Q&A for How to Repair an iPhone from Water Damage

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What do I do if my iPhone gets wet?

Josef Storzi
Apple & Mobile Phone Repair Specialist
Josef Storzi is an Apple and Mobile Phone Repair Specialist and the Owner of Imobile LA, a mobile phone repair company based in Los Angeles, California. Josef specializes in repairing screens, charging ports, batteries, water damage, speakers, and microphones on all mobile phone brands including Apple, Samsung, LG, Nokia, and Sony. He also specializes in tablet, laptop, and computer repairs as well as the pros and cons of recent mobile software updates.

Josef Storzi

Apple & Mobile Phone Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

The first thing to do for any electronic device that has liquid damage is to remove its power source. This will stop your device from becoming damaged further, and it could prevent any damage from occurring to your device. For phones, this includes both the charger and the battery.

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What if I can't take the battery out of my iPhone?

Josef Storzi
Apple & Mobile Phone Repair Specialist
Josef Storzi is an Apple and Mobile Phone Repair Specialist and the Owner of Imobile LA, a mobile phone repair company based in Los Angeles, California. Josef specializes in repairing screens, charging ports, batteries, water damage, speakers, and microphones on all mobile phone brands including Apple, Samsung, LG, Nokia, and Sony. He also specializes in tablet, laptop, and computer repairs as well as the pros and cons of recent mobile software updates.

Josef Storzi

Apple & Mobile Phone Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

Visit a local repair shop as soon as possible to have the device professionally disassembled and inspected, even if it's still working. The reason for this is that damage can occur over time from liquid exposure, and in many cases devices will function for anywhere from a day up to a week before the liquid causes enough damage to decommission the device.

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Question

Should I put my iPhone in rice if it gets wet?

Josef Storzi
Apple & Mobile Phone Repair Specialist
Josef Storzi is an Apple and Mobile Phone Repair Specialist and the Owner of Imobile LA, a mobile phone repair company based in Los Angeles, California. Josef specializes in repairing screens, charging ports, batteries, water damage, speakers, and microphones on all mobile phone brands including Apple, Samsung, LG, Nokia, and Sony. He also specializes in tablet, laptop, and computer repairs as well as the pros and cons of recent mobile software updates.

Josef Storzi

Apple & Mobile Phone Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

In most cases, this will not help. Modern mobile devices are well-sealed, which prevents the rice from making its way inside the device to absorb the water. In many cases, the rice may leave behind a residue that will cause even more damage.

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Will this work if I have cracks in my phone?

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It will work as long as the insides of your phone are not significantly water damaged. Cracks can make it easier for the insides to dry, but it can also make it easier for water to get in and cause more water damage.

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My iPhone 7 fell in water but the indicator is still white but the phone keeps turning on and off what should I do?

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Allow your phone to completely dry before you turn it on. If the indicator is still white, you may qualify for a warranty repair. Just don't mention that it fell in the water.

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I made the mistake of using it straight after as I thought there was no real damage. The screen died and the phone still worked. After a while it died, now it just turns on and off on its own. Any advice?

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It's possible there may be a short on the inside. Back up your data to iCloud and take it to a repair shop. It's possible they may be able to repair it. If not, you may need to replace your phone.

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The sim card fell out of its holder. Does it matter how I put it back on the holder?

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The SIM card tray should have a recessed area in the shape of the SIM card. Place the SIM card back in the SIM card tray in the correct position and put it back into your phone. It should work just fine provided there are no other issues with your phone.

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My iphone was water damaged. It turns on with some water damage visible but the touch screen is non responsive. Any resolutions to fix it?

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It's possible the touchscreen has been shorted out and no longer works properly. You can take it to a repair shop or have it replaced.

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I dropped my new iphone 6 in the bath and I put it in rice for 3 days. I then went to charge it and turn it on and now it isn't turning on, what should I do?

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It most likely has significant water damage. You can take it in for repair or have it replaced.

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I have lines on my phone from water damage but everything else is working almost perfectly, is there anything I can do to get rid of the vertical lines? I currently have it in rice btw.

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Power it off and let it sit for at least 72 hours. Powering it on while there is still water on the inside may increase the chance of water damage. Even if it appears to be working immediately after, it may still stop working at some point if it is not sufficiently dry on the inside.

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I got my iPhone 7plus wet about 1 month ago, and now my battery never charges past 1%. Will a new battery fix the issue?

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It's possible that either the charging port or the battery was significantly water damaged. You can try using a wireless charger to charge your phone. If that doesn't work, it may need a service repair or to be replaced. If the battery gets hot, bulges, or wells, do not attempt to power it on.

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My phone was half submerged in the water less than an hour ago. I found out the speakers didn't work and the screen had black liquid. I dried it up and sucked the water out. Is it too late to try this?

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Do not try to power it on. Let it sit in a dry area for at least 72 hours before attempting to turn it on.

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After my iphone x was in my pool for about 7 seconds, I dried it off with a towel, tried to charge it, and then put it in rise for about 15 hours. It still didn't work. I took the sim card out. what now?

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The longer you wait before turning it back on, the greater the chance it can be recovered. If it does not power on after 72 hours, it may have significant water damage. You may need to take it in to have it repaired or replaced.

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Dropped my phone in water, have dried it for 48 hours screen comes up but won't charge

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It's possible the charging port has significant water damaged. You can try charging it with a wireless charger. If that doesn't work, you may need to take it in to have it repaired or replaced.

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My iPhone X fell into the pool and it got really hot and went off and not getting on again what should I do?

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If your phone is getting excessively hot, it may not be safe to use. It most likely needs to be repaired or replaced.

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Question

Will keeping my phone next to a fire help prevent water damage in my phone after I dropped it in water?

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Intense heat will be bad for the phone. Keep it in a warm place to help dry it out.

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Question

Will 70% alchohol work?

Community Answer

You want the highest percentage alcohol possible. 70% alcohol has 30% water, so you're just putting more water on your already water-damaged components.

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Question

I dropped my phone in toilet last night. Took it out, towel dried, put it in zip-lock bag with rice overnight. Tried to plug in charger this morning and charger won't fit into cell phone opening. I have iPhone5. Any suggestions?

Community Answer

There is probably rice in your charger port. Try a paperclip to remove. Be gentle.

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Question

My iPhone 6S has medium water damage. It'll still turn on and other parts function perfectly, but the screen has a blue and dark mar. How can I fix this?

Community Answer

The only way to fix it is to get a new, high- quality LCD screen. These can be found for around $80 online, but shy away from the cheap ones, as they do not use high-quality materials. Follow the enclosed steps for removing the screen and cables, do them in reverse order to finish, and power on.

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Question

Will this still work even if your iPhone has been water damaged for a year?

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This depends on how it was damaged. If it was fully submerged in a liquid, the answer is most likely no, because liquids can corrode the inner workings of the phone. If it was a small amount of water or only some functions of the phone do not work as they should, it is possible that this guide will help. However, if the phone still does not function properly, you may have to replace parts of the phone or the phone itself.

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Question

Will these steps work if I did nothing about it until after a few hours?

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Yes, more than likely if you haven't suffered extreme water damage, if the phone logic board hasn't been damaged, or if you haven't tried to turn it on and it damage the logic board.

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Question

After drying my iPhone, it started working again, but now I'm experiencing odd errors and sluggish performance. What should I do?

Community Answer

There's a good chance that your iPhone has suffered permanent water damage. You can try taking it completely apart and using isopropyl alcohol to clean the parts, but it may just need to be replaced.

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Question

How do I remove the SIM card?

Community Answer

Straighten a paperclip and insert one end into the small hold in the SIM tray on your iPhone. Push the paperclip in and the SIM tray will pop out, allowing you to remove your SIM card.

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Question

After my iPhone got immersed in water, it's working again but has a 'no service' message on top left, and I can't make or receive calls. Is that caused by water damage and can it be fixed?

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Your SIM card could be damaged. Talk to your cell phone carrier about replacing your phone's SIM card.

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Question

How can I take apart my iPhone 4?

Community Answer

If your phone is insured, you may not want to take it apart, because they might not let you claim for water damage.

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Question

After the phone was submerged in water, I placed the battery and SIM card in a bowl of rice. How long will it take for them to dry out?

Community Answer

You can leave both inside the bowl overnight. That said, water damage to a battery usually means it's dead. If the rice does not work, you can try putting the SIM card in an isopropyl alcohol bath (99%). DO NOT PUT THE BATTERY IN ALCOHOL.

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Question

How do I repair my phone from water damage if the battery icon shows when it is plugged in, but it won't charge?

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The battery has likely been damaged by water, and will need replacing.

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What do I do if the top of my iPhone 5s was in water?

Community Answer

Leave it to dry for a day or two, then check if it works. You may want to leave it in a bag of rice just to be sure.

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Question

Will taking out my SIM card erase anything off of my phone?

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Removing the SIM card won't erase anything. It is completely safe.

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Question

I cleaned my iPhone's motherboard with a little alcohol. The phone turned on, but later the battery lost power very fast, and now it won't turn on. What do I do?

The Octopussy

Community Answer

Try purchasing a new battery for the device. It's likely the battery itself is damaged.

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