How Can I Fix My Cell Phone - It Got Wet
January 13th, 2008
Over the past ten years or so, cell phones have become very popular communication devices because of their convenience and portability. However, along with this surge in popularity there have been many incidents of people accidentally dropping their cell phones into various bodies of water or other liquids. If this happens to you and your cell phone gets wet, you may think at first that it is damaged beyond repair and dread the cost and hassle of replacing it. But with some resourceful thinking, in many cases it is possible to save a wet cell phone if you take action quickly enough.
Once a cell phone gets wet, several methods are available for attempting to dry it out and revive it, but there a few things that you should always do first regardless of which method you choose. The most important of these is to immediately get the phone out of the water and remove the battery. This will disconnect the electrical power source, thus preventing any further possibility of short circuit damage and increasing your chances of a successful cell phone resurrection. If you have a SIM card, this should be removed also - you may be able to save your data.
The next step is to get as much water as you can out of the phone and dry off all visible liquid with a cloth or paper towel. If your cell phone has any other easily removable parts besides the sim card, these can be dried separately. Then your main task is to make sure that the internal parts of your phone are completely dry so that you do not cause a short circuit when you reconnect the phone’s power supply. This is the part that will require the most patience and thinking, as there are several methods that people have used to successfully dry out their cell phones. Here are a few that I have come across in my research:
1. Wait it out. Yes, it’s boring and will take a while, but this is probably the safest method overall. Just let the phone sit out in a dry place for at least three days while the water evaporates. A variation on this that might speed up the drying process slightly is to leave the phone on top of a low heat source such as a television or cable box.
2. Put the phone in a bowl of dry rice. Many people have had success with this one, and it makes sense because uncooked rice can absorb a lot of water. For most cell phone models, you won’t have to worry about the rice grains getting inside of the phone. The following video provides a quick one-minute demonstration of how this is done.
3. Instead of the rice, you can use other desiccating materials such as silica sand or even cat litter. Although these things can dry quickly, they may contain granules that are small enough to get inside of the phone. In this case, you can use a covering such as a sock or pantyhose to prevent this.
4. Compressed air cans such as the kind that are useful for dusting off keyboards and other computer peripherals can be used for faster drying. Just make sure that you hold the can straight and not too close to the phone because these pressurized cans can release a very cold liquid that could potentially cause freezing damage.
5. Many people like to use a hair dryer, but it is important to use a low heat setting if possible. If the air is too hot, it could overheat some of the phone’s parts and wind up doing more harm than good.
6. Instead of heating it up, some people like to cool down their cell phones by putting them in the refrigerator. Although this seems counterintuitive, most refrigerators have a dehumidifying effect that will draw moisture out of the phone and speed up the drying process. However, it should not be placed in a freezer because this can damage the liquid crystal display.
7. If your cell phone gets wet while you are far from home but still have a vehicle nearby, you can place the phone on the dashboard and let the sun dry it out. By keeping the vehicle’s doors closed, the greenhouse effect can work in your favor. You might even think that global warming isn’t such a bad thing after all.
8. If your phone was dropped in something other than plain water, such as salt water or another liquid that contains mineral deposits, this can complicate matters because the residue left behind after drying will remain inside the phone and could cause problems later. In these cases, you can use a rinsing solution of distilled water or methyl alcohol to remove the contaminants first before completely drying.
All of these methods will require some patience, but after you’re sure that the phone is completely dry, you can try to activate it with a charger and see if it works. In many cases, you may find that the original battery will not work anymore, but the cost of replacing the battery should be much lower than replacing the whole phone.
If you still cannot fix your wet cell phone after drying it out for a week or more, chances are that it was submerged for too long and sustained too much damage. In these cases, it is possible to still salvage some money out of the deal by trading in your cell phone for recycling. Meanwhile, you can also check out deals where you can get a new phone for free or a relatively low cost. Tracfone is one such company that is supposed to have some possibilities in this area. You can see what they have available by clicking on their banner below:
My friends actually told me about #2 but I didn’t believe them because we were drunk at the time. I would have to put this to the test to find out for sure.
GREAT post!
These are great ideas but what if you are riding on a bike and you have no car and you don’t know it is wet so you don’t take it apart quickly!!!
The best method to dry it out is to use a vacuum. Be patient and try to concentrate the vacuum sucking from every open space. Use your fingers to block the large opening of the vacuum hose end. Spend about 20-30 minutes doing this. This will pull any residual water out and pull air across all the circuit boards for good drying. Place the end of the vacuum right on the key pad and do this for 5 minutes. If you have a desk lamp, place the cell phone under it and place the desk lamp about 6″ above it. Make sure it does not get to hot, just warm. Turn it over a few times and do this for four hours or more. The low heat will help dry out any moisture the vacuum did not dry. Good luck
I dropped mine in a pool and its fine just some of the buttons don’t work. What do I do because I dried it off they just don’t work!
i dropped my cell phone in the toilet. i though about it for like two seconds before getting it out but i did ha.ha. i shaked it, took out the battery,my microship i put it close to the air i used the vaccum of a car wash,the hair dryer,the sun,it worked when i decided to turn it on after i left it like 3 hours in the sun, but it turned off by itself im sad i want my phone to work again what else can i do?
You can use the oven method, just be sure you follow all the steps or you could have a fire.
An open bottle of children’s bubbles tipped over onto my cell phone. The LCD screen was fine for about an hour, then just disappeared. The dialing works fine….I just can’t be certain I’ve dialed the correct number. Called Verizon and the tech said to remove battery and sit the phone in the sun. I tried that for two days then put the battery in. Screen showed up, but only lasted for 20 minutes or so. Tried the hairdryer method with no luck. I will give the rice method a shot. Anyone else experience a bubble spill?
I dropped mine in the toilet right after a buddy of mine got into a lake with hers… I turned around, realized it, grabbed it out, dried it off and used a hair dryer for about an hour
phone works fine oddly enough when I pulled it out of the toilet it was still on and working
oh and it was brand
well i just dropped my phone in juice and i took it out quick then tried to turn it off, so then i dried it off as much as i could then i took the battery out and now i have it under a lamp so hopeful i really hope it works….my screen is just all messed up so n e suggestions??? and NO i have no rice!!!! HELP ME PLEASE!!! I CANT LIVE W/O MY PHONE!!! and i cant afford to get a new one!!! some body please help!!
My friend knocked a glass of water onto my phone yesterday. I dried it off and it seemed to work fine so I thought nothing of it. Now I can answer the phone but can’t hear the person on the other end. It keeps telling me there’s a headset plugged in, but there isn’t!!! Is there any way to save my phone?
just let your phone dry for at least 4 days it does work. use a blow dryer or use the vaccum from a car wash. i tried alot of things and my cell worked again in like 4 days.i tried the rice, i left it outside for the sun to dry it off then i went to the car wash then the blow dryer just wait at least for days.
i drooped mine in the toilet an i went to take it out but it didnt work so i took it apart and when i came home from skool i tried again but still didnt wrk now its in rice so lets see if it wrks
Hi
My girl friend got Samsung E250 in water now the buttons does not work what shal I do, please help me
i dropped my phone in a sink full of water…i took it out took the battery out and dryed it off..but there was water droplets in my screen. it in the rice right now. i really hope the rice works. because i cant afford and new phone and i really need my phone!!i feel lost with out it!! thanks for the tips i really hope the rice works!!
dropped mine in my cup of coffee.. black nothing in it… took it out quickly… dried it off,,, phone brand new lg shine.. ran the hair dryer on it.. took out the battery and chip and wiped it down.. when tried again.. can get calls.. cant look at my mail.. everything is messed up when pushing buttons to various places like compose mail, or address book, cant get to it.. so just took everything apart again and letting it sit for a while hoping it will work again.. :(….miss it..
my buttons dont work!!!! agggg!
and i cant get a new phone. what do i do.
i dropped it in the tooilet and imediantly grabbed it out?
rice did not work
DUDE!! this website REALLY helped!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THanx this website fixed my phone
i dropped my Nokia 6220c in toilet yesterday, took it out straight away, removed battery cover, battery, sim card and memory card, dried it with a towel, left it in the airing cupboard for 20mins, used hairdrier on front and back, left it in airing cupboard over night and it works fine now, before my buttons didnt work but you just have to get the water out of the keypad, also it said that i had headphones in when i didn’t but now it works fine.
my phone was in the washing machine and it went through a whole cycle
Is it too late to save my phone?
my phone fell in the tolilet at skool so wen i came home i took ma fone apart as in took out the sim and battery and now im leavin 2 dry unda the radiator and i am goin 2 use a vacum and put in rice afta buh i jus really hope it works agen..
Yeah my friend let me borrow her phone and i dropped it in the bath and it started vibrating!! it really wrorried me until i found this website. I am trying the fridge one.. hopefully it will work or i will have a a stropyyyyy mate !!!!!!!!!!!1
i left my lg rumor in my pants while getting washed.i took the batteries out and took the vacum and blow dryer to it. i pluged the charger into it it it workked!!!!!! but the lcd is scwered up and when i put back in the battery it started vibrating so i hope it works
ii had my phone in my jeans and my jeans went into the wash and now my phone has water all in the screen!!, i’m drying it out on the radiator, but if that doesn’t work i’ll try the rice thing.
i found out if you dont have rice plain oatmeal works even better i did that to my lg rumor works like a charm again and if u do use oatmeal when u take it out of oatmeal vacum it good so u get out the oatmeal
I just bought my byfriend a LG 160 for his birthday and after only having it for a few days dropped in the toilet i took it out right away and dryed it off after a few mins i relized i should have taken the battery out so i did and dryed it off it turns on but the screen has ” service required” on it and i can’t call anyone. virgin mobile who i got it from doesn’t know how to fix it and i don’t have the reciept anymore if anyone can help me please email me at crystalroberts@live.ca as i really can’t affored to buy a new phone for my boyfriend. thanks
I Dropped my phone in the toilet. i dont know wat to do i have the SAMSUNG SGH-t429. its not working, and i dont wanna buy a new one. Can some one please help me. Email me at [ x1princessx@hotmail.com ] Thanks.
umm I dropped ma fone in da toilet && it took me a while to take it out cuz it qot stuck in da hole. it was vibrating && after 3 minutesz,wen I took it out da screen was white. itsz a samsung messenger frm metropcs. I’m dryinq it rite now on top of da dryer. I need ma fone!! can sumone help me?? jennyc422@yahoo.com
the rice works but not fro my wet screen help me plzzzzz.
Yup….Rice worked a treat but the screen is ruined, everything is dull and grey…HELPPPPPPP !!!
Phone is only 7 days old also !!
My phone got wet a few weeks ago, and the display is working and the phone will place calls, but there is a lot of static. Any chance that will go away w/time or is the phone shot?
Well the city I live in had a flash flood and a few of my friends and I where boogie boarding the currents then I realised that my lg shine was in my pocket…. I took it out and it was still working so I just nwrapped it in a towel… when i got home I took the battery and sim card out and then dryed everything It is now sitting in a bowl of rice… I really can’t afford another one..:(
Yes, bowl of dry rice done the trick, I put it in the airing cupboard and left it
The important part is NOT TO RUSH IT AND DO NOT SWITCH ON until you are 100 % sure all of the water has gone
The screen is fine now, but battery was knackered so it needed a new battery, thats all.
phone in washing machine for an hour….took phone out….sim card took out, battery took out and memory card took out….put the lot in dry rice, after a week there was still water in screen….put lot back in some fresh dry rice….put in airing space (or somewhere nice and warm)…..another week later all water gone, new battery fitted and it now works a treat !
Allow a FULL 2 weeks before trying
hey yesterday at school i dropped my phone in the toilet in gym it was in it for about 2 minutes till one of my brave friends got it out for me i got a towel and dried it off. when i took it home my dad took a hair dryer to it and it turned on and i could do things with it. but the screen was negative then on the bus this morning i was texting then my phone started to flash different things. so i took the battery out and tried to turn it back on but it wont. when i got home i put it under the hair dryer again and tried to turn it back on but it started to flash red on one of the side lights. its a sony Ericsson from at&t and i am going to a feild trip to miami saturday and i NEED my phone to keep in touch in case of emergency can any one help me im trying the rice trick hope it works please help me!!! :\
OHH DEARRRR !!!
You MUST NOT switch it on in ANY circumstances
The rice trick WILL work but you need at least a week and a half, but I think that you may have damaged it by switching it on when it was still wet….It may seem dry to you but believe me it will still be wet….I think you may have shorted out the board.
Now, take out the sim card, battery and memory stick and put them ALL back into the DRY rice and place the rice in a warm place to draw out ALL of the moisture
You will be tempted to put it all back together and try it after a few days…DON’T !!!!
Forget the field trip with it, it won’t be ready, after a week and a half to 2 weeks put it all back together and maybe, just maybe it might work after a charge
Mine worked after a charge but it only works for a few seconds because the battery was ruined beyond repair, so I spent £6 on a new battery and everything is fine now….this was after it was put in a washing machine on full spin for an hour
PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT TURN IT ON AGAIN UNTIL NEXT WEEK !!
i have a samsung t-429
when out of the room my son stuck my phone in a cup of soda. i took it out in under a minute. i dried it off and let it stand, without the batt or sim, now it turns on but the buttons dont work…. WHAT DO I DO?
IF YOU HAVE A GOOD FIX PLEASE SEND IT TO ME AT maxcorson@yahoo.com
Pllllzzzzz help. my phone fell in the toilet yeasterday around 2p.m. i got it out in 2 seconds on falling in. i think i probably screwed it up worse b/c i kept turning it on to c if itd work. i had never dropped it in any water substance b4 so did not know the steps to make sure its completly dry. i took it out took out the battery and sim card and dried it off with a paper towel but and left it out to dry for a while but then put it bac together and turned it on. it wouldnt quit vibrating and my screen was blue. im leaving it in my pocket and hoping itll dry like that since we dont have any rice or litter and im afraid to try the other options. (the phone is an LG but its Very old. not on market anymore). plz any1 help. email me at elizabethcarr7@yahoo.com.
have a facebook and myspace.
please i really need my phone thanks.
i dropped my phone in a bowl of soup and it was too hot to take out so i left it in thwere for about 2minz when i took it out it was black i let it dry but all it does is say samsung and then go black again i am trying the rice trick hope it works please help!!!!! mai phone is the samsung rant
my phone fell in water and everything is working except the screen has gotton a little darker cause of the water. i might use rice
What if I did all of that with have a lid on the thing? I just got a bowl and covered the phone in rice..
also, does wheat rice work too?
I was texting in the shower and my phone screeen got wet so i kept wiping it off and the keyboard got wet so i wiped that off to and then i worked fine until i blew on it with a hairdryer (might just be coincedence) and the 3 button stopped working but thwen it started working again and i was in the middle of texting my bf and it just turned off and i wont turn back on and i love my fone and i have evry1 i know on there and its like 100 contacts plz!!!!!! HELP ME!!! i have anxiety without my beloved fone!!! PS—my fone is the Nokia 5086 plz plz plz help me i would be VERY grateful!!!!!!
my email is kaytee4bs@yahoo.com if u hav any suggestions…
phone fell in water but not completely, it was still on and the screen entirely messed up. i took everything out and dried it and put it back in a few times. the screen is unreadable.
its been on all day, and ive been making calls.
i didnt know to leave it off, i cannot tell my mom
i also cannot afford a new cell.
help?
i dropped my phonee in the toilet and it worked agern but it wos abit damaged on the screan, today i went out in the rain and it got wet again noww it is saying it cant connect to my network i really need to text someone how can i get it working agen ?
I was at a amusment park and then i had my phone in my backpack and i had it there for like an 20 before i noticed my backpack was wet. So i tried turning it on but it didnt work and then the screen had watr inside it. after like 2 hours later my phone vibrated for like 30 seconds and i take out the battery and sim. But it didnt work and it was like that for like 8 hours and i didnt have any of these around? What do i do??
I recently went fishing and i had it on the rocks when i wasnt looking it had fell into the water about 1 metre down onto another rock lucky i could see it i grabbed it but i didnt wash it off with fresh water, i am now trying the rice in a container method hopefull it works out….by the way my phone was not even one month old and it was $600 outright….BLOODY HELL…i would be over the moon if worked…[: it is a hiptop Q700 plz email me if anyone no’s how to fix it at cgk_graf_kreww@hotmail.com
I was drunk last year and jumped in the sea with my nokia n95.
Will the rice method fix my phone despite the 1 year wait?
thanks, please email me at james.hirst.92@hotmail.com
also dry it with blow dryer and put in frezer for 10 min. !!!!!!!!!!
i had my phone in my board shorts pocket and went swimming because i forgot it was with me! so i swam back to my boat and tried to get as much water out of it as possible. i let it sit in the sun and now there is water in my screen! im trying the rice thing now does anyone know how long it could take possibly around less than 10-12 hours?
i have a smasung alias. i dropped it in the pool but they used some type of salt water thing it is weird. i tried to turn it on about ten times i have it rice over night. it seems like its getting better. it acts like its turning on like norrmal then goes black and then repeats again and again. i need my fone. if u can help email me at
sniper94b@yahoo.com
Well i dropped mine in the toilet about a year and a half ago And it hant worked since— it is a nokia 6670 and need to know how to fix it!!!
I accidentally flushed my Samsung Blackjack 2. We had to call a plumber to retrieve it. It was in the water for about 6 hours! We took it apart, dried it as best as we could, then put it in a bowl of rice for 24 hours. It actually still works! Had to use the battery and charger together to get it to come on, but everything is working. Still some water in the camera. Sim card is fine! WOW!
update: june 28th - phone is now completely back to normal, charges fine and camera works perfectly.
I have a Venus phone from Verizon and I was texting some of my friends when I got out of the shower and I didn’t think anything was gonna happen cause I would always do that, but then later on my phone shut down completely. So I dried it out for about two days now and I tried turning my phone back on every now and then today and it worked for a little bit and i could see all of my stuff. Then finally it turned on again on its own and it says “Service Required” i have no idea what i can do to fix it! I told my mom and she didn’t know either and i dont have money for a new phone or battery. All my files are deleted my contacts, videos, pictures everything! I anyone know’s how to fix this problem let me know just email me at samantha_scholting@yahoo.com
Thank you
This helped so much!!!
i dropped my phone in my dog’s water dish on accident. (its an lg chocolate). I immediately took the battery out, and dried it off. I put it in oatmeal for about an hour and a half, then used the vacuum cleaner. after i left it sitting under my desk lamp, i put the battery back in, and it worked the same as ever! I was worried because I had turned it on without it being dry in between the vacuum cleaner and the lamp. but it still worked. =) and its only been a few hours, not a few days.
but thanks so much to all the tips here!
i was going swiming and i forgot to empty out my pokets so my samsung messanger got wet can you please help me i only lasted a week with it the screen got white nothing would show bu a bunch of white i took out the battery and then when i turned it on the got all white and nothing will show