If you drop your smartphone in a sink, toilet, or any water, it can quickly become water-submerged and start acting weird. A lot of people say to put the phone in uncooked rice, but phone repair experts don’t really recommend that because it doesn’t dry the phone properly. Phone repair specialists suggest turning the phone off right away, not charging it, and using safe, expert-approved methods to dry it out. If you act fast and follow the right steps, there’s a good chance you can save your water-damaged smartphone.
9 Easy Steps to Fix a Water-Damaged Phone
Accidentally dropping your phone in water can be stressful, but acting quickly and calmly can help minimize damage. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do immediately after your phone gets wet.
STEP 1: Take It Out Immediately
-Immediately removing the phone from the water is necessary to prevent moisture from spreading in sensitive parts.

STEP 2: Turn It Off
Power off the device right away, as Water’s electricity-conducting ability can increase the risk of a short circuit.

STEP 3: Remove SIM and SD Cards
Unplug the phone completely, i.e., remove its case, take out the SIM card, and SD card to prevent data loss and rust on sensitive parts.

STEP 4: Wipe the Surface Dry
Wipe the Phone (Front, back, and buttons) with a soft, lint-free cotton from all sides just to make it dry without any scratches. It helps to remove all visible water from the exterior and make it ready for further actions. Paying close attention to the charging port and speakers, as their dryness and cleanliness are our first concern.

Step 5: Shake the Phone:
You can gently shake the phone, with the speaker facing downward. It may help to turn out the water droplets from the speaker by gravity. Put a dry, clean cotton under the phone during this process, as it may accidentally fall and cause a big loss.

Step 6: Using a soft-bristle brush
Take a soft-bristle brush and gently brush the phone speaker grill to remove trapped moisture in the pores of the grill. Don’t apply excessive pressure as it is made up of sensitive material.

Step 7: Removing Moisture with sound waves
Specific sound waves are passed from the speaker, causing the speaker’s diaphragm to vibrate and forcing moisture to escape from the speaker. It causes:
- Break the surface tension of water
- Continuous vibration pushes out water through grills

Step 8: Use Silica Gel to Dry the Phone
Place the phone and the packets of silica gel in a container and make it air-tight to allow the silica gel to absorb moisture for at least 24–48 hours.

Step 9: Leave Your Phone in the Open Air
Place your phone in a ventilated area for moisture drying purposes, to make contact between the phone and the air.

What to Avoid
How does water get into your phone’s speakers?
Smartphones are widely used today. Because they are lightweight and portable, people carry them everywhere. Here is the list of some common places where humidity enters the speaker.
Rainy Outdoors:
Direct exposure to water without any barrier is involved in this condition. Streets, open markets, or walking in the rain can cause falling water droplets to directly on the speaker grill.
Bathrooms & Shower Areas
Bathrooms are high-moisture areas, making it easy for steam to enter the speaker.
Beach
The surroundings of the sea are usually full of wetness due to sea breeze and salty air. Humidity can easily reach the speaker if the phone is placed on sand and used near the boundary of sea.
Gyms & Workout Areas
Workout done by keeping the smartphone and any other device in clothes can cause water to enter the speaker, as our body releases sweat and heat during any physical activity, which creates high moisture in clothes.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you have tried the sound-based tool or other cleaning methods but still have not been successful in removing water completely, then it’s time to seek professional help.
- Sound gets super low for no reason
- Audio feels cloudy or muffled
- Non-responsive buttons or screen
- Battery is draining fast
- Screen dimming
Best Waterproof Accessories for Your Phone
Prevention is always better than repair. Especially when it comes to water damage, there are a lot of waterproof phone accessories that can protect your phone against heavy moisture. Here are some options that you can avail to stop phone water damage in the future.
Phone Pouches:
Transparent, sealable bags that are usually made of durable plastic material have secure features against water, dust, and sand.
Waterproof cases :
These are a smart investment to keep your phone fully secure. Unlike standard phone pouches, it offers full-body protection. It not only covers the sides and back of the phone but also provides full protection to sensitive slots, buttons, and screen against humidity and dust.
Screen Protectors:
Screen protectors are now available with hydrophobic coating, having properties to repel water and humidity. It can help to keep your screen dry, clear, and protected against water.
Conclusion:
Dropping your phone in water is stressful, but it’s not the end if you act fast. Skipping bad advice like the rice method and following the right steps can really help save your phone. If things still don’t feel right, getting professional help is the smart move. And going forward, using waterproof accessories can save you a lot of trouble.

