Today we are going to see how to rescue an iPhone that has fallen into water. It happens every day, even to the best of us. If the latest iPhone resist well, better know what to do not to regret it.
Article updated on 08/17/2022.
As usual on iPhoneSoft, here is a new tip for beginners that fills the section iPhone easy…
These little tricks often help beginners, but can also sometimes surprise the most expert among us! For beginners, here is our lexicon for iPhone, iPod and iPad. Finally, if you encounter problems or want to share your experiences, do not hesitate to go to the forum.
What to know about your iPhone
Before seeing what to do if your iPhone has been dropped in water or after it has been soaked by rain, shower or any other liquid, here are some basics.
Is my iPhone waterproof or water resistant?
Not all iPhones on the market are waterproof. In contrast, iPhone 7 and later are water resistant, which means they protect your device from splashes of water and other liquids, as well as dust. But there are no guarantees. And if water gets inside your iPhone and destroys it, Apple won’t be responsible because liquid damage isn’t covered under warranty!
But don’t be discouraged. The phone should work fine if it was dropped on it in a restaurant by a glass of water, drink, or juice, if it got wet from light rain, or if it fell into a bathtub. However, be sure to follow the advice we give you below.
iPhone 7 and newer models have an official IP rating with varying degrees of depth and time they can be submerged in water. Here is a table to help you.
iPhone models and their IP rating
This is the official IP rating for iPhones, as listed on their respective Apple Support tech specs page.
No official IP rating:
- From the original iPhone to iPhone 6S
- iPhone SE (1st generation)
Rated IP67 (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes):
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7Plus
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8Plus
- iPhone X
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd generation) (2020)
- iPhone SE (3rd generation) (2022)
Rated IP68 (maximum depth of 2 meters up to 30 minutes):
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
Rated IP68 (maximum depth of 4 meters up to 30 minutes):
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
Rated IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes):
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
What affects the water resistance of an iPhone?
Your iPhone’s water resistance capability is not a permanent feature. Regular use and wear over time can diminish its capabilities. Also, the resistance may degrade if you often drop your iPhone in sea/salt water or receive frequent splashes of corrosive liquids like juices, drinks, etc. Finally, a repair of the screen or the battery (generally carried out by non-certified technicians) can totally eliminate or reduce the resistance capacity. So it would be better if you take special care with your repaired iPhone.
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What to do after dropping your iPhone in water?
If your water resistant iPhone has been in water, the few initial tips mentioned below are enough. However, if your non-waterproof iPhone has been dropped in water or your water-resistant iPhone has been submerged in liquid for a long time, you should follow almost all of the following tips. This also applies to an Android.
1. Turn it off immediately
Turn off your iPhone as soon as you take it out of water or shake off the liquid. It is essential to turn off the device as this helps prevent short circuits and major failures in case water has entered the device. Once you have turned off your iPhone, follow the other solutions.
Attention : Never connect your wet iPhone to a charging socket!
2. Remove the shell
Water will get stuck between the case and the iPhone. Slowly, it can seep inside the SIM tray or weaken the waterproof bond and get inside. In addition, the water contains certain elements that can leave gray residues and become corrosive if not taken care of. Therefore, remove the case and proceed to the next trick.
3. Eject the SIM card and disconnect cables and accessories
Once the phone is wiped down and dry on the outside, hold it with the SIM card slot facing down. So any liquid that might get stuck in the SIM tray case will slide off due to gravity and not get inside.
Then, while holding the iPhone in the same way, grab the SIM card ejector tool or one of its easy alternatives and pull out the SIM card slot. Shake your iPhone with the SIM card slot facing down to push out any tiny drops of water that may have gotten inside.
For now, leave the SIM tray on the outside of the iPhone. Also gently wipe the SIM card and set it aside.
4. Eject the water from the speaker holes
Then use these free methods to eject water from speaker grilles. But they do involve turning on your iPhone. So only do this if your iPhone hasn’t been submerged in water for a long time and it’s safe to turn it on.
5. Thoroughly wipe the iPhone
Take a soft towel or a piece of cotton cloth and wipe your iPhone to dry the water on its surface. Get rid of water that may be stuck around the volume buttons and charging port.
6. Let the iPhone dry
After following the tips above, let your iPhone dry out. Do not turn it on or insert the SIM card.
7. Don’t put your iPhone in rice. Use silica gel bags instead
For a long time, people thought putting your wet phone or electronics in rice was helpful. But that’s not entirely true. Without most people knowing, putting your iPhone in rice to dry can cause more problems, as tiny particles of broken rice or its exterior varnish or starch can block the speaker grilles and become lodged around the iPhone.
What you should do instead is get yourself an airtight box, like a lunch box, put a few sachets of silica gel in it (the little sachets that come in all the boxes of devices sold commercially) and keep your iPhone in this box for about 24 hours. Amazon also sells it in packs of 100 sachets for 10 euros.
8. Wait a reasonable time, at least 24 hours
After following the steps above, you will need to take a forced break from your iPhone and leave it turned off for about 24-36 hours.
Once done, turn on your iPhone, and if it boots up, congratulations. Use it for a few minutes and make sure the touchscreen, speakers, earpiece, and lightning port are working properly. Then insert your SIM card, put the case back in place and enjoy your iPhone as before.
9. Don’t lie to Apple Geniuses
If your iPhone has been submerged in water for too long, or its water resistance capabilities were non-existent, and it has suffered damage that cannot be repaired under the above tips , your only option is to have it inspected by a technician.
Chat with Apple Support using another device or visit a nearby Apple Store or Apple Certified Service Center to have your iPhone repaired.
Hoping to get the device repaired under warranty, some people argue with the technician and refuse to admit that they (accidentally or intentionally) left their iPhone in water for a long time. There’s no point, iPhones have a liquid contact indicator (LCI) near the SIM slot (one of the most obvious points of water ingress). If there is no water damage, the LCI is white or silver. However, if water enters the iPhone and comes into contact with the liquid contact indicator, the indicator changes color to red. You can check this by removing the SIM tray and turning on a bright light inside to see the color.
Once the liquid contact indicator is red, it is not possible to dispute with Apple Store staff as liquid damage is not covered under warranty. It doesn’t matter if Apple showed you 50 ads showing that the iPhone is water resistant, or if you bought a state-of-the-art iPhone specifically for water protection.
Do not drop iPhone in water
Even if your iPhone is water resistant, treat it as if it isn’t and take all necessary precautions to keep it safe from water.
Be careful when taking pictures near swimming pools, beaches, bathtubs, etc.
If your lifestyle frequently involves using your iPhone near water, invest in a waterproof iPhone case. You can also research and purchase insurance that covers liquid damage.
And you, have you ever saved an iPhone from drowning?
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