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Emergency

Phone got wet? What to do first

Power it off, skip the rice, and dry it with airflow before corrosion spreads.

Direct answer: If your phone gets wet, power it off immediately, remove the case and SIM tray, and let it dry for 24‑48 hours with airflow. Do not put it in rice — it does not absorb fast enough and can clog ports with dust.

Water damage is a race against corrosion. The phone may look fine for a few hours, but moisture under shields and connectors can keep reacting after the outside is dry.

What to do immediately

  1. Power it off. Do not keep checking whether it still works.
  2. Remove the case and SIM tray. Open up any path for trapped moisture to escape.
  3. Hold the charging port downward. Gently tap the device so liquid can drain out.
  4. Pat the outside dry. Use a towel or lint-free cloth. Do not use a hair dryer.
  5. Use airflow for 24–48 hours. A fan and silica packets are better than rice.
Do not charge it. Plugging in a wet phone can turn a recoverable cleaning job into a board-level failure.

When to get help

If the phone shows lines, ghost touches, no display, no charging, speaker problems, or random restarts, get it opened and inspected. The sooner corrosion is cleaned, the better the odds.

Bench note: Salt water, hot tubs, pool water, soda, and coffee are worse than clean water. They leave minerals or sugar behind even after the liquid evaporates.
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