Dropped Phone in Water? What to Do First

If you dropped your phone in water, lift it out right away, turn it off, rinse it with fresh water if it fell in the sea, a pool or a drink, and wipe it dry. Then leave it in moving air and don’t charge it: Apple says to wait at least 5 hours before using a cable.

This page covers the first minutes and the two days after, with each step taken from Apple, Samsung and Google support pages. For the charging port, speaker and camera one at a time, see the guide to drying each part of a wet phone.

What to do if your phone falls in water

What to do when a phone falls in water depends on speed and on the kind of water. Google’s Pixel instructions are four moves — lift it out, turn it off, dry it with a soft cloth, let it finish drying on a flat surface at room temperature — and Apple and Samsung add the details.

Step 1
Lift it out and unplug it
Water ratings are tested for up to 30 minutes, so get it out fast. Unplug any cable or accessory: Apple says charging or using accessories while wet might damage an iPhone.
Step 2
Turn it off
Google and Samsung both say to power the phone off right away. Apple's iPhone instructions don't mention turning it off either way.
Step 3
Rinse off salt, chlorine or sugar
If it fell in the sea, a pool or a drink, rinse it with tap water. Samsung warns that salts, sugars and chemicals speed up corrosion inside the phone.
Step 4
Wipe it and leave the SIM tray shut
Use a soft, lint-free cloth, such as a lens cloth. Apple says to make sure the phone is dry before opening the SIM tray.
Step 5
Tap out the port
Tap the phone gently against your hand with the charging port facing down. Don't push anything in: Apple names cotton swabs and paper towels.
Step 6
Leave it in moving air
Pick a dry spot with airflow. Apple says a fan blowing cool air into the connector might help; Samsung rules out a hair dryer, an oven and direct sunlight.
Step 7
Don't charge it yet
Apple says to allow at least 5 hours before charging with a cable. A wireless charger is an option only once the phone is completely dry.

The power-off step comes from Google’s advice for a Pixel that falls in water and Samsung’s guide for a wet Galaxy phone, updated in June 2026. The rinse, SIM tray and charging steps are from Apple’s water resistance page for iPhone 7 and later, updated in July 2026.

Can a phone still work after being dropped in water?

A phone can still work after being dropped in water, especially a recent model with an IP68 rating. Apple rates every iPhone from the iPhone 12 onward for a maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes, and Samsung says its IP68 Galaxy phones can withstand 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

Phone	Rating	Lab-tested limit
iPhone 12 through iPhone 17, including 16e, 17e and Air	IP68	6 m, up to 30 minutes
iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max	IP68	4 m, up to 30 minutes
iPhone 11, XS and XS Max	IP68	2 m, up to 30 minutes
iPhone XR, X, 8, 8 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, SE (2nd and 3rd generation)	IP67	1 m, up to 30 minutes
Samsung Galaxy phones rated IP68 (check your model’s user manual)	IP68	1.5 m, up to 30 minutes
Google Pixel	Varies by model	Listed in each phone’s tech specs

A rating is a lab result, not a guarantee. Apple says splash, water and dust resistance are not permanent and might decrease as a result of normal wear, and Google’s advice on preventing water damage to a Pixel starts with avoiding chips or cracks in the body or screen. Apple’s own list of things to avoid includes swimming with an iPhone and exposing it to pressurized or high-velocity water, such as in a shower.

How long it takes a phone to recover from water

A phone that fell in water needs from a few hours to two days before you can rely on it. Apple says to wait at least 5 hours before charging an iPhone with a cable, and up to 24 hours for a wet connector to dry. Samsung recommends at least 24–48 hours of air drying for a waterlogged Galaxy phone.

First hour: leave it alone

Keep it switched off in a dry spot with moving air, as Google and Samsung advise. Google says a Pixel should finish drying on a flat surface at room temperature.

After 5 hours: first cable charge

Apple's minimum wait before charging with a Lightning or USB-C cable. If a liquid-detection alert appears, unplug and try again later: Apple says it might take up to 24 hours to dry fully.

Within a day: check sound, screen and camera

Play a voice note, drag a finger across the whole screen and take a photo with each camera. Apple notes that water in the port might degrade speaker or microphone performance until it completely evaporates.

Day two: decide on service

Samsung advises at least 24–48 hours of air drying for a waterlogged Galaxy phone and an inspection by a professional afterward, because water can stay trapped inside and cause delayed damage.

If the speaker sounds dull at the day-one check, play the tone below with the case off and the grille facing down. It works only on the speaker grille — it won’t dry the charging port, the camera or anything inside the phone.

Check the speaker with a tone

A 165 Hz tone through the phone's own speaker: steady, then pulsing, then steady. Listen for buzzing or a dull, quiet sound.

Volume up to max, case off, speaker facing down.

Using headphones? Turn the volume down before you start.

A tone that sounds clear from start to finish is a good sign for the speaker. If it stays muffled, the online speaker cleaner explains what cleaning with sound can and can’t do, and an iPhone that plays nothing at all needs the checks for an iPhone speaker that stays silent. A liquid alert in the charging port that won’t clear is a separate problem with its own fixes, described in Apple’s liquid-detection alert page.

Water-damaged phone: repair and warranty

A water-damaged phone is often a paid repair, because Apple and Google both exclude liquid damage from their standard warranties. Apple says liquid damage is not covered under the iPhone warranty, but you might have rights under consumer law. Google says damage from accidents or external causes, such as water damage, is not covered by the Pixel warranty.

The Samsung support pages cited here don’t say how Samsung’s warranty treats water damage, so check your Galaxy’s warranty terms or ask a Samsung service center. Whatever the brand, leave opening the phone to a technician: Apple lists disassembling an iPhone, including removing screws, among the things to avoid to prevent liquid damage.

Common questions

Is a phone OK if it was in water for only a second?

A phone pulled out of water within a second or two is far inside the 30-minute limit of its lab rating. Apple tests the iPhone 12 and later at 6 meters, and even the iPhone 7 is rated IP67. Water resistance weakens with normal wear, Apple says, so still wipe the phone, tap out the port and wait before charging.

What pulls moisture out of a phone?

Airflow and time are what pull moisture out of a phone in the manufacturers' instructions. Apple recommends a dry area with some airflow and says a fan blowing cool air into the charging connector might help, and Samsung also suggests a fan. Apple says not to use a bag of rice, heat or compressed air.

What happens if a phone falls in salt water?

A phone that falls in salt water needs a rinse before it dries, because salt left behind speeds up corrosion. Samsung warns that salts, sugars and chemicals accelerate corrosion of internal parts, and Apple says to rinse with tap water after contact with any liquid other than water. After rinsing, dry the phone as usual.

When does a phone that fell in water need repair?

A phone that fell in water needs repair when problems remain after it has fully dried. Apple says a liquid alert that appears every time you connect an Apple cable can mean the iPhone needs service. Samsung recommends having a waterlogged Galaxy phone inspected by a professional, because water can stay trapped inside and cause delayed damage.