San Francisco, CA – Since the advent of cellphones, people have been dropping them in water. Despite the water-resistant technology in today’s iPhones, there are still instances when they become too wet and display a liquid-detection alert on the screen.
For years, many have relied on a simple household remedy to salvage their wet iPhones: a bag of rice. The method is straightforward – placing the phone in a bag of rice, sealing it, and waiting for a day or so. The belief is that the rice will draw out the water from inside the phone before it can cause any internal damage. While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support this method, researchers have long argued that rice may not actually dry the phone faster and could potentially cause further damage, according to an Apple support document from 2024.
In fact, Apple does not recommend using rice to dry out an iPhone, stating that it could make matters worse by allowing small particles of rice to damage the device. Instead, the company advises gently tapping the iPhone to remove excess liquid, leaving it in a dry area with some airflow for at least 30 minutes, and then attempting to charge it with a Lightning or USB-C cable. If the liquid-detection alert persists, the phone should be left to dry for up to 24 hours.
Apple also warns against using external heat sources, compressed air, or inserting foreign objects into the Lightning or USB-C port. Additionally, it is worth noting that newer iPhone models are designed to withstand submersion in water at a maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes, reducing the likelihood of liquid damage.