# iPhone dropped in water, what should I do first?

Get the iPhone out, unplug every cable, and do not put it in rice. Apple's steps are to tap the phone gently with the connector facing down, wipe it with a soft cloth, and leave it somewhere dry with airflow before you charge it with a cable.

By Aivana LLC. Updated 3 November 2026.

## What to do

The first minute is about getting liquid off the phone and keeping a cable out of a wet port. Speaker tricks come later, and only for the grille.

1. **Take it out and power is not the priority.** If it is still on, you can leave it on. Do not plug it into a charger. Unplug it if a cable is already in.
2. **Shake out what you can, gently.** Tap the iPhone against your hand with the Lightning or USB-C connector facing down. Wipe the outside with a soft, lint-free cloth. Take off the case.
3. **Leave it alone in moving air.** A dry room, and optionally a fan of cool air aimed at the connector, is what Apple recommends. Allow at least five hours before a cable charge. If you see the liquid-detection alert, it can take up to 24 hours to clear. Wireless charging is possible once the back is dry.
4. **Only then think about the speaker.** If the speaker sounds full of water after the outside is dry, a short low tone with the grille facing down may help drops in the mesh. It does not dry the logic board.

## What not to do

- Do not put it in rice. Apple's liquid-detection page says rice particles can damage the iPhone.
- Do not use a hair dryer, an oven, or compressed air.
- Do not put cotton, paper, or a toothpick in the port.
- Do not open the phone yourself to 'let it dry.'

If the phone will not turn on after it has had a day to dry, or it overheats, or the port will not charge, stop. Apple says liquid damage is not covered by the warranty, though consumer-law rights may still apply where you live. A repair shop or Apple can tell you whether it is worth fixing.

## Where Speaker Cleaner helps

Speaker Cleaner is relevant only for the speaker grille, after you have started drying the phone. It is not the first step, and it is not a rescue for a phone that was submerged.

## Other ways

### Apple's own steps, and nothing else

For most splashes this is the whole plan: connector down, cloth, airflow, time, no rice.

### A repair if it does not come back

Submersion, salt water, and sugary drinks are harder on a phone than a raindrop. Drying may not be enough.

## Questions

### Should I turn it off?

Apple's wet-iPhone page does not tell you to power it off. It tells you not to charge it with a cable until it is dry. If it is off already, leave it off while it dries.

### My phone is 'water resistant.' Can I ignore this?

No. Apple says water resistance is not permanent and is not a warranty for liquid damage. Resistance also drops after drops and wear.

### The screen is flickering. Is that the speaker?

No. Flicker, a hot phone, or a phone that will not start is beyond a speaker tone. Let it dry, then get it checked if it does not recover.

### How do I know it is dry enough to charge?

Apple's bar for a cable is at least five hours, and longer if the liquid alert returns. There is no app that can certify the port is dry.

## Sources

- Apple Support: If you see a liquid-detection alert. https://support.apple.com/en-us/102643
- Apple Support: If your iPhone gets wet. https://support.apple.com/en-us/108039

## Related guides

- [How do I get water out of my iPhone speaker?](https://aivanaapps.com/apps/speaker-cleaner/guides/get-water-out-of-iphone-speaker/)
- [Why does my speaker sound muffled after getting wet?](https://aivanaapps.com/apps/speaker-cleaner/guides/speaker-muffled-after-water/)
- [What frequency ejects water from a phone speaker?](https://aivanaapps.com/apps/speaker-cleaner/guides/water-eject-frequency/)

App: https://aivanaapps.com/apps/speaker-cleaner/
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6761335499