What to do if you drop your iPhone in water

We’ve gotten a lot of comments asking what to do in certain situations, like if you get caught in heavy rain or drop your iPhone in salt water. Some changes to what you should do may be necessary – for example, the salt in seawater can cause damage that wouldn’t happen in a freshwater lake. But in most cases, the advice you’ll read here applies to any situation where you drop your iPhone. That applies to both water-resistant and non-water-resistant devices.

1. Turn off your iPhone immediately

We’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating. Turn off your iPhone as soon as you take it out of the water. Press and hold the Side button with the Volume Up button, then slide to power off. And once it’s off, don’t turn it back on.

2. Take your iPhone out of its case

If your iPhone was in a case, water may have gotten trapped when you dropped it. Remove the case and any other accessories from your iPhone, including the screen protector.

Dry your bare iPhone by wiping it with a lint-free cloth. You want to absorb the liquid on the outside of your device without leaving it covered in fibers. If you don't have a lint-free cloth, a T-shirt will usually do.

3. Drain the Liquid from Your iPhone

One of the trickiest things about dropping your iPhone in water is that it can cause liquid to get into your device. This often happens through charging ports and similar entry points. Tilt your iPhone so the port is facing down and tap it gently to drain the liquid. Do the same for the speaker, and if you have a headphone jack, you should follow the same steps. Once you've finished draining the liquid from your iPhone port, your device should feel drier.

4. Remove Your SIM Card

Your iPhone may look dry, but there may still be liquid inside. Use a SIM tool, straight paperclip, or pin to push the SIM tray out of the side of your device.

Remove the SIM card and carefully dry it. Now store it somewhere safe. Leave the SIM tray out of the iPhone to create a vent, allowing the liquid inside to evaporate.

If your iPhone only uses an eSIM, you don’t need to worry about this step.

5. Wait for your iPhone to dry

You may have seen the “put it in rice” meme online… but from a practical standpoint, don’t put your iPhone in rice. Instead of fixing the problem you’re having, you could actually cause more damage — as we’ll discuss later.

Instead, you should find a flat, well-ventilated, dry, and airy space to dry your iPhone. For example, you could place your device on a bookshelf.

One important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t put your device in direct sunlight. So while a windowsill might be a good place to dry your iPhone, you should also consider where the sun is shining into your home. Choose a spot that has some shade. Ideally, you should wait 24-48 hours before trying to turn on your device.

Wait as long as possible without using your iPhone. Do not turn on your iPhone during this time. If you use your device while the components are still wet, you could cause irreparable damage.

Only turn your iPhone back on when you are sure it is dry. This will of course depend on the situation, as dropping your device at the bottom of a lake may take longer to dry than dropping it in the sink.