Whether it fell in the toilet, pool, ocean, or sink -- this guide walks you through exactly what to do to save your phone and its speakers. Updated for 2026.
Download Water Eject -- Free AppWhat you do in the first minute after your phone drops in water determines whether it survives. Follow these steps immediately -- do not skip any.
Retrieve the phone immediately. Every second submerged increases damage. Do not worry about drying your hands first.
Power it OFF. Press and hold the side button + volume button, then slide to power off. Electricity + water = short circuits.
Do NOT plug it in or charge it. Do not connect any cables. Do not press the home button repeatedly. Minimize all electrical activity.
Remove the case and SIM tray. Water gets trapped under cases and around the SIM card slot. Remove them to allow drainage.
Gently shake water out. With the charging port facing down, gently tap the phone against your palm to expel visible water droplets.
After the initial emergency response, follow this complete recovery process to maximize your chances of saving your phone.
Use a soft, lint-free cloth to absorb all visible water from the phone's surface. Pay extra attention to the speaker grilles, charging port, and button crevices.
Remove the case, screen protector (if peeling), SIM tray, and any connected cables or adapters. Water hides in every crevice.
Place the phone with the charging port and speakers facing downward on a dry cloth. Gravity will help drain trapped water naturally.
Use the Water Eject app to play specific sound frequencies that physically push water out of the speaker grilles. This is the same technology Apple uses in the Apple Watch. Run it 3-5 times for best results.
Place the phone in a dry, well-ventilated area at room temperature. A gentle fan can help but is not required. Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources.
Contrary to popular belief, rice does not effectively dry phones. It can introduce starch dust and debris into your ports, making damage worse. Apple officially advises against it.
Do not use a hair dryer, oven, microwave, or radiator. Excessive heat warps internal components, melts adhesives, and can permanently damage the battery.
Resist the urge to turn on your phone early. Internal moisture needs time to evaporate completely. Powering on too soon risks short-circuiting components.
After drying, power on and play music at moderate volume. If speakers sound muffled, run the Water Eject app again to clear any remaining moisture.
Watch for signs of ongoing damage: screen flickering, battery draining fast, overheating, or intermittent functionality. These indicate internal water damage that may need professional repair.
Different water sources present different risks. Here is how to handle the most common situations where phones get wet.
The most common scenario. Retrieve immediately, power off, and sanitize the exterior with isopropyl alcohol wipes after drying. Toilet water contains bacteria but is generally low-mineral, meaning less corrosion risk than saltwater.
Medium RiskChlorinated pool water is corrosive to metal components. After retrieval, rinse briefly with clean fresh water to remove chlorine residue, then follow the standard drying process. Act within the first hour.
Medium RiskSaltwater is the most damaging liquid for electronics. Salt accelerates corrosion dramatically. Rinse the phone thoroughly with fresh water immediately after retrieval, then begin the drying process. Time is critical.
High RiskRain exposure is usually minor -- most modern phones can handle light rain. Wipe dry immediately, check speaker clarity, and run water eject if sound is muffled. Generally the lowest risk scenario.
Low RiskExtended submersion with detergent and agitation is severe. The detergent can penetrate seals more easily than plain water. After retrieval, rinse with distilled water, do not power on, and consider professional repair.
High RiskQuick retrieval from a sink usually means minimal damage. Soapy water can leave residue in ports. Rinse with clean water, dry thoroughly, and use water eject for the speakers. Recovery rate is high with fast action.
Low RiskPutting your wet phone in rice is the most widespread piece of bad advice on the internet. Here is why you should never do it.
Rice absorbs moisture from the air at roughly the same rate as an empty room. A 2014 study by Gazelle tested multiple drying agents and found rice performed no better than simply leaving a phone out in open air. In 2024, Apple officially warned users not to put iPhones in rice.
Instead, use proven methods: sound-frequency water ejection, silica gel packets, or proper air drying. Learn more about water damage myths vs facts.
Water trapped in speaker grilles causes muffled, distorted, or completely silent audio. Water eject technology uses precisely calibrated sound frequencies to physically force water droplets out of the speaker mesh.
The app generates specific low-frequency tones that cause the speaker membrane to vibrate rapidly, pushing trapped water molecules out through the speaker grille. This is the same principle Apple engineered into the Apple Watch's built-in water ejection feature.
Learn more about how water eject technology works.
While many water incidents can be resolved with the steps above, some situations require professional attention. If you notice any of these signs after 48 hours, visit an authorized repair center.
Apple Store and Apple Authorized Service Providers can run diagnostics to assess internal water damage. If you have AppleCare+ with accidental damage coverage, water damage repair costs $99-$149 for most iPhone models.
The best way to deal with water damage is to prevent it in the first place. Here are practical steps to protect your phone.
For beach trips, pool days, or water sports, invest in an IP68-rated waterproof case. They cost $15-$40 and provide genuine submersion protection.
The toilet and bathroom sink are the top two locations for phone water damage. Leave your phone on a shelf or in another room during bathroom use.
Universal waterproof pouches ($8-$15) let you use your phone's touchscreen while keeping it completely sealed. Perfect for kayaking, boating, or beach days.
Make it a habit to check all pockets before starting laundry. This simple step prevents one of the most damaging scenarios -- a full wash cycle.
Know your phone's water resistance limits. IP68 does not mean waterproof. The rating degrades over time as internal seals wear. Read our iPhone water resistance guide.
Have the Water Eject app installed before an emergency. When your phone gets wet, every second counts -- you do not want to be searching the App Store with a wet phone.
Wait at least 24-48 hours before attempting to power on a phone that has been submerged in water. For saltwater or extended submersion, wait a full 48-72 hours. During this time, keep the phone in a dry, ventilated area with the charging port facing down. Use the Water Eject app to clear speakers before the full drying period if you need to briefly power on.
Yes, most modern phones (iPhone 7 and later, Samsung Galaxy S7 and later) have IP67 or IP68 water resistance ratings, meaning they can survive brief submersion. The key factor is how quickly you act. Phones retrieved within seconds and properly dried have a very high survival rate. Extended submersion, saltwater, or chlorinated water significantly reduce chances of recovery.
No. Do not charge your phone until it is completely dry -- at least 24 hours after water exposure. Charging a wet phone can cause short circuits that permanently damage the charging circuitry and battery. If your iPhone displays a "Liquid Detected" warning, do not override it. Wait until the warning clears naturally before connecting any cable.
Yes, absolutely. Water damage is progressive. Even after your phone appears dry and functional, residual moisture can cause corrosion on circuit board connections over days and weeks. This is why phones sometimes fail days or weeks after a water incident. Thorough drying and speaker water ejection in the first few hours significantly reduces long-term corrosion risk.
Water trapped in the speaker grille blocks sound waves from traveling through normally. The fine mesh of the speaker grille uses surface tension to hold water droplets in place, which dampens the speaker membrane's ability to vibrate freely. This is exactly what water eject technology addresses -- it uses specific sound frequencies to overcome that surface tension and push the water out. Most muffled speakers return to normal after 2-3 cycles of water ejection.
Standard Apple and Samsung warranties do not cover water damage, even for water-resistant phones. Apple's standard warranty explicitly excludes "damage caused by liquid." However, AppleCare+ includes accidental damage coverage that covers water damage for a service fee of $99-$149 depending on the model. Your phone has internal liquid contact indicators (LCIs) that turn red when exposed to water, so manufacturers can detect water damage even if the phone appears dry.
Yes, significantly worse. Salt is highly corrosive to electronic components and accelerates oxidation on circuit boards and connectors. If your phone fell in the ocean or any saltwater, rinse it thoroughly with clean freshwater as soon as possible, then follow the standard drying process. Saltwater incidents have a lower recovery rate and a much shorter window for intervention -- ideally within the first 30 minutes.
No. Hair dryers produce heat that can reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), which is hot enough to damage internal adhesives, warp plastic components, and degrade battery cells. The forced air can also push water deeper into the phone rather than removing it. Instead, air dry at room temperature and use water eject technology to remove moisture from speakers. Read more about these common water damage myths.
Detailed instructions for saving water-damaged speakers
IP ratings explained for every iPhone model
The science behind sound-frequency water ejection
Debunking rice, hair dryers, and other myths
Scientific comparison of drying methods
How to clean and maintain phone speakers