You accidentally dropped your phone in water . Whether it's in the toilet or the pool, it can happen to anyone. This is often the end of the story for many devices, as a short circuit can occur inside. However, trust me! It is possible to remove water from the phone in case it has fallen into the water. So it doesn't have to be the end.
Some smartphones are now completely waterproof. Just think of the Samsung Galaxy S20 . But if you don't have this Samsung, don't panic. Put it in a bowl of rice? Or let it dry on the windowsill? Solutions are available with e-filing .
For this purpose, we have prepared a special step-by-step plan for non-waterproof phones. This way, you will know exactly what to do to limit water damage to your phone.
Do you have a waterproof phone?
Many phones are waterproof, including new iPhones . These phones even have an IP (Ingress Protection) rating , such as IP67 or IP68 . IP stands for International Protection, indicating that it is a global standard. The first number, 6, means that no dust can enter the phone.
So what does the second number mean? The higher the number, the more waterproof a phone is. 7 means a phone is immersion resistant. The phone can therefore stay underwater for a short time. On the other hand, 8 means the phone is waterproof and can stay submerged for a longer period of time. How long and to what depth? This is indicated in the product information of a phone with an IP68 certificate .
However, you must be careful! This does not make your phone suitable for sea salt or pool chlorine. Therefore, it is not a guarantee that you will be able to swim with your phone.
Did you accidentally drop a non-waterproof phone into the water? Or does your phone have an IP- 67/68 certification , but it falls into seawater or pool water? Read below what you need to do to remove as much water from the phone as possible.
Smartphone Dropped in Water: What You Can Do to Remove Water from the Phone
An accident can happen in a small corner, and not all devices are waterproof. So, it's possible that your precious, non-waterproof phone might get submerged in water. In this tip, we'll show you step-by-step what you can do in this situation.
1. Turn off your device as soon as possible
The first thing to do to remove water from your phone is to turn it off as soon as possible. If the battery is removable, remove it. Place the device in a dry place. Also, make sure that any water that has entered the device doesn't move around too much in the case. This may go without saying, but don't charge your device. If water comes into contact with electricity, it will soon destroy it.
2. Disassemble the device
To ensure water causes as little damage as possible, it's important to get the most out of your smartphone. To do this, it's best to disassemble your device as much as possible. In particular, you should consider the manufacturer's intended actions, such as your SIM card slot, battery, and memory card.
Additionally, to remove water from the phone, it is recommended to dry all the individual parts as best as possible with a paper towel. You can also use another type of cloth that absorbs moisture well. Does your device have a unibody casing?
Next, we advise against disassembling it. Trying to open the device too far risks voiding your device's warranty. In some cases, it may also be difficult to reassemble properly.
3. Let the device dry
A common trick to remove water from your phone is to place your device in a container of rice. Rice is said to be effective in drawing out all the moisture from your device. To do this, place the device in an airtight container with rice. Rice is absorbent and will wick moisture away from your phone. Wait 24 to 48 hours to remove your phone from the rice and turn it back on. Find out how to do this in detail in the next section.
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Remove water from the phone - the rice solution
First, turn off the device immediately to begin removing water from the phone using this technique. The faster you do this, the more likely your smartphone will survive. If possible, also remove the battery and SIM card from your mobile phone, as well as the memory card. You can then let these items dry separately. Below are the details about:
- Now dry the device and the removed parts,
- Use paper towels, or a simple towel, to dry the appliance,
- Place everything in a bowl of uncooked rice. Make sure your phone is surrounded by the rice grains.
What's the point? The rice will slowly draw moisture out of the device. If necessary, let the raw rice do its work for 72 hours. Now check if your phone, battery, and SIM card are completely dry. Only then can you put everything back together. Then, try restarting your smartphone. But note that after you've finished removing the water from the phone, you should perform the test before charging it.
Removing water from the phone - what you absolutely cannot do
In order to remove water from your phone, here are the prohibitions:
- Don't attack it with a hairdryer. Because the heat will melt the parts inside the device. And the wind will blow the water even deeper into your phone.
- Avoid placing your smartphone on a heater or stove. A normal warm environment is permitted.
- Do not check if your phone is still working. This can cause a short circuit,
- Don't shake it or move it. This disperses the water in the phone,
- Do not place on the radiator. This can speed up the drying process, but may overheat other rooms,
- Do not charge it. This may cause a short circuit,
- Be careful not to put it in the microwave. It is very dangerous,
- Do not expose it to the sun. This allows the water to dry, but can still cause other parts to overheat.
Conclusion
To help you remove water from your phone, we've just given you some tips. So, you can try them. In case it doesn't work, know that the manufacturer's warranty does not apply if your cell phone falls into water. The only thing to do is to entrust this portable device to a repair service .
To this end, Electronic Filing would be happy to assist you. We are located at 3335 Jean Talon Street East, Montreal, QC, H2A 1W6, Canada. Our offices are open Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
