All you need to know about iPhone water damage and de-moisturisation

How to tell if your iPhone is Water-damaged?

Just because your iPhone is water-resistant does not mean that it's immune to any type of water and liquid damage. If your phone remains in contact with water for a long time, it can lead to damage over time, and if you pour liquids such as coffee and soda on your iPhone it will be affected. The only chance is to de-moisturise your phone as soon as possible.

If you wonder whether your iPhone has water damage:

1. Remove your iPhone case and find the SIM Card tray. In most models, it's on the right side of the phone, one inch under the buttons.

2. Using a SIM Card remover tool or a flat paper clip press gently into the hole below the SIM tray and remove it.

3. Shine a lot into the empty SIM slot and inspect it for a RED colour.

If you see RED, it's a bad sign. Water or other liquids did get into the phone and activated the Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI). In this case, it's a very good chance that your phone is water-damaged. Otherwise, you should see White or Silver. This means that your phone is possibly survived this time.

What to do when iPhone gets wet?

Whether the culprit is a sink, toilet or rainstorm a wet iPhone is not the end of life.  The key point to dry a wet phone is to turn it off as soon as it happens and try the following steps:

1. Remove the casing:  Most iPhone casings block the air from circulating in the phone. If your iPhone has a casing you'd better take it out. This helps your phone dry faster without keeping hidden droplets of water.

2. Shake the water out: When soaked, water droplets could be trapped in the iPhone headphone jack or Lightning port. Shake the phone gently for a while. Try to shake the water out as much as you can.

3. Wipe it down:  Once the water is shaken out, swap your iPhone down with a towel paper and remove all water that you can see. A piece of smooth and dry cloth will also work.

4. Remove the SIM Card: The more air gets into the phone sooner it will dry.  Your iPhone has not many openings. Either, you can't remove the battery, but you can remove the SIM card. This helps air get into the SIM Card slot and your phone dries faster.

5. Put it in a warm place: Now you've gotten as much water out of your phone, you should keep your device off and leave it in a warm and arid place to dry. But don't put it near direct heat sources or sunlight. Doing so may result in irreversible damage to your precious iPhone or iPad. Some people leave a wet iPhone on top of the tv and let it dry with the heat coming from the TV, others prefer to put it in a sunny place away from direct sunlight. No matter which tactic you choose, let it dry for a day or two.

How do you get water out of an iPhone?

When you want to get water out of a wet iPhone, you have a few options:

1. Leave it in a warm place:   Probably the simplest and safest method of drying a wet iPhone is to let it dry naturally. All you need is to wrap your phone in a piece of towel paper or dry cloth and leave it in a warm place for a day or two. This method works well, but there are a couple of advanced techniques that you can try to speed up the process.

2. Silica gel packets:  Whether be food or electronic device, silica gel can be found in all sorts of products. The reason is a nearly harmless desiccant that absorbs and holds water vapour. You can get the benefit of this feature to de-moisturise your wet iPhone. Cover your wet phone with silica gel packs. They help suck moisture out of your help. However, getting enough packs could be a challenge, try hardware, art supply, or craft stores.

3. Put it in rice:  Many wet phones have been saved this way. But you should use it with caution as the piece of rice could get into your iPhone and damage it. Get a bag of uncooked rice, re-insert the SIM card and put the device in the bag. Leave it in the device for a day or two. It will take the moisture out of your phone. While this is the most famous way of iPhone drying it's not the best suggestion.

Warning:  Don't use enriched rice. It can leave dust in your phone ports.

Can you save a wet iPhone?

A wet iPhone or iPad might seem like a nightmare, but if you act smartly, then you can end up saving your iPhone/iPad without any trouble. However, this depends on how wet is your device and the time it has been remained soaked in water. More it remained in the water, it's more likely to get damaged. In this case, it's recommended that you seek professional help. They can easily take your iPhone apart and dry inside and if necessary, they will replace every damaged part. With a little time at your favourite search engine, you'll find the best company that can help you revive your water-damaged iPhone.

Will water damage on iPhone go away?

If your iPhone or iPad has been submerged in the water for a long time, there is no guarantee that your device will survive damage. There are a few things that you can try but don't keep your hopes up. However, if it was only water or coffee splash, then there is a good chance that the moisture hasn't got inside.

How to de-moisturise your iPhone?

Sometimes iPhone gets wet, no matter how careful you are.  When it happens, you can try these tips to de-moisture your iPhone:

1. Immediately switch off your device.

2. Wipe it down with a piece of dry cloth.

3. Put your phone in a bag of uncooked rice and leave sit for a couple of days.

4. Or submerge your device in a plastic bag full of silica gel packet for several hours (up to two days)

5. Or disassemble your device and dry it with a hairdryer that has a cool wind setting.

We hope that these tips help you solve the problems of your wet iPhone. Have you any questions not answered here, then feel free to share them with us.