What to Do if You Dropped Your Phone in Water (or Toilet!)

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Protect Your Bubble does not guarantee any steps detailed below will fix your device(s). Any steps followed are done so at your own risk, Protect Your Bubble is not liable for any damages arising from any action or decision taken from reading this content. Damage or breakdown occurring before the policy start date is not covered.

 

How to fix a phone with water damage

Image of phone with colourful icons submerged in water

If your phone has sustained water damage, it may be possible to save it, provided you act swiftly. 

 
For the best chance of reviving your water-logged mobile phone, you could try these quick and easy steps: 
 

Get the phone out of the water ASAP. The quicker you retrieve the device, the less time the water has to permeate the sensitive components in your phone, which should mean less damage. 

 
Switch off the device. If the device is on, water can short-circuit and even break the battery, so turn it off as soon as it's recovered. 
 
Remove any charger cables and headphone wires. Drying your phone is easier when access points like headphone jacks and charging ports are clear. Unplugging these lets air circulate and water escape more easily. 
 
Remove the SIM card. As well as increasing air circulation around the device, the SIM card can also be damaged by water. Although it's not a costly replacement, waiting for delivery is an extra inconvenience. 
 
Next, try to dry the phone as best you can. You can do this in a few ways, but different phone models may have specific recommendations from their manufacturers. Before using any solution or method, consult your phone's manual or the manufacturer's website. 

Some people have seen success trying the below methods: 
 
Dry rice in a zip-lock bag. The increase in temperature and low humidity help speed up the evaporation of any water still in the phone. The absorbent property of rice also draws out excess water from inside the phone. 
 
The hairdryer treatment – Anything that raises the temperature of the surrounding air speeds up the evaporation of water inside the device. The advantage of a hairdryer is it can be manoeuvred around the phone's ports and openings. Be careful not to overheat the phone, keep to a low heat setting.
 
Silica Gel. If you have any silica gel sachets to hand, the little bag of salts you find keeping products fresh in shoe boxes and other packaging, place them alongside the phone in an air-tight container to absorb moisture. 
 
Place under a desk lamp. Similarly to using a hairdryer, the heat from a table light speeds up evaporation without further damaging delicate components. 
 

What to do if you drop your phone in a toilet

image of a silver phone submerged in water

As unappealing as it may sound, don some gloves to retrieve the phone straight away to limit water exposure and damage. 

 
Once you've removed it from the water, switch it off and remove the SIM card before drying the internal components. 
 

Is there such a thing as a waterproof phone?

Phone models have varying degrees of water resistance, with a handful being waterproof, which is shown through a unique rating system. For example, phones rated IP68 can be submerged up to a depth of 3ft for up to 30 minutes. 
 
Which phones are waterproof?  
 
Some examples of waterproof phones include: 
 
Xiaomi 12S Ultra 
 
Sony Xperia 1 IV 
 
OnePlus 10 Pro 
 
Google Pixel 7 series 
 
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 
 
iPhones 11, 12, 13 and 14 
 
If you don’t see your device listed here and are interested in protecting it from accidental water damage, see our range of coverage options, and help spread the cost of a possible bill for repair costs or a replacement handset. 
 

What is the difference between waterproof and water-resistant?

image of a mobile phone under water
Contrary to the claims made by many phone manufacturers, most modern phones are not waterproof but water-resistant. 
 
If a device is waterproof, there is zero chance of water damaging the body of the phone or the electronics, even if the device is submerged for a sustained period. 
 
Water-resistant devices can only withstand so much time submerged under water or a certain amount of water pressure before the device becomes damaged and likely breaks. 
 
Many phones have a maximum depth and time submerged, so refer to the manual to find your phone’s exact water resistance level. 
 

How to protect your phone in the future  

 
If you're prone to losing or breaking your precious devices, for future mishaps you might want to consider a mobile phone insurance plan that covers loss, theft or damage*.
 

Paying a monthly fee could protect you against the costs associated with repairing or replacing a damaged, stolen or lost device all in one hit. Check out Protect Your Bubble to see if the policy suits your needs and requirements.

* Loss cover optional. Underwriter Assurant General Insurance Limited. Gadget age restrictions, T&Cs and excesses apply. Customer UK 18+. 

Protect Your Bubble does not guarantee any steps detailed in this guide or the FAQs below will fix your device(s). Any steps followed are done so at your own risk, Protect Your Bubble is not liable for any damages arising from any action or decision taken from reading this content. Damage or breakdown occurring before the policy start date is not covered.

FAQ's
It is possible but there's no guarantee. A phone may survive being dropped in the toilet – provided you act quickly. 
 
Take the phone out as soon as possible, remove any wired earphones or chargers from the ports, remove the SIM card, and attempt to dry it. You can do this in a few ways, but different phone models may have specific recommendations from their manufacturers. Before using any solution or method, consult your phone's manual or the manufacturer's website. 

Some people have seen success using a hairdryer on low heat, rice or silica gel sachets. 

 

If you've dropped your phone in water, let it sit in rice – or another suitable absorbent material – for at least 24 hours. 
 
This not only gives the water inside the device enough time to evaporate, but it ensures no water runs around the device and causes further damage.

Different phone models may have specific recommendations from their manufacturers. Before using any solution or method, consult your phone's manual or the manufacturer's website. 
If you have no dry rice to hand, there are alternative solutions to drying water-damaged phones that might produce a similar effect.
 

Alternatives to rice for drying phones include: 

  • Other types of food – Couscous pearls, oatmeal, and cat litter also work as suitable alternatives as they share the similar absorbent properties of rice. 
  • Drying under a desk light 
  • Placing in an airing cupboard or using a hairdryer on low heat

Different phone models may have specific recommendations from their manufacturers. Before using any solution or method, consult your phone's manual or the manufacturer's website. 

Many factors can affect how long it takes for water to damage a phone. For example, how long it was left submerged before it was retrieved and how the user handled the device immediately after. 

Water damage isn't always instantly apparent, either. As the water slowly permeates the contact points in a device, damage can show days, weeks, and even months after exposure – so, even if your device appears to be working fine, consider following our advice for drying water-damaged phones as a precaution.

Yes, it is possible for mobile phones to still work after being dropped in water. To give yourself the best chance of saving your water-damaged phone, immediately switch it off and dry the device using a hairdryer, dry rice or silica gels. Different phone models may have specific recommendations from their manufacturers. Before using any solution or method, consult your phone's manual or the manufacturer's website. 
 
Plus, most modern phones are somewhat water-resistant. For example, those with appropriate IP68 ratings can be submerged underwater at a depth of 2-4ft for around 30 minutes. However, always double-check that your device is water-resistant, or you could run into costly repair charges. 
 
Phones exposed to sustained water exposure may be damaged beyond repair. If you already have an insurance policy, refer to your phone insurance policy for details on how to claim against the water-damaged device.  Damage or breakdown occurring before the policy start date is not covered.

 

Getting water out of a phone speaker is similar to getting water out of any other part of the phone. Leave the device in a zip lock bag filled with dry rice in an airing cupboard or use a hairdryer to help evaporate the moisture inside the speakers. 

For minor water exposure – like spillages – it may be possible to remove the water using a water ejector app. Apps like FixMySpeakers get the speakers to play soundwaves in a rhythm designed to help eject water. 

To get water out of your phone’s charging port, remove all plugged-in items like chargers and wired headphones and take out the SIM card to prevent further damage. 

Drain the charging port by standing the phone upright and tapping the top of the device gently to remove any fluid inside. 

Many modern phones – including iPhone and Android models – have water warning sensors in the charger port. If this first step doesn't work, leave the phone in a safe place to dry. This can take up to 24 hours to dry, so be patient.