Got A Wet iPhone? Stay Away From Rice: Here’s What Apple Recommends

This is one of the cases where people often believe what they see on social media platforms. While scrolling through reels or Shorts, you must have encountered those viral videos where people put their smartphones into a bag or container of rice, after dropping it in the sink or a bucket of water. A few moments later, the phone starts working again. But does this method work? Here’s what one of the most popular smartphone brands in the world says about it. 

What Should You Do If You See A Liquid Detection Alert On Your iPhone?

If you see the “Charging Not Available” or “Liquid Detected In USB-C/Lightning Connector” errors, you should first disconnect the charging cable immediately. Both errors mean that the phone has detected liquid either in the connector or the charging port, which could corrode the internal components, leading to permanent damage. Hence, after disconnecting your iPhone, you should ensure that it is completely dry before you plug it back again. 

1. Tap your iPhone gently against your hand with the connector facing down. This should remove any excessive liquid in the port.
2. Leave your Phone in a dry area with some airflow.
3. After 30 minutes, try charging with a USB-C or a Lightning connector.
4. If you see the error again, leave the phone for some more time. Apple mentions that it could take up to 24 hours for the phone to dry completely.
5. If the phone still isn’t charging, unplug the cable from the adapter. Then unplug the adapter from the wall and connect to a different power outlet.

Things Apple Specifically Advices Against 

In the update support document, Apple advises users not to dry their iPhone using an external heat source, such as a hair blower. Further, users shouldn’t insert a cotton swab or a paper towel in the connector, as it could damage the internal components. Last but not least, Apple states that users should not leave their iPhones in a bag of rice. “Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone,” mentions the support document. 

Even though rice has some absorption ability, a Brightside.me report mentions that it can’t suck out water fast enough for the method to be effective. Second, if the minute rice particles enter through the crevices of your iPhone, the starch inside them could trap moisture inside your iPhone, accelerating corrosion. Last but not least, the particles can get stuck in the USB-C or the Lighting port, making things even more difficult.

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