Cleaning iPhone after water. What to do if your iPhone falls into water - Good tips for saving your gadget After your iPhone gets into water

Water is a merciless iPhone killer. Perhaps only gravity can boast a greater track record of killed Apple smartphones. But the number of iPhones destroyed by water could be significantly less if users knew what to do with a device that fell into water. This detailed guide tells you what to do if your iPhone has been in water. The basic instructions contain eight steps that every user should know. They are truly lifesaving.

I drowned my iPhone in water. How do you know if everything is normal or not?

Damage after your iPhone comes into contact with water can be both noticeable and invisible. In one case, bubbles literally appear under the display panel. In another, the iPhone looks even newer than before it fell into the water.

First of all, let's inspect the iPhone.

If the smartphone does not turn on and from it water flows out little by little, it is obvious that liquid has entered the housing. What to do in this case is described further in our instructions. But if you need advice here and now - run to the service center! No rice, hair dryers or radiator drying. That's it in short. More details and evidence are given below.
If the iPhone works as if nothing had happened after contact with water, you should definitely make sure that the liquid did not get inside the case and damage the board.

How to find out if an iPhone is drowning in water

?Every iPhone has a moisture indicator. It turns red if the inside of the case has been flooded with water. This indicator should be checked first after your iPhone falls into water.

Where is the moisture indicator on the iPhone? Here is a table of the indicator location in all models:

Model	Moisture indicator location
iPhone XS/XS Max	In the SIM card slot
iPhone XR	In the SIM card slot
iPhone 8/8 Plus	In the SIM card slot
iPhone 7/7 Plus	In the SIM card slot
iPhone 6s/6s Plus	In the SIM card slot
iPhone 6/6 Plus	In the SIM card slot
iPhone 5s/5c	In the SIM card slot
iPhone SE	In the SIM card slot
iPhone 5	In the SIM card slot
iPhone 4s
iPhone 4	In 3.5mm jack and charging port
iPhone 3GS	In 3.5mm jack and charging port
iPhone 3G	In 3.5mm jack and charging port
iPhone	In 3.5 mm jack

For greater clarity, we will show where exactly the liquid contact indicators are located.

On iPhone 5 and all newer models

On iPhone 4s and older models

Checking the status of the fluid indicator on your iPhone is easy. All you need to do is shine a flashlight on the SIM card slot or charging port in older iPhone models.

Please note that In different iPhone models, the indicator has a different shape. In iPhone 5s and iPhone SE it is round. In iPhone 6/6 Plus and 6s/6s Plus it has a non-standard shape. And only starting with the iPhone 7/7 Plus, the indicator took on the shape of a strip.

? The indicator is red. What's wrong with my iPhone?

The red liquid contact indicator indicates that Water got into iPhone. This means that the liquid definitely came into contact with the insides of the device and probably damaged them.

Only a full diagnosis will help you find out what damage has occurred in your iPhone.

Also, the redness of the indicator actually ends the official warranty from Apple. You no longer need to count on getting free smartphone repairs.

The indicator is pink! Everything is fine?

Unfortunately, pink in this case is simply a lighter shade of red. It also signals that water has entered the iPhone case.

Regardless of whether the light is red, pink, light red, or dark red, the iPhone is marked as having been in contact with water. The boards may be damaged and the warranty will be void.

The indicator is generally yellow... What does this mean?

In some cases, the water contact indicator turns yellow. To do this, it does not need to come into contact with liquid. It turns yellow over time or due to various dirt getting into the SIM card slot (charging connector).

Good news - iPhone with yellow water contact indicator is not damaged by liquid! The bad news is that the smartphone is in poor condition and definitely needs cleaning. You can clean the SIM card slot or charging port using an antistatic brush or a new toothbrush. Without water.

What if I paint the red indicator white?

When an iPhone falls into water, users usually start to panic. Real panic leading to rash actions.

Some people see that the liquid contact indicator has turned red and try to paint it over first. white marker or putty. A bright thought comes to the minds of some users that it would be nice to completely tear the indicator out of the iPhone. Why not? No indicator, no problem!

Let's put jokes aside. You can't do anything like that. If your iPhone falls into water and liquid gets inside the case, deal with it. You will not be able to hide the damage from service center technicians, especially those cooperating with Apple. Especially do not tear the fluid indicator out of the housing. Along with it, you can extract other components that are much more important than the indicator.

The last argument. The indicator cannot be painted over with putty or pulled out of the case because in this case Apple will void the warranty on the device. This will mean that the company will not undertake to repair it in its authorized service centers.

Of course, sometimes service center technicians make “exceptions” that Apple doesn’t know about. However, if you plan to take advantage of Apple's warranty on your water-damaged iPhone, it's best to leave the indicator alone.

I drowned my iPhone in water! 8 steps of salvation

You dropped your iPhone in water. remember, that quick and correct actions will help save the life of your smartphone. Procrastination and use mythical drying methods gadget - to his sudden death.

What should you do to save your iPhone? 8 steps to salvation.

1. Disconnect iPhone

First mandatory action. Turn off your iPhone as soon as possible and continue working with the device turned off.

2. Remove your iPhone case

Remove the case while holding the device horizontally, display to the floor. Rotate the device as little as possible. Imagine that there is a mini-pool of water inside the iPhone (and this is what happens in most cases when the device comes into close contact with the liquid). You definitely don't want water to continue splashing onto the boards.

Then use a microfiber or other soft, absorbent cloth to gently remove any water from the iPhone case. Don't wrap your iPhone in a towel. This will increase the humidity inside the case, which will negatively affect the components.

3. Remove the SIM card

This is a defining step. At this point, you will understand whether any damage occurred as a result of contact with water or whether the panic was unnecessary.

Remove the SIM card from the smartphone while continuing to hold the device horizontally. Inspect the liquid contact indicator(on iPhone 4s and older models you need to check the 30-pin connector, the indicator is located there).

There are two options.

Is the indicator still white/silver? Congratulations, no water got into your iPhone! Most likely, you have an iPhone 7/7 Plus or newer model with water protection.

The indicator turned red/pink , This means that the iPhone has suffered from contact with water. Go to a trusted service center as soon as possible. This will minimize the chances of your device breaking.

Of course, the water inside the iPhone can dry out on its own and the smartphone will work as before it came into contact with water. This has happened tens of thousands of times. But if you don't want to rely on chance, play it safe. The service center specialists will immediately open the iPhone, remove water from the case and clean all the boards.

? Note: Use all the following instructions in case you are unable to contact a service center to get your iPhone repaired quickly.

If it is not possible to go to the service center, follow the next steps in the instructions. The right actions will help save your smartphone.

4. Place iPhone on a flat surface

Place your smartphone on a flat surface, such as a table or kitchen counter. Never put your iPhone in a bag or wrap it in a towel. Choose a place with low humidity.

5. Use silica gel (if available). Don't use rice!

If you have silica gel (or other quality desiccant) on hand, place it on and around your iPhone.

? Silica gel is a synthetic sorbent that can be found in small bags with various products. He also sold on AliExpress in batches. Useful thing.

Whatever you do, never put your iPhone in rice! Below we talked in more detail about why using rice will not only not save your smartphone, but, on the contrary, will completely kill it.

6. Wait for the water to evaporate

Leave your iPhone to dry horizontally for 24 hours.

The SIM card tray must be removed from the device. This will allow air to flow into the iPhone case, causing the water to evaporate faster.

Service center technicians also recommend pointing the fan towards the iPhone SIM card slot. This will increase the volume of air supplied and speed up the drying process. The fan does not need to be installed close to the iPhone body. Just place it next to it and point it towards the SIM card slot.

Never use a hot hairdryer! Not only will this not help the water evaporate faster, but it can also damage the contacts.

7. 24 hours have passed. Try turning on your iPhone

After waiting a sufficient amount of time (we recommend 24 hours, Apple for some reason only 5 hours), try turning on your iPhone.

Turn on your iPhone in the same horizontal position.

If your smartphone does not turn on, it is most likely simply dead. Without lifting your iPhone, connect it to the charger ( Of course, only if all the water has evaporated) and leave for a few minutes. If the gadget has not received critical damage due to contact with water, it will turn on.

8. Backup iPhone without delay

Unfortunately, it often happens that an iPhone that works after contact with water “dies” as soon as possible without professional cleaning of the circuit boards in a service center. You cannot predict such a sudden death of a device. But you can create a fresh backup of your iPhone, which will allow you not to lose data from your smartphone.

You can back up your iPhone via iTunes and iCloud. Detailed instructions on how to do this:

Summarize.

If you drown your iPhone in water, first turn it off and check the liquid contact indicator. He is red? Keep your iPhone horizontal and immediately Contact the service center to dry and clean the contacts. This is the most effective way to preserve the life of a smartphone.

Can't contact the SC? Place the iPhone on a horizontal surface with the display facing down and pull out the SIM card tray to allow air to flow inside the case. Cover the smartphone with silica gel (if available), turn on the fan and point it towards the SIM card slot for more air flow for drying. Wait 24 hours.

Under no circumstances should you put your iPhone in rice, on a hot battery, or wrap your smartphone in a towel or dry it with a hairdryer!

After 24 hours, try turning on your iPhone. Doesn't turn on? Connect it to the charging adapter and wait a few minutes. If the iPhone hasn't died due to being in water, it should turn on.

You drowned your iPhone in water, but it still works? Be carefull

iPhones are real ichthyanders. Models with water protection can easily stay in water for several hours instead of the officially declared 30 minutes. Models unprotected from water can also “swim” without any problems, and then work without giving a sign for many years. Even with a red indicator in contact with water.

There are incredibly many similar cases. Right now, tens of thousands of users are walking around with iPhones recently buried in toilets and sinks. Everything works on such smartphones. It seems.

However, problems may still appear on a drowned iPhone. In a week, a few months or even years. Below we have described the symptoms of iPhones malfunctioning as a result of contact with water. If such things begin to appear, you should seriously think about going to the SC.

iPhone gets hot quickly

Water-damaged lithium-ion batteries can become very hot. If you notice that a recently drowned iPhone overheats excessively during charging or directly during use, this is a good reason to think about it and still contact a service center for diagnostics.

No sound on iPhone

Most often, iPhone speakers are damaged after contact with water. Water seeps through the speaker grilles and causes irreparable damage. This applies to models without water resistance (iPhone 6s/6s Plus and older). But even on newer iPhones, water can remain in the speakers for a long time, distorting the sound.

There is a solution, no need to go to the service center. Install free Sonic app, which continuously produces sound at different frequencies. Select 165 Hz frequency, press Play and leave the application running for 3-10 minutes. The sound will push the water out of the speakers and they will start working again!

iPhone won't charge

An even more common problem with drowned iPhones is that they stop charging. Water gets into the Lightning connector, where it can cause corrosion and interfere with charging. This also applies to those iPhones that are protected from water.

The charging port can be cleaned with a new (unused) toothbrush. Without using any cleaning liquid. Just dry brush. Also check if dirt has accumulated in the connector. Pull it out if necessary, for example, using a toothpick with cotton wool wrapped around it.

The camera stops working

“I drowned my iPhone in water and the camera stopped working,” is a common request from users. It is impossible to repair the camera using improvised means. But if time is of the essence and the smartphone generally works without problems, do not rush to run to the service center. Very often the camera returns to work a few days after the iPhone has been “bathed”.

My iPhone is waterproof. But how exactly?

Starting with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Apple smartphones began to receive water protection. Models of the latest generations are protected from liquid ingress a little better, which clearly shows the degree of protection of the electrical equipment enclosure IP, which is regulated by international standards.

Below is a complete table of iPhones with water resistance.

Model	Degree of protection	Defence from dust	Protection from water
iPhone 6s and older	-	No	No
iPhone 7/7 Plus	IP67	Full protection
iPhone 8/8 Plus	IP67	Full protection	Up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter
iPhone X	IP67	Full protection	Up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter
iPhone XR	IP67	Full protection	Up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter
iPhone XS	IP68	Full protection
iPhone XS Max	IP68	Full protection	Up to 30 minutes at a depth of 2 meters

The protection degree code IPXX is deciphered as follows:

The first number is the degree of protection against penetration of foreign objects. All iPhones have a maximum protection level of 6. This means that dust cannot get inside the device.

The second number is the degree of protection against water penetration.

iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone X and iPhone XR have a protection level of 7. An iPhone will quietly lie in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of up to a meter. Water will not get into the smartphone in an amount that could disrupt operation.

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have a water resistance rating of 8. Any smartphone can be submerged in water up to two meters deep for 30 minutes or less. According to the official description of the eighth level of protection, devices can operate in immersed mode. But using iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in water is strongly not recommended.

Myths of drying iPhone. What you definitely shouldn't do

Myth #1. Rice helps dry out iPhone

Let's start with the most popular and at the same time the most harmful and even dangerous myth among users.

Rice doesn't help dry out iPhone!

On the contrary, it is rice that can cause the iPhone to stop working completely. Now we'll explain everything.

Rice does nothing to dry out iPhone contacts. This has been repeatedly proven by specialists from iFixit, which is famous for its detailed and free repair manuals for various devices.

“Drying” an iPhone with rice causes microparticles to penetrate into its case and remain on the circuit boards. When the smartphone dries out completely, the rice leaves even more residue on the circuit boards. It looks like this:

Above is a photo of an iPhone that was “dried” in half a pack of rice. As you might guess by looking at the contacts, the smartphone stopped turning on. The repair price is 25,000 rubles. The motherboard needs to be completely replaced. Thanks, rice! Although rice has nothing to do with it. The user is to blame for using the food product for other purposes.

But how is that possible, since rice helped me (my friend)?!

It is important to understand that rice did not save a single drowned smartphone. Smartphones that had been in contact with water regained their functionality not thanks to, but despite, the rice. They simply lay still for a sufficient amount of time, the water evaporated, the contacts dried out. Rice has nothing to do with it.

Still believe in the miraculous power of rice? The last argument. In November 2016, scientists at the US National Center for Biotechnology Information conducted a study entitled " Effectiveness of commercial desiccants and brown rice in removing moisture from hearing aids" The study showed that there's no difference between drying the hearing aid (and any other device) in rice or on the table without any additional means. Rice is useless.

In general, we, iFixit specialists and scientists have warned. If you still intend to use rice to dry your iPhone, remember that you do this at your own peril and risk. A smartphone can die because of rice.

Myth #2. The iPhone needs to be dried with a hairdryer.

Perhaps the only thing more dangerous than rice is using a hairdryer to dry your iPhone. Due to the hot air from the hair dryer, the components of the smartphone, in particular the battery, can heat up to a critical temperature. The maximum operating temperature of iPhone is 45°C. The hairdryer easily heats the body and components of the smartphone above this indicator. Is it dangerous.

But the main reason why you can’t use a hairdryer to dry your iPhone is different. An air flow directed at the smartphone body will most likely simply disperse water across the boards. The situation will only get worse.

As we wrote above, you can help deliver air into the iPhone case through the SIM card slot using a fan, which should be placed at a distance from the device.

Myth #3. The iPhone dries perfectly on the battery. Just like a T-shirt or pants

Never dry your iPhone on a hot battery. This is the most direct path to overheating and subsequent ignition of the battery. And even if you “vigilantly monitor” the temperature of the case, there is nothing good from drying electronic devices on the battery.

The water may evaporate faster, but the humidity inside the case will rise. More corrosion, more component damage. If, immediately after torture with the battery, you think of connecting your iPhone to a charger, wait new short circuits and the sudden death of the phone.

iPhone in water is not a death sentence

Anyone can drown an iPhone in water; no one is immune from this. But not everyone can solve the problem without panic and do everything right in order to save an expensive smartphone. Keep calm, follow the guide and your iPhone will definitely come back to life even after a long stay in water.

No one is safe from an iPhone falling - no matter how careful the user is with his equipment. However, the worst thing is if the smartphone falls into the water - a few seconds (and sometimes even one second) are enough for the iPhone to be silent forever, depending on your luck. There are several ways to save an iPhone after contact with water, and we will talk about them in this article.

Many people have heard about an approximate plan of action in the event of any device falling into water - advice immediately comes to mind with drying it on a radiator, with a hairdryer or in rice. However, few people know the correct sequence of performing all these actions, and few are familiar with the details of the same drying. So what should you do if your iPhone falls into water?

Note: if the iPhone has been in water for a long time, for example, 30 seconds or more, it is better to immediately go to a service center and not make any attempts to resuscitate the device yourself.

Drying the iPhone

Important: you cannot turn on the iPhone in order to check its functionality. Even if the water did not cause serious harm, play it safe and follow the instructions described below. Turning on a water-damaged device can lead to permanent failure.

The first thing to do is try to wipe the device as quickly as possible and begin preparations for drying. The ideal solution would be to disconnect the battery, but without the skills to disassemble an iPhone, this is unlikely to be possible. In this case, you need to remove the SIM card tray, pick up a regular hair dryer and start drying the device. Be careful, it is not advisable to turn on the hair dryer at maximum speed and temperature - this can only make things worse.

An alternative method can also help, the idea of which is to dry the iPhone with rice. Rice perfectly absorbs moisture, and cases of gadgets being saved after falling into water have been recorded more than once. Skepticism aside, take the sunken iPhone and place it in a bag of rice for 12-24 hours, best done after an initial blow-dry.

Turn on iPhone

And now, a day has passed since you accidentally dropped your iPhone into the water. The smartphone was dried and now lies in a bag of rice, awaiting its fate. Statistics show that even if the water ingress is not very strong and all the above instructions are followed correctly, the iPhone will “come to life” in 65% of cases, however, you need to prepare for the worst.

If the iPhone does not turn on, unfortunately, you will have to take it to a service center, in the hope that the contacts remain intact and can be restored. Repairs, depending on the number of defects, can be estimated at 1000-10000 rubles.

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A mobile gadget that is accidentally dropped by the owner into water, but still continues to function, interacts simultaneously with positively and negatively charged ions. This situation inevitably ends in a short circuit, causing irreparable damage to all internal elements of the device, which are responsible for conducting energy in a complex circuit. What to do if water gets into your iPhone, and is it possible to bring a drowned device back to life?

After the user drowns the iPhone, destructive processes begin to occur in the device. It doesn’t matter what model the gadget is – iPhone 4, iPhone 5, 5S or any other – its internal parts will stop working normally if exposed to moisture. And, it is clear that the longer a fallen smartphone is in contact with water, the stronger the destructive effect will be. Therefore, it is better not to get into such situations when the iPhone fell into the water. But, alas, sometimes this kind of trouble happens when, due to the user’s negligence, the device could fall into the water - for example, while relaxing outdoors, in a pool, etc. What to do in such a situation and how to bring the device back to life?

If your iPhone 6 falls into water (or an Apple gadget of another model, or any other mobile device) and does not turn on, you must take the following steps:

Get the device out of the water as quickly as possible and turn it off (under no circumstances should the gadget turn on if it has turned itself off).
Remove the battery from the smartphone.
At this stage, the most important work begins in determining whether the gadget will work or whether it is hopelessly damaged when the owner drops it in water.

If your iPhone falls into water and does not work at all, there is likely a short circuit. Then the battery cannot be removed, since this process can be repeated inside the device several times. The device cannot turn on, but the energy source continues to operate in its body, which does not require user commands to destroy a number of microcircuits. We can say that in a matter of minutes the motherboard, perhaps the most important part of a smartphone, is damaged. That is, this stage includes a thorough inspection of the iPhone, which could have just drowned.

If your iPhone falls into water, immediately after removing the device from the water, you need to wipe it with a dry cloth. At least this way the owner of the gadget will prevent further penetration of moisture into the device’s body.
Go to a service center to have a specialist disassemble the device and inspect it inside to identify damage and subsequent repairs. Of course, if the user is well versed in technology, he can disassemble the device at home without resorting to the services of a specialist. But this must be done extremely carefully, trying not to damage fragile parts.

If, nevertheless, immediately after the owner of the smartphone dropped it into the water, he decided to immediately go to the service center, on the way there you need to make sure that the device does not turn on. Also, it is better not to wrap the device in cloth. So that it is ventilated. Otherwise, the humidity inside the case will increase even more, and the destruction processes will accelerate several times.

As a rule, drowning an iPhone is not difficult, but repairing it is much more difficult. To damage the device in this way, you just need to be a careless user. And to repair the device, as workshop practice shows, it will take at least a day, or even more time, depending on the degree of damage. The latter, as already noted, depends on how long the device was in a humid environment.

Sometimes repair times are delayed due to the search for the right part.

Although, it happens that everything works out (this is if the liquid has not penetrated to the motherboard), and the performance and functions of the iPhone are not affected.

It happens that the owner of the device himself speeds up the process of “death” of the gadget, not rushing to take it to specialists for diagnosis, but using the so-called “folk methods”. On many Internet forums dedicated to iPhones, user messages are full of advice on how to independently revive the device after liquid gets into it. Is it worth using similar methods if your iPhone 6 fell into water? We will discuss it below.

What to do if your iPhone falls into water: traditional methods

On numerous forums, anyone can read the fantastic story of a user who independently revived his iPhone after it fell into the water. At the same time, the emphasis is on the simplicity, accessibility, and, of course, low cost of this method. Sometimes the use of such methods leads to success, but these are rather special cases due to the fact that initially the device did not have serious damage. In other cases, it’s not worth risking smartphones that cost a thousand dollars or more.

So, after removing the device from the water and wiping the gadget with a dry cloth, under no circumstances should you use a hair dryer to dry it further. Yes, this is exactly the advice most often given by “traditional craftsmen” on forums. Too hot air leads to damage to internal parts and accelerates the process of their breakdown no worse than the water itself that gets inside. It is better to take the first step after removing the device from the water to disassemble the device in order to carry out initial diagnostics. But this can only be done if the user has the necessary tools and if he has at least a basic understanding of technology. Let's say this procedure was successful. What should be the next steps?

Further, folk methods of “treating” a drowned but saved iPhone recommend that the owner place the device in a container into which raw rice must first be poured. In their opinion, the cereal will effectively dry all the parts of the device, including internal ones, and the smartphone will work the next morning as if nothing had happened. It should be said right away that this advice is intended for naive simpletons who have no idea about the internal structure of a mobile gadget. But for the sake of interest, let’s take a closer look at the essence of the “rice” method of reviving a smartphone after it falls into water, in order to understand that it is pointless.

So, the essence of the method using rice is this. Immediately after an incident when the smartphone was either completely immersed in water, or a large amount of liquid got on it, which could penetrate inside the case, you need to immediately turn off the device and wipe it dry. Then you need to take a large container and pour dry rice into it. Place the iPhone inside the container so that the rice almost completely covers it. Some advisors who promote this method advise that you always close the container tightly with a lid - supposedly this increases the effectiveness of the procedure several times.

But let's figure out what's actually happening inside the container with rice. First, let's talk about the device that got a small amount of water, i.e. the liquid has not penetrated deep into the housing. In such a situation, a user who uses this method will remove a completely viable smartphone from a container with rice grains. The rice will actually absorb small drops of liquid, but only those that have not penetrated deeply.

But, nevertheless, the “rice” method is very doubtful. Yes, indeed, it can absorb moisture. But the liquid itself is not as dangerous as the substances it contains - minerals, etc. After the liquid evaporates, these substances will settle on the internal parts of the device, subsequently causing the phone to break down or become completely unusable.

iPhone condition after falling into water

Every day, faulty devices are brought to Apple smartphone repair shops for repair. Interestingly, a fairly large percentage of malfunctions of these devices are caused by moisture penetration into the housing. Moreover, it often happens that water got into the gadget a long time ago - several months or even a year ago, but the breakdown occurred only now. The owner of the phone can long forget about the incident, while important parts inside the device gradually decompose.

Each iPhone that comes into repair service after contact with water is necessarily disassembled by a technician down to the smallest elements. It’s sad, but many parts in such cases cannot be restored (for example, a broken seal of the camera module). Here you will have to replace the part with a new one.

Usually, if a lot of liquid gets inside the device, the motherboard is hopelessly damaged. This is known to be the most complex and expensive part of the iPhone. Moreover, finding this replacement part can be very difficult. In such a situation, the owner of the device is faced with a choice of which is easier and cheaper - replacing the motherboard or purchasing a new iPhone.

There are situations when water gets into the iPhone. Perhaps it fell into the snow or the bathroom, was washed with clothes, got wet in the rain, was picked up with wet hands, or was spilled with a drink. Any liquid that gets inside the device poses a significant threat to its further performance.

Sensitivity of iPhone internal modules to moisture

There is an opinion that the Apple iPhone is waterproof and can be used underwater. This opinion only partially reflects reality, which leads to frequent breakdowns and calls to service centers.

Starting from 6S, iPhone models have IP67 protection, which means protection from splashes and the ability to be submerged to a depth of one meter for no more than 30 minutes. But at the same time, Apple does not consider situations where water gets into the device to be a warranty case.

The reason for this is simple - this protection class does not guarantee that water will not get into the device. Some connectors and the camera have silicone plugs, but their protective qualities decrease over time. Also, the protection class takes into account laboratory conditions, so it will not protect against chlorinated, carbonated, sea water and other liquids.

What to do if your iPhone falls into water?

If your smartphone ends up in water, you must:

Remove the device from the water.
Switch off.
Place on a horizontal surface.
Wipe the body with a dry cloth.
Do not charge.
If possible, remove the battery.
Take it to a service center as quickly as possible.

If the device was drowned in sea water, carbonated drink, milk, etc., then it is recommended to rinse it with plain water, or better yet, distilled water as quickly as possible. After that, without wasting time, take it to the service center.

What problems can arise after water gets in?

If liquid gets inside, the oxidation process of the microcircuit begins. Metal in contact with liquid and air begins to deteriorate and corrosion occurs. If the device was turned on when water entered, a short circuit may occur. Even in the off state, if the battery is not removed, a short circuit is possible. The extent of damage depends on many factors.

The most typical breakdowns in this case:

failure of the motherboard;
failure of connectors and modules;
breakdown of the display, sensors, etc.

Typical mistakes that users make when cleaning their iPhone from water

It is worth highlighting methods that are proposed as a solution to the problem, but at the same time worsen the situation:

immerse in rice - will not work:
drying with a hairdryer can cause even more harm;
dry on a radiator - the same case as with a hairdryer;
use a vacuum cleaner - it will speed up the oxidation process;
turn it on and continue using it.

These methods will only take up valuable time and make the problem worse. If you dropped the device into water, you need to contact a specialist as soon as possible to clean it from moisture and repair damaged parts.

What is the cleaning procedure after water at the service center?

When a drowned iPhone falls into the hands of a specialist, the following happens:

Emergency disassembly.
Condition assessment.
Removing modules and cables.
Cleaning contact tracks.
Removing plaque and oxidation with chemical reagents and a special brush.
Cleaning in an ultrasonic bath.
Drying.
Re-cleaning.
Replacement of unusable parts.
Performance testing.

Why should you immediately turn to professionals instead of fixing it yourself?

Repairing an iPhone that has been penetrated by liquid is a fairly complex process that requires some skill and equipment. Doing all the work at home is quite problematic. The Total Apple service center technicians will bring your iPhone back to life.

An iPhone is an expensive device that needs to be treated with care. Unfortunately, there are different situations, and one of the most unpleasant is when a smartphone falls into water. However, if you act immediately, you will have a chance to protect it from damage after exposure to moisture.

Starting with the iPhone 7, popular Apple smartphones finally received special protection against moisture. Moreover, the latest devices, such as the iPhone XS and XS Max, have a maximum IP68 standard. This type of protection means that the phone can easily survive immersion in water to a depth of 2 m and for up to 30 minutes. The remaining models are equipped with the IP67 standard, which guarantees protection against splashes and short-term immersion in water.

If you own an iPhone 6S or a younger model, you should carefully protect it from water. However, the job has already been done - the device survived the dive. What to do in such a situation?

Stage 1: Disabling the phone

As soon as the smartphone is removed from the water, you should immediately turn it off to prevent a possible short circuit.

Stage 2: Removing trapped moisture

After the phone has been in water, you should get rid of the liquid that got under the case. To do this, place the iPhone on your palm in a vertical position and, using small patting movements, try to shake out any remaining moisture.

Stage 3: Completely dry the smartphone

When most of the liquid has been removed, the phone should be completely dried. To do this, leave it in a dry and well-ventilated place. To speed up drying, you can use a hair dryer (however, do not use hot air).

Some users, from their own experience, advise putting the phone overnight in a container with rice or cat litter - they have good absorbent properties, allowing you to dry the iPhone much better.

Step 4: Checking Moisture Indicators

All iPhone models are equipped with special indicators of moisture penetration - based on them, you can conclude how serious the immersion was. The location of this indicator depends on the smartphone model:

iPhone 2G– located in the headphone jack;
iPhone 3, 3GS, 4, 4S– in the connector for connecting the charger;
iPhone 5 and older models- in the SIM card slot.

For example, if you have an iPhone 6, remove the SIM card tray from the phone and look at the connector: you will be able to see a small indicator, which should normally be white or gray. If it is red, this indicates moisture has entered the device.

Step 5: Turn on the device

As soon as you wait until the smartphone is completely dry, try turning it on and checking its functionality. Externally, no streaks should be visible on the screen.

Next, turn on the music - if the sound is dull, you can try using special applications to clean the speakers using certain frequencies (Sonic is one such tool).

Launch the Sonic app. The screen will display the current frequency. To increase or decrease it, swipe your finger up or down on the screen, respectively.
Set the speaker volume to maximum and press the button "Play". Experiment with different frequencies that can “knock” all the moisture out of your phone as quickly as possible.

Step 6: Contacting the service center

Even if outwardly the iPhone works as before, moisture has already entered it, which means it can slowly but surely kill the phone by covering the internal elements with corrosion. As a result of such exposure, it is almost impossible to predict “death” - for some, the gadget will stop turning on in a month, while for others it may work for another year.

Try not to put off going to the service center - competent specialists will help you disassemble the device, get rid of any remaining moisture that may not have dried out, and also treat the “insides” with an anti-corrosion compound.

What not to do

Do not dry iPhone near heat sources, such as a radiator;
Do not insert foreign objects, cotton swabs, pieces of paper, etc. into the phone connectors;
Do not charge an undried smartphone.

If it so happens that the iPhone could not be protected from water, do not panic, immediately take actions to avoid its failure.