One of the most common secrets that has been widely spread on the internet for years, regarding what you should do if your mobile phone falls into the water, is to put it in a bowl of rice.
For the first time, Apple is taking an official stand on this practice, by updating the support page that covers the iPhone 7 and later models’ water resistance. The company makes it clear that contrary to myths, a wet iPhone should never be placed in a bowl of rice.
On the updated support page, Apple warns, “Avoid placing your iPhone in a bag with rice. This can allow microscopic rice particles to cause damage to your device.”
Other actions you should NOT take with your wet smartphone:
– Avoid drying your iPhone using external heat sources or air.
– Do not insert any foreign object, such as a cotton swab or a napkin, into the port.
In case your mobile or any accessory gets wet, Apple recommends disconnecting the USB-C cable from the charging port and the other end of the cable from the power supply or accessory as the first step. Avoid reconnecting the cable until the iPhone and the cable are completely dry.
How to dry your iPhone according to Apple:
– Gently hit the iPhone in your hand with the port facing down, to remove excess liquid.
– Place the iPhone in a dry place with minimal air circulation.
– Leave it for at least 30 minutes before trying to charge it with a Lightning or USB-C cable or to connect an accessory. If the warning appears again, it means that there’s still moisture in the cable.
– Leave the iPhone in a dry place with minimal air circulation for up to 24 hours. Repeat the charging or accessory connection test during this time. It may take up to 24 hours to completely dry.
– If, after drying, the phone doesn’t charge, unplug the cable from the adapter and the charger from the wall and reconnect them. If you’re not sure whether the iPhone’s charging port is too wet, the phone itself will inform you. On devices with a Lightning cable, a message will inform you that charging is not possible because “moisture has been detected in the Lightning port”. In the iPhone 15 series, a full-screen warning may appear stating “Moisture detected in the USB-C port. Disconnect the charging cable to avoid damaging the iPhone. Let the port dry. This may take several hours.”
