Phone Water Damage: What To Do First
Dropped your phone in water? Do these things immediately (and avoid the myths) to give your device the best chance of survival.
Do this right away
Power the phone off and leave it off. Dry the outside, remove any case and SIM tray, and don't press buttons. The sooner it's professionally cleaned, the better the outcome.
Do NOT do these
Don't charge it, don't use a hair dryer, and skip the rice myth — rice doesn't remove corrosion and dust can get stuck in ports. Heat and power are what cause permanent damage.
Why professional cleaning matters
Water leaves behind minerals that corrode the logic board over days. A proper ultrasonic cleaning removes corrosion before it kills components — something rice and drying can't do.
What repair looks like
We open the device, clean the board, replace any damaged parts, and test everything. Water jobs typically take 24–72 hours because of cleaning and drying time.
Frequently asked questions
Is my data safe after water damage?
Often we can recover it, especially if the phone is brought in quickly before corrosion spreads. The sooner, the better.
My phone still works after getting wet — am I fine?
Not necessarily. Corrosion can cause failures days later, so it's worth a diagnostic even if it seems okay now.