How to Get Water Out of Your Phone (2026 Guide): 7 Methods That Actually Work

Quick answer: Power the phone off immediately, don’t plug in any cables, gently tap it face-down against your palm to push liquid out of the ports and speakers, then leave it in a dry, well-ventilated spot for 24–48 hours before charging it again. Skip the rice — both Apple and Samsung now advise against it.

Contents

Step 1: Act in the First 60 Seconds Step 2: Get the Trapped Water Out Step 3: Let It Dry — the Right Way Step 4: Turn It Back On and Check for Problems What If It Won’t Turn On?Common Myths, Debunked FAQ How long does it take for water to dry out of a phone?Can I use a hair dryer on a low setting?My phone’s speaker sounds muffled after drying — what now?Does dropping my phone in salt water or a drink change anything?Sources

That’s the short version. Below is the full step-by-step process, what to avoid, and how to tell if your phone actually needs professional repair.

Step 1: Act in the First 60 Seconds

What you do in the first minute matters more than anything you do afterward.

Power it off right away — if the screen is already off, don’t turn it back on to “check.” A phone that’s off can’t short-circuit.
Unplug everything — cable, headphones, any connected accessory. Charging a wet port is one of the fastest ways to fry the logic board.
Take it out of its case — water hides in the gap between a case and the phone body.
Remove the SIM tray — use the ejector pin. This also gives trapped water somewhere to escape from.

Step 2: Get the Trapped Water Out

Once the phone is off and stripped of its case, work on pushing liquid out of the openings rather than absorbing it:

Tap, don’t shake hard. Hold the phone with the charging port facing down and tap it gently against your palm a few times. Vigorous shaking can push water deeper into the device instead of out.
Blot with a lint-free cloth — a microfiber cloth or paper towel works. Focus on the charging port, speaker grilles, and headphone jack (if your phone has one).
Use a can of compressed air if you have one, holding it a few inches away — never point it directly into a port at close range, and never use a vacuum, which can generate static electricity.

Step 3: Let It Dry — the Right Way

This is where most people go wrong.

Skip the rice. This is the most-searched “fix” online, but Apple’s own support guidance no longer recommends it — dust and starch from rice can work their way into the port and cause more damage than the water itself.
Use silica gel packets instead, if you have any (the small packets that come in shoe boxes or electronics packaging). Seal the phone in an airtight container with several packets for 24 hours.
Leave it in a dry, room-temperature space with airflow if you don’t have silica gel — a spot near a fan works well.
Never use a hair dryer, oven, or heat gun. Heat can warp internal components and damage seals.
Wait at least 24–48 hours before trying to power it on or charge it, even if it looks dry. Water hiding inside can still cause a short.

Step 4: Turn It Back On and Check for Problems

After the waiting period:

Power the phone on.
If it turns on normally, back up your data immediately (iCloud, Google, or a computer backup) — delayed corrosion can still cause the phone to fail days or weeks later.
Test the speaker by playing audio — muffled sound usually means residual moisture in the speaker mesh, and running it again after another dry-out period often clears it.
Check the camera for foggy or blurry photos, which can mean moisture got trapped behind the lens.
Test the touchscreen across every corner for unresponsive spots.

What If It Won’t Turn On?

If the phone stays dead after a full 48-hour dry-out, that usually points to a short circuit or corroded component rather than a battery drain. At that point, further attempts to charge or force it on can cause permanent damage. The realistic options are a professional repair shop that handles liquid damage, or — if the phone is older — checking whether repair costs make sense against the price of a replacement. Liquid damage isn’t covered under Apple’s or Samsung’s standard warranty, so get a repair quote before committing.

Common Myths, Debunked

“My phone is water-resistant, so it’s fine.” Water resistance (IP67/IP68 ratings) means a phone can survive brief, limited exposure under lab conditions — it’s not the same as waterproof, and that resistance weakens over time as seals wear down.

“Rice will dry it out overnight.” Rice absorbs surface moisture from the air around it, but it can’t reach water trapped between internal components, and it isn’t fast enough to beat corrosion. Both Apple and Samsung now explicitly advise against it.

“If it turns on right away, it’s totally fine.” Not necessarily. Corrosion can develop slowly from mineral deposits left behind by the water, sometimes causing problems days or weeks after the phone seemed to recover. That’s why backing up your data immediately — even after a successful restart — matters.

FAQ

How long does it take for water to dry out of a phone?

Most guidance points to 24–48 hours minimum with proper airflow or a desiccant like silica gel. Don’t rush this step.

Can I use a hair dryer on a low setting?

No — even low heat settings can warp internal seals and components. Airflow at room temperature is safer.

My phone’s speaker sounds muffled after drying — what now?

This is usually leftover moisture in the speaker mesh. Playing audio at a moderate volume for a few minutes can help vibrate residual water out; if it persists after another dry-out cycle, check out our full guide on fixing a muffled phone speaker for step-by-step sound-frequency methods.

Does dropping my phone in salt water or a drink change anything?

Yes. If the liquid wasn’t plain water, both Apple and Samsung recommend briefly rinsing the affected area with still (not running) clean water first, to remove sugar, salt, or other residue before drying — since dried residue can cause corrosion even after the phone looks dry.

Sources

Last updated: September 2026