How to Fix a Water Damaged Phone

One of the most common ailments to impact modern smartphones is water damage. Consumers accidentally drop their phones in the pool, the toilet, or a random puddle. In case of damages, most consumers subscribe to top-rated cell phone insurance providers that offer repairs and replacements.

How to Fix a Water Damaged Phone

Smartphone adopters may wonder what to do when a phone is accidentally dropped into water. There are a variety of methods to go about repairing any liquid-based damage, some of which relate to when you are trying to fix a hacked android phone; contacting your cell phone’s insurance provider. If you are renting your home and don’t have cell phone insurance, you can always check your renter’s insurance to see if it covers phone damage. Alternatively, you can read our article on if Verizon Protect phones insurance is worth it.

Tips to Repair a Wet Phone

Here are a number of general tips and guidelines to repair a wet and water-damaged phone. Please note these tips are for use with a phone that has interacted with plain water. If your phone had coffee or another type of liquid poured on it, instructions may vary. In general, it is much easier to repair a phone that has interacted with water than one that has interacted with another type of liquid.

Retrieve the Phone Quickly

The most important step is to quickly retrieve the phone from the liquid. The longer a phone stays covered in water, the more difficult it will be to repair any damage that has taken place. As a matter of fact, if you act fast, your phone may not suffer any damage whatsoever. Modern smartphones typically boast some form of water resistance, though this protection only works in shallow water and only for a short amount of time. In other words, do not waste any time.

Turn the Phone Off

Another key component to ensuring your phone survives a trip into a body of water is to make sure it has been turned off. Upon retrieving the smartphone from a liquid, this should be the first thing you do. The point here is to allow the electronic components to dry without engaging any electrical impulses. If possible, we would recommend you also immediately remove the battery, as these lithium battery packs are sensitive to water damage.

Dry the Phone

Once the phone has been removed from the water and powered down, you need to lay the phone out to dry. We recommend simply laying the phone on a flat surface atop some paper towels. You may also want to put an additional layer of paper towels on top of the phone. Replace the paper towels every ten minutes or so as they become damp.

The Rice Method

An alternative to paper towels is the rice method to dry the phone. Rice has the ability to quickly pull in moisture from the surrounding area. To complete the rice method, simply encase the phone and the removed battery in dried rice for several hours. It is extremely important that the rice is uncooked, as cooked rice will not absorb moisture. If you do not have any rice laying about, you could also use those packets of silica gel that typically accompany new items of clothing.

Wait Overnight

Before attempting to power on the phone to see if it has survived the trip into the water, wait overnight to allow the drying process to fully complete. Once you are reasonably sure the phone’s internal components are fully dry, attempt to turn on the power. If you followed the above steps, your smartphone should power on and should have experienced no lingering effects.

What You Should Not Do

There are a number of things you should absolutely not do if your phone has become submerged in water. Do not turn the phone on, as stated previously. Additionally, do not plug the phone into a power outlet. Electricity and water do not mix. You should also avoid shaking the phone or blowing into the phone. Do not use a blow dryer on the phone, and try to avoid any excessive heat sources. In general, avoid moving the phone too much so as to reduce the chances of water seeping into additional components. If you have a cover, learning how to make a successful mobile phone insurance claim is the best way to go. This will ensure you don’t spend extra on repairs and replacements. And if yor phone has someothing else wrong other than water-damage, we also have a guide on how to repair a mobile phone if you need other help.

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