It happens in a second. The phone slips off the edge of the bath, into the sink or into a puddle. If you have just dropped your iPhone in water, the next hour matters more than anything you do later. The good news is that modern iPhones are water resistant, and many survive a short dunk with no lasting problems.
This guide follows Apple's own advice, step by step.
The first hour, step by step
These steps follow Apple's guidance for an iPhone that has been exposed to liquid. Do them in order, and do not rush to switch the phone on and off repeatedly to check it.
Step one: get it out and dry the outside
Take the phone out of the water straight away. The longer it stays submerged, the more chance water has to work past the seals.
Wipe the outside with a soft, lint-free cloth. Remove the case, because water can sit trapped between the case and the phone.
If the liquid was something other than plain water, such as soap, a drink, salt water or chlorinated pool water, Apple recommends rinsing the affected area with tap water and then wiping it dry. Sticky or salty residue causes more problems than clean water.
Step two: unplug everything
Disconnect any charging cable, headphones or accessories. Do not plug anything into the charging port while it is wet. If the phone is on a MagSafe charger or in a dock, take it off as well.
Step three: tap out the water
Hold the iPhone with the charging connector facing down, and tap it gently against your palm. This helps excess water run out of the port and speaker grilles. Gentle is the key word; you are not trying to shake it hard.
Step four: let it dry with airflow
Leave the phone somewhere dry with some air movement. Apple notes that placing the phone in front of a fan blowing cool air into the connector may help.
Apple also says to wait at least 30 minutes before charging with a cable or connecting an accessory, and that full drying can take up to 24 hours.
What not to do
Do not use a hair dryer or any other heat source. Do not use compressed air. Do not push a cotton bud, a paper towel or anything else into the charging port or speaker grilles. And do not put the phone in a bag of rice: Apple specifically advises against it, because small particles of rice can get into the phone.
If you see a liquid detection alert
Recent iPhones can detect liquid in the charging port. If you plug in while the port is wet, you may see an alert telling you liquid has been detected and charging is not available.
Unplug the cable and follow the drying steps above. Wait, then try again later. If you see the alert again, there is still moisture in the port, so give it more time. Apple notes that wireless charging may still work while the port is wet, if your iPhone supports it.
There is an emergency override option, but Apple recommends it only when you genuinely need to charge, because charging with a wet port can damage the phone.
Follow along in Get SonicGuard on the App Store
Free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
App Store
Where water eject sounds fit in
Once the outside is dry and the phone is working, you may notice the speaker sounds muffled. That is usually water sitting in the speaker grille.
This is where a water eject app can help. SonicGuard plays low-frequency sounds designed to help move trapped water. Use the phone's built-in speaker with headphones disconnected, keep the phone facing downward, and choose a programme such as Quick Eject, 30 seconds of low pulses. Stop if the sound feels uncomfortable.
You can play the same reference sounds before and after Quick Eject and note what you hear. Results vary by device and situation. Water in the speaker grille often clears on its own as the phone dries, so give it time as well.
What water resistance does and does not mean
Most recent iPhone models are rated IP68, which means they are designed to resist water under specific laboratory conditions. Apple is clear that water resistance is not permanent and can decrease over time as seals wear, and that liquid damage is not covered by the standard warranty.
So even if your phone survived this time, it is worth treating it as water resistant rather than waterproof. Avoid swimming, showering or using it in a sauna or steam room with the phone.
When to get help
Contact Apple Support or an authorised service provider if:
- The phone will not turn on, or restarts on its own.
- The screen shows lines, discolouration or patches.
- The speaker or microphone still sounds wrong after a full day of drying.
- The liquid detection alert keeps appearing after 24 hours.
Quick answers
Should I put my wet iPhone in rice?
No. Apple advises against it, because tiny particles of rice can get inside the phone. Leave it to dry in moving air instead.
How long should I wait before charging a wet iPhone?
Apple recommends waiting at least 30 minutes before charging with a cable, and it can take up to 24 hours to fully dry.
Can I use a hair dryer on my iPhone?
No. Apple advises against any external heat source or compressed air.
Will a water eject sound fix a phone that got wet?
It is designed to help move water from the speaker grille. It cannot dry the inside of the phone or repair damage.
Where to get it
SonicGuard plays four water eject programmes and lets you compare your speaker before and after, offline and without microphone access. Get SonicGuard on the App Store for iPhone.
Dry it slowly, skip the rice and give the speaker time to recover.