What to do when your iPhone falls into the water?

Did your iPhone fall into the pool or the toilet bowl? Here’s how to tell if it’s been damaged and how to dry it safely.

IPhone 7 to XS are resistant to accidental spills of liquids currents (water, soda, Juice…), indicates the Apple site. These models are in principle able to withstand 30 minutes underwater at a depth of one meter. Nevertheless, this resistance is not permanent and may decrease over time; Apple advises against intentionally submerging your iPhone or subjecting it to a shower or water under pression.

A risk of corrosion of electronic components

Indeed, water and electronics do not mix : the corrosion affects the graphics connectors surrounding the components. The longer it stays in contact with electronic components, the greater the damage. IPhones have Liquid Contact Indicators (LCI) visible from the outside of the device (see here how to locate it). When this indicator turns red, it means that it has been damaged and will therefore need to be repaired. If the indicator is gray, the humidity level has remained acceptable.

In this image, we can see the back of the motherboard which has traces of corrosion at the level of the battery contacts. © iFixit CC by-nc-sa

Never use the phone when it is wet

The objective is then to dry the phone as quickly as possible. It should be avoided at all costs to use it in the meantime, even if it seems to be working normally. Do not try to reload or connect it to an accessory. The first action to take is to turn off the phone or force it to shut down by holding down the power button and the power down button. volume. Then follow the instructions below:

If any liquid other than water has splashed onto iPhone, rinse the affected area with tap water;
wipe the phone with a lint-free cloth (for example a cloth for glasses);
open the support of the SIM card and remove it;
hold the phone at the top and dab it with the Lightning connector facing down to remove as much water as possible;
place the iPhone in a dry, well-ventilated place with a fan directed directly into the Lightning connector;
above all, do not heat the phone (for example with a hair dryer) because the heat is harmful to electronic components. There is also no point in dipping it in rice, as some Internet users recommend: it has absolutely no effectiveness.