iPhone Falls Into Water: Should You Use Rice to Dry It?

Apple has explained why you shouldn’t put your iPhone into a bowl of rice if it falls into water

If your iPhone falls into water, your first instinct might be to immerse it in a bowl of uncooked rice. Indeed, for years, many websites have suggested this trick because rice has a significant moisture-absorbing capacity. However, according to Apple, putting your iPhone into a bowl of rice is a mistake. This is now stated by the Cupertino-based company on a help page.

As you may already know, recent iPhones (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR or later models) have a feature that detects the presence of liquid in the Lightning or USB-C connector. Apple warns that if liquid is detected, you should not dry the iPhone with a heat source or compressed air, insert an object like a cotton swab, or immerse the device in rice. “Do not put your iPhone in a bag of rice because small particles of this grain could damage your device,” Apple specifically advises.

What to do if liquid is detected by the iPhone

Instead of heating the iPhone or submerging it in rice, Apple recommends tapping the device downwards, with the connector pointing down, to eject the liquid that has entered the connector. Then, wait 30 minutes before trying to use the connector again with a cable or accessory (but without charging).

If, after this first operation, the iPhone still indicates the presence of liquid in the connector, here is the next step, according to Apple: “Leave your iPhone in a dry and well-ventilated place for up to a day. You can try to charge or connect an accessory during this period. Sometimes you may need to wait up to 24 hours for the moisture to dissipate.”

What you should know about the waterproofing of the iPhone

As a reminder, Apple has been offering waterproof iPhones for years, with different levels of certification depending on the model. However, despite these certifications, the Cupertino firm advises its users not to intentionally submerge their smartphones.

“Damage caused by liquids is not covered by the warranty, but consumer protection laws may grant you certain rights,” Apple also notes.

Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that if an iPhone gets wet, you should wait until it is completely dry before charging it or opening the SIM card slot.

Links

• Apple warns: Don’t put your wet iPhone in rice. Do this instead – ZDNET
• Sell old Apple iPhone online – iGotOffer
• Everything About Apple’s Products – The complete guide to all Apple consumer electronic products, including technical specifications, identifiers and other valuable information.

Why You Shouldn’t Put Your iPhone In Rice [Video]

Video uploaded by Apple Explained on September 4, 2021.