes)

• iPhone 7
• iphone 7 plus
• iPhone 8
• iphone 8 plus
• iphone x
• iPhone xp
• iPhone SE (2nd generation) (2020)
• iPhone SE (3rd generation) (2022)

Degree of protection IP68 (maximum depth 2 meters up to 30 minutes)

• iphone xs
• iphone xs max
• iphone 11

Degree of protection IP68 (maximum depth 4 meters up to 30 minutes)

• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max

Degree of protection IP68 (maximum depth 6 meters up to 30 minutes)

• iphone 12 mini
• iphone 12
• iphone 12 pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iphone 13 mini
• iPhone 13
• iphone 13 pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max

What affects iPhone water resistance?

The water resistance of your iPhone is not a permanent feature. Regular use and wear over time can reduce water and dust resistance. Also, resistance may deteriorate if you frequently drop your iPhone in sea/salt water or frequently splash corrosive liquids such as juices, drinks, etc. Finally, screen or battery repairs (usually by uncertified technicians) can completely remove or reduce the resistance ability. Therefore, it would be better if you take special precautions with a refurbished iPhone.

Can I claim a warranty and free repair if my waterproof iPhone is damaged by water?

You can’t as liquid damage is not covered by the warranty.

What to do after you drop your iPhone in water

If your waterproof iPhone has been in water or splashed with water for a few seconds, the first few tips mentioned below will suffice. However, if your non-waterproof iPhone has been dropped in water or your waterproof iPhone has been left submerged in liquid for a long time, you should follow almost all of the tips here.

1. Turn it off immediately

Turn off iPhone the moment you take it out of water or shake off liquid. Switching off is necessary as this will prevent short circuits and serious malfunctions in the event of water seeping inside the device. After turning off your iPhone, follow the remaining solutions.

Attention: under no circumstances connect a wet iPhone to charging!

2. Remove the body

Water will remain in the gap between the case and the iPhone. Slowly, it may seep inside the SIM card tray or loosen the waterproof connection and get inside. In addition, there are certain elements in the water that can leave gray residue and become corrosive if left untreated. Therefore, remove the case and move on to the next tip.

3. Thoroughly wipe iPhone

Take a soft towel or piece of cotton cloth and wipe the iPhone so that water does not drip from its surface. Get rid of water that may get stuck around the volume buttons.

4. Pull out the SIM card tray and disconnect cables, accessories.

After the phone is wiped and dry on the outside, hold it with the SIM card slot facing down. This ensures that any liquid that might get stuck in the SIM tray will slide off under gravity and not get inside.

Then, while holding the iPhone in the same way, grab a SIM eject tool or one of its easy alternatives and pop out the SIM tray. Shake your iPhone with the SIM card slot facing down to remove any small drops of water that may have gotten inside.

For now, keep the SIM tray on the outside of the iPhone. Also, gently wipe the SIM card and set it aside.

5. Let your iPhone dry

Following the tips above, just let your iPhone dry. Do not turn it on or insert the SIM card tray.

6. Don’t put iPhone in rice. Use silica gel bags instead.

For a long time, people thought that putting a wet phone or electronics in rice would help. But it is not so. Unknown to most people, placing an iPhone in rice to dry can cause more problems, as tiny particles of broken rice or its outer polish or starch can block the speaker grilles and line up around the iPhone. Overall, this is an impractical solution with no real benefit.

Instead, you should take a sealed box, like a lunchbox, put some silica gel bags in it, and leave your iPhone in that box for about 24 hours. You often receive silica gel bags when you shop for shoes and other household items. If you don’t have it, buy from the store or Amazon: 50 packs of premium and safe silica gel.

7. Pour out the water from the speaker holes

Then use these free methods to remove water from your speaker grilles. But they include turning on your iPhone. So only do this if your iPhone hasn’t been submerged in water for a long time and when it’s safe to turn it on.

8. Wait for a reasonable amount of time, such as 24 hours, and you are now ready to use your iPhone.

After completing the above steps, you will have to take a forced break from your iPhone and leave it turned off for about 24-36 hours.

Once that’s done, turn on your iPhone and if it boots up, congratulations. Use it for a few minutes and make sure the touchscreen, speakers, speaker, and Lightning port are working properly. Then insert your SIM card, put the case back on and enjoy your iPhone just like before.

9. Check your device, but please don’t argue with Apple Genius. They know if you’re lying

In the event that your iPhone has been submerged in water for an unreasonably long time, or if it was not water resistant, and it sustained liquid damage that can be repaired beyond the tips above, your only option is to see a professional.

Contact Apple Support using another device, or visit your nearest Apple Store or Apple Certified Service Provider and have your iPhone repaired.

Hoping to have their device repaired under warranty, some people argue with the repairman and refuse to admit that they (accidentally or intentionally) kept their iPhone in water for a long time.

However, it is useless to argue! The iPhone has a liquid contact indicator (LCI) next to the SIM card slot (one of the more obvious water ingress points). If there is no water damage, the LCI is white or silver. However, if water enters the iPhone and comes into contact with the liquid contact indicator, it will change to red. Even you can test it by taking out the SIM tray and shining a bright light inside to see the color.

When the liquid contact indicator turns red, there is no dispute with Apple Store personnel as liquid damage is not covered by the warranty. It doesn’t matter if Apple showed you 50 ads for iPhone waterproofing or you bought an expensive iPhone specifically for water resistance. Water damage means you have to pay for repairs! Unless you or your government sue Apple, something like the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has taken Samsung against Galaxy phones with false claims of water resistance. Samsung agreed to pay the fine.

Tips for the future to protect your iPhone from water

• Even though your iPhone is water resistant, treat it like it isn’t and take every precaution to protect it from water.
• Be careful when shooting near pools, beaches, baths, etc.
• If your lifestyle often involves using your iPhone near water, get a waterproof case. You can also research and buy liquid damage insurance.

I hope your wet iPhone hasn’t been seriously damaged and is working fine after following the tips above. If you have anything else that other readers might find helpful, please post it in the comments section below.