To limit damage after an iPhone gets wet, disconnect cables, wipe the outside, and let it dry with airflow before charging; persistent faults need professional inspection. Drying can clear moisture from a connector, but it does not guarantee that liquid-damaged components will recover.
The short version
- Disconnect: Unplug charging cables and accessories immediately.
- Dry safely: Use a soft cloth and airflow, without heat, compressed air, or objects in the port.
- Skip rice: Rice particles can damage the phone and do not repair corrosion.
- Wait: After liquid exposure, allow at least five hours before a cable connection and wait longer if anything is still wet.
- Get help: Continuing charging, screen, or cellular problems warrant assessment.
Disconnect and dry the outside
Take the iPhone out of the liquid and unplug cables from the phone and the power adapter or accessory. If the phone is already off, do not turn it on just to test it while it is wet. Wipe the outside with a soft, lint-free cloth, such as a lens cloth.
Keep cloths and other objects outside the charging connector. Do not try to wipe the inside of the phone or remove its battery. Apple advises against disassembling an iPhone, and its liquid-exposure instructions say to make sure the phone is dry before opening the SIM tray.
A screen protector is not a reason to assume the display is protected from liquid damage. If the screen, Home button, or other controls stop working after exposure, drying alone does not establish that they are safe or repaired. Arrange inspection if the problem continues.
Use airflow instead of heat
Gently tap the iPhone against your hand with the charging connector facing down to remove excess liquid. Leave it in a dry place with airflow. A fan blowing cool air into the connector may help.
Do not use a hair dryer, another external heat source, or compressed air. Do not insert a cotton swab, paper towel, or other object into the connector. The same caution applies when you are trying to remove moisture around the speaker or microphone openings.
Avoid rice and sealed drying bags
Do not put the iPhone in rice. Apple warns that small rice particles can damage it, and iFixit explains that drying a phone in rice does not remove the contamination responsible for corrosion. A phone that starts working again can still have damage inside.
Use Apple’s open-air drying method instead of a home drying treatment. Neither a fixed waiting period nor a dry-looking exterior is a promise of recovery. If you suspect internal damage, seek a repair assessment.
Wait before connecting a charger
After liquid exposure, Apple says to allow at least five hours before connecting a Lightning or USB-C cable or accessory. The phone must also be completely dry, so five hours is a minimum waiting period rather than a guarantee. Charging through a wet connector can corrode its pins and cause permanent damage.
Apple’s liquid-detection alert page gives a shorter retry: unplug the cable, dry the iPhone, and after at least 30 minutes try charging or connecting the accessory again. If the alert appears again, liquid is still in the connector, and Apple says it might take up to 24 hours to fully dry. Both Apple pages say not to charge the iPhone until it is completely dry.
For wireless charging on a compatible iPhone, Apple says to dry the phone before placing it on the charging mat. A wireless charger does not repair internal liquid damage. If the phone is malfunctioning, arrange service rather than using a different charger as a repair attempt.
Respond to a liquid alert
On iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and later, connecting a cable can trigger an alert when liquid is detected in the connector, cable, or accessory. Disconnect it and follow Apple’s liquid-alert instructions. Charging and accessory use are blocked until those parts are dry.
If one cable repeatedly triggers the warning after everything has dried, the accessory may be damaged. Contact its manufacturer. If an Apple cable or accessory triggers the alert every time, Apple says the phone may need service.
Check muffled sound and cellular service
Water in the speaker or microphone opening can affect sound until it evaporates. Place the iPhone speaker-side down on a lint-free cloth and check whether water drips out. Continue drying it with airflow rather than inserting anything into the openings.
Once the phone is dry and usable, a No Service or Searching message means it is not connected to a cellular network. Open Settings, turn on Airplane Mode for at least 15 seconds, then turn it off. Restart the phone if the connection does not return.
Check with your carrier for coverage, outages, and account problems. While connected to Wi-Fi, open Settings > General > About to check for a carrier settings update. For a physical SIM problem, reseat the SIM only after the phone is dry; if the carrier finds no network or account fault, seek hardware service.
Understand indicators and repair coverage
A Liquid Contact Indicator normally appears white or silver and turns fully red after contact with water or a water-containing liquid. It indicates exposure, not a complete diagnosis of which components work. Some eSIM-only models have no externally visible indicator.
Apple recommends inspection when liquid exposure may be causing a problem, even when an indicator is red. Its liquid-damage coverage explanation says the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty does not cover liquid-damage service, although consumer-law rights may apply. A technician can assess the device without promising that every damaged phone can be repaired.
Reduce future liquid exposure
iPhone 7 and later models have varying levels of splash and water resistance, but that resistance is not permanent and can decrease with wear. Avoid swimming, bathing, showers, steam rooms, pressurized water, and intentional submersion with the phone.
Keep it away from soaps, detergents, and other liquids as well. Water resistance should not be treated as permission to repeat an exposure that the phone survived once.
Updated October 2026: Replaced rice and battery-removal advice with safe drying, charging precautions, and service guidance. The original article was published in July 2018.
