Don't Panic! Apple's Official Guide to Recovering Your Waterlogged iPhone

Does drying a phone in rice work? According to Apple, this should be avoided.

We've all been there: that heart-stopping moment your beloved iPhone makes an unexpected plunge into the water. Before you reach for the rice bag (spoiler alert: it's not the best solution!), take a deep breath and follow Apple's official recommendations to maximize your chances of reviving your drowned device.

If your smartphone has fallen into water, you are probably wondering how to react. The truth is that there is no silver bullet. Most high-end smartphones have some degree of water resistance, thanks to their IPXX certification. That said, this protection does not mean that it is recommended to voluntarily submerge them. Let's say it's more of a safety feature, just in case. In reality, this resistance is a bit like insurance: it's good to have it, but it's better not to have to use it.

Apple's advice

An often-mentioned tip for saving a wet electronic device is to place it in a bag of rice. The idea here is to avoid charging it or turning it on immediately after the incident. We've all heard or read about the rice bag trick. Except, no. Even Apple advises against doing this. In an update to their support page, they explain what to do if your smartphone displays the humidity alert. And spoiler: rice is not on the list.

As Apple explains, heating your smartphone with a hairdryer or immersing it in a bag of rice is risky. Heat can destroy your phone from the inside, and rice can leave little bits of dirt that have no place there. BBC Science Focus even did a study on this: rice helps a little with drying, but it can also do more harm than good.

So, what to do? Apple says to gently tap your iPhone to squeeze out as much water as possible, then let it air dry for half an hour. It's less radical than the bag of rice. And above all, don't even think about charging it while it's still wet. Corrosion is your charging port's worst enemy. If you're really in need, try wireless charging, but only if you have no choice.

In any case, this is always good advice to take.