What to do if you dropped your phone in water or spilled liquid? The phone fell into water and does not turn on - what to do?

If the phone drowns in water, this is not a reason to throw it away. In this article, “Ruformator” will tell you how you can resuscitate a “drowned man.”

One day it is quite possible to be left without your favorite mobile phone due to incidents related to water. It may get wet in the pocket of your jeans or jacket, it may fall out of your hands in a puddle, or you may be generously doused with a dirty shower by a guy passing by in an SUV.

"Ruformator" presents to your attention a translation of the MakeUseOf.com article “How to quickly fix a cell phone or MP3 player damaged by water,” but warns that you use these methods at your own peril and risk.

Act quickly

The minute you discover that your phone has become a submarine, act without delay. Remove removable elements, if any. For example, memory card, SIM card, battery and back cover. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to remove the touch screen - we will tell you how to do this a little later.

Using toilet paper or a thin cloth, wipe the gadget wherever possible; both outside and inside the phone - in general, wherever you can get it with a cloth (addition from Ruformator - cotton swabs will also do). If you don't do this quickly enough, the water may begin to evaporate and damage the internal components.

Theoretically, the phone can already work if it has not been in the water for long. If this is not the case, read on.

Quick drying

Now it's time for your phone to take a trip to the beauty salon. Dry your phone with a hairdryer, paying special attention to the battery compartment - it usually has tiny holes that allow water and air to pass through freely, but a Q-tip does not.

Warning: Do not hold the hair dryer too close to the phone! Maintain enough distance so that you can put your hand on the phone without getting burned. If you bring it closer, you will damage the circuits in the phone. Don't believe me? Bring a piece of paper close enough to the hairdryer and you will see a blurry brown spot. Do you want the same thing to happen with your phone?

If after 20-30 minutes the phone does not work, we will use plan C.

Long drying

This is the most difficult method for the most advanced cases - when the phone took a full bath (for example, falling into the toilet). Place it in the laundry pile or other very dry place in your home. It will also work next to the dryer or boiler. The idea is to keep the phone in a warm and dry place, but not too hot. Putting it on the battery, as is sometimes advised on forums on the Internet, is not worth it under any circumstances - it will not be difficult to damage the phone, which will become very hot from this. Moreover, the water inside will evaporate faster than necessary.

By keeping your phone in a dry and warm place, you allow the water to evaporate slowly and escape through the holes. Be sure to remove the battery and all other removable items.

Let's give some tips on this method:

• Turn the phone over with the back side facing up. This will allow the water to evaporate easier and faster.
• A room temperature of 20 degrees will be ideal.
• Remove everything you can from your phone.

The chances of bringing your phone back to life using these tricks are 75%.

Let's say a few words about phones with touch screens. The risk is that moisture can damage the screen elements. However, many models have tiny screws on the back that will allow you to unclip the screen from the case and dry it. Don't forget - you do this at your own peril and risk!

Despite manufacturers' assurances that it is impossible to revive a phone that has been bathed, it is actually quite easy to do. Many people think that once water gets into the phone, they can throw it away. But a phone is just a collection of circuits and screws along with a screen. The main reason for device failure in the event of drowning is a short circuit. So the chances are always there, and quite high.

Such a misfortune can happen to anyone, and to some it has happened more than once. Someone drops their mobile phone into the sink or toilet, someone washes it with their clothes, and someone simply spills some liquid on it.

The device does not turn on? Don’t rush to get upset, you can try to bring him back to life. We know how you can revive a drowned phone in a few simple steps. Nobody gives guarantees, but why not try?

1. Turn off your phone. This is exactly what needs to be done immediately with the device pulled out of the water. The fact is that the breakdown of the device is not due to the destructive effects of moisture, but to short circuits that appear due to it. Under no circumstances should you shake the phone, as the liquid may penetrate even deeper. If you can remove the battery from the phone, then this should be done as soon as possible. If it is not removable, then you should at least turn off the power. If the device was turned off when it was hit, do not try to turn it on to check. It takes a couple of days to get the phone back to normal, so be prepared to do without this device for a while.

2. Disassembly. Everything that can be superficially unscrewed and unscrewed on the device must be removed. This could be the back cover, SIM card, plugs. But the main thing here is not to overdo it, otherwise the phone will be disassembled down to the small screws, and then you won’t be able to put it back together. It is important to understand that a wet device requires as many holes as possible for drying.

3. Drying. It’s good if you have a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle in the form of a narrow tip on hand. With its help, you can try to remove the maximum amount of moisture from a wet device. It is best to vacuum every accessible hole for at least five minutes. In extreme cases, you can use a hairdryer to dry it. However, it is important to remember that the air stream must be cold, because a warm stream can simply melt the parts. So in this case it is better to use a vacuum cleaner.

4. Drying. This step will require that the affected device dry out. To do this, it is better to put the phone in a container with rice. The secret is simple - this cereal absorbs moisture well. The main thing here is to be patient and leave the device in this condition for at least two days. If after this some traces of moisture remain on the phone (this could be a foggy screen), then you can wait another day. If the device appears to be normal, then you can try to turn it on.

If these steps were completed correctly and in the right sequence, then there is a high probability that the phone will work as if nothing had happened.

Your question:

How to fix a phone that has fallen?

Master's answer:

Mobile phones, which until recently were completely absent from the vast majority of the population, have quickly established themselves as essential items. When we are in a hurry, on the go, taking them out of our pocket or bag, we often drop them. What to do if your phone falls?

Naturally, every fall is different. If we dropped the phone on the rug at home, then most likely nothing bad will happen to the device.

If it falls on the sidewalk, from a height or on the pavement, then the damage can be quite serious. As a rule, more often in such cases the display gets damaged - cracks may appear on the screen, or it may even break. In addition, the case may crack.

Depending on what damage happened to the phone, some parts can be replaced with your own hands by purchasing them at mobile phone stores.

But if these are deep internal deformations, then it would be better to contact a repair shop, because mobile phones are complex electronic devices.

Phones often fall into water or other liquid. Sometimes this liquid becomes toilet water or, even worse, public toilet water. In this case, you need to remove the phone as quickly as possible. After this, you should wipe the case, open the phone and remove the battery. Water affects the elements of the phone.

Next, you need to slowly disassemble the phone as much as possible. If there are impurities in the liquid, you need to rinse each part under running water. Then gently wipe them with a napkin, and prepare the phone for drying.

You should not dry your phone using the usual methods - on a stove or radiator. This type of drying evaporates moisture from the surface, leaving it in narrow, hard-to-reach places. Under no circumstances should a hair dryer be used. It is more likely to drive moisture inside, and this will inevitably lead to metal parts oxidizing.

Drying your phone is best done by drawing moisture out of the parts. For this purpose, ordinary rice is most suitable as an absorbent substance.

We pour it into a hermetically sealed container that is the size of the phone. We place the body and all unscrewed elements of the phone into it. Close the lid tightly and shake. We leave the container with the phone for a couple of days so that the liquid is completely absorbed from the surface of the elements. At the right time, we remove and blow off the parts. Reassemble the phone in reverse order. Insert the battery and turn it on, the phone should work.

It happens that the phone can sometimes fall into the sink or, even worse, into the toilet. A mobile phone can be forgotten in a jeans pocket that has been loaded into the washing machine, and sometimes it can get damaged due to someone's prank, such as being pushed into a swimming pool without warning. Got caught in the rain without an umbrella? Dropped your phone in your pet's bowl? Most likely, you will have to buy a new one, but if you act quickly, there is still a chance to save your mobile phone. This article provides some useful tips on how to revive a wet phone.

Steps

The phone must be removed from the water as soon as possible. The speakerphone ports, the hole for the microphone, charger, USB cable, as well as the gaps between the phone and the plastic charging cover allow water to flow freely in a few seconds. The phone must be removed from the water and turned off immediately, as water that gets into it can cause a short circuit.

If the phone was in the water for only a few seconds, then there may be no consequences. Even if you wash your phone in a washing machine, there is still a chance to save it. Before buying a new phone, it is worth trying all the methods described in this article.

• If your phone falls into water while it is connected to a charger, removing it from the water yourself can be dangerous. This requires the help of a professional who will take the necessary measures and do it safely (most likely, you will need to turn off the electricity to the entire house). Water is an excellent conductor of electricity, so rescuing your phone yourself may result in an electric shock. However, if the phone was not connected to the charger, then you can remove it yourself - this should be done as soon as possible.
• Do not panic. If you remain calm, you will do everything quickly and correctly.

1. Immediately after removing the phone from the water, you need to wipe it with paper towels or a soft cloth, then remove the cover from the phone and remove the battery. This is one of the most important points in saving your phone. Many circuits inside the phone are not affected by moisture unless they are connected to a power source (battery) when they get wet.

   • To find out if your phone has actually been damaged by water, you need to check the indicator in the corner of the battery hole. It looks like a white square or circle, possibly with red lines. If it turns pink, this indicates that the phone is damaged by water.
   • To find out how to remove the battery and find the indicator, it is best to refer to the instructions that came with the phone.

2. Remove the SIM card. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) can be stored on the SIM card. For many, the safety of contacts is much more important than the safety of the phone itself.

   • SIM cards are quite resistant to water damage. However, it is worth removing it and wiping it dry, setting it aside and allowing time to dry until the phone itself is ready for use.

3. You need to turn off all peripheral devices, such as headphones, memory cards, as well as anything that can clog gaps, crevices and cracks in the phone (cases and protective films).

   It is better to use a soft cloth or towel. If at least one If a drop of water remains inside, it may destroy the phone by corroding the circuits or causing a short circuit. You need to wipe off as much water as possible to prevent it from penetrating inside the phone:

   • Gently wipe off any remaining water from the outside. There is no need to shake or turn the phone over to avoid water getting inside it.
   • When using towels - paper or not, you need to make sure that lint or wet paper does not clog small gaps and holes in the phone. Gently dry your phone, removing as much water as possible.
   • Rubbing water with alcohol helps the water evaporate quickly from the surface of the phone.

4. Use a vacuum cleaner. If you have a vacuum cleaner on hand, use it to blow out the water. To remove residual moisture, you need to blow off each part of the phone for 20 minutes.

   • This is the fastest method and can completely dry your phone in just thirty minutes. However, if contact with water was enough long, then this method is unlikely to help.
   • You should not bring your phone too close to the vacuum cleaner hose, otherwise static electricity will form, which is even worse for the phone.

5. Do not use a hair dryer to dry your phone. It may seem surprising, but use a hair dryer Not recommended (even not in the “gentle” mode). Using a hairdryer can blow moisture from the surface further into the phone, this is especially dangerous for electrical components hidden deep inside the phone. And if the air from the hair dryer is too hot, then its jet can melt some parts of the phone.

   • If moisture gets inside the phone, then the chance of corrosion of individual elements and their oxidation increases, especially circuits that contain minerals are at risk. Ultimately, this may cause your phone to malfunction.
   • There is no need to blow air into the phone; on the contrary, a stream of air should blow out the water. From Bernoulli's law it follows that warm, dry air, moving quickly over the phone, reduces the static pressure of the compressed air, which will not allow all the moisture to be blown out of the phone. The main conclusion that follows from this is that you can spend several hours in a row trying to dry your phone with a hairdryer and not achieve the desired result.

6. Use a substance that can draw out moisture. An inexpensive option is to place the phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice overnight. The rice will absorb any remaining moisture.

   • Effectively use products that absorb moisture. One of the best remedies is rice. You need to place the phone in a plastic bag and fill it with rice, then to create an airtight seal, the bag needs to be sealed (you can use a plastic container). Also included in materials that absorb moisture is silicone gel - often found in small bags in a box with new shoes, handbags, and so on. Moreover, those bags that have been stored in boxes with shoes or clothes for some time have probably already exhausted their absorbent properties. The phone should be left in the desiccant container at least overnight.
   • While the phone is drying, you need to turn it over from time to time so that the water that inevitably flows down has a better chance of finding its way out of the phone through all sorts of cracks and holes.

7. Place the phone in a sunny place to allow all openings of the phone to dry completely.

   The phone should be left on absorbent wipes or paper towels, even if it has previously been vacuum-dried or placed in a container of rice. This will help absorb any remaining moisture from the device.

   • It is worth checking the phone, placed in a container with absorbent material, every hour for the first 6 hours. If moisture has collected on the surface, you need to dry it again with paper towels or blow it with a vacuum cleaner.

8. Phone check. After at least 24 hours, make sure that the external appearance of the mobile phone is dry. It's worth checking all the ports, compartments and slots. If your phone looks dry and clean, you can replace the battery and try turning it on. Pay attention to possible strange sounds and noises that accompany the switching process; if there are any, this is a sign that the phone is not functioning properly.

   If the phone looks dry, but does not turn on, then the battery may have run out. If the phone turned on after it was charged, then the battery was probably damaged by water and should be replaced.

   If connecting to the charger also did not help turn on the phone, then you should contact the place where it was purchased. Perhaps specialists can repair it. But there is no need to hide the fact that it was damaged by water - the phone still has indicators that show the cause of the malfunction. The more detailed the circumstances are, the easier it will be for specialists to identify the breakdown and fix it.

   Do not try to disassemble the phone yourself. Leave this to the professionals, as such experiments can lead to short circuits or poisoning from harmful chemicals contained in some elements of the mobile phone.

   • If the phone turns on, but does not work properly, then it is likely that moisture has damaged some elements. Remove all covers, take out the battery, memory cards and SIM card - you may find corrosion. Then it needs to be cleaned off the surface of the affected parts using a clean, dry brush or toothbrush. There are many instructions on YouTube on how to do this correctly.

9. Buy a protective phone case. This case will protect your phone from damage during falls, as well as from water ingress. For touch screen phones, a protective film is a must!

• Moisture is primarily dangerous for the internal circuits of the phone. If you manage to turn off your phone before the water reaches them, then most likely you will be able to save it!
• Sometimes in stores you can find kits designed to resuscitate a wet cell phone. It is better to purchase one in advance so as not to waste time when an emergency occurs.
• If the phone has been damaged by salt water (for example, dropped into the sea or ocean), then it is necessary to wipe it with clean water so that salt crystals at least do not remain in the battery connector.
• Never vacuum a wet object. You may get an electric shock.
• Excessive heat may damage your phone. Most phone instructions warn against leaving the device in a car in the summer or exposing it to any other heat. The most important thing is to dry your phone before charging it. Using a vacuum cleaner, you can dry your phone in just 20 minutes; you need to blow air from all sides of the phone, constantly turning it.
• You can use a vacuum chamber if you can find one, for example in schools and universities. Of course, it is unlikely that everyone can use the training equipment, so arrangements will need to be made first. In such a chamber, water will “boil” even at room temperature after sufficient time has passed, and therefore will evaporate, even if it is not heated. This method will work if you keep the phone in the camera for at least 30 minutes. This way, those parts that are difficult to access will also dry out.
• Since in this case the phone cannot be repaired under warranty, you can try to disassemble it into parts to dry them more efficiently. Buy special screwdrivers and prepare a dry, clean toothbrush. Spray all parts with compressed air spray and/or a vacuum cleaner for a few minutes and then put the phone back together.
• It is very important to continue to dry your phone from time to time, even if it seems that it is already quite dry. This is wrong. Placing your phone in front of a running heater or fan for an extended period of time will help dry it more efficiently. You need to overcome the desire to use your phone to check calls, messages or just play. It should be left alone to dry for several hours.
• Alcohol treatment of the phone is useful - you need to remove all parts (battery, SIM cards, etc.) and put the phone face down in a container with a small amount of alcohol. This won't damage your phone, but will help dry it out and evaporate moisture.
• Another option is to keep the phone at body temperature for several hours. That is... closer to the body.
• Take your phone with you if you plan to fly on an airplane. Very dry interior air is great for drying your phone.
• When using compressed air, direct the jet Not at a right angle, and with some inclination, and aim at the cracks, connectors and gaps. If the phone is cold, then it needs to be warmed up, since cold air can create excess moisture, which condenses on the elements inside. This process must be accompanied by other methods, that is, the use of a vacuum chamber or vacuum cleaner. Follow all instructions on the compressed air container label as the contents may be toxic.
• When placing your phone in rice, you should remove the cover, take out the battery, and put them in the same container, but separately.

Warnings

• Do not expose your phone to prolonged heat if you do not want its individual elements to melt.
• Remember that the manufacturers of most modern cell phones include a water damage indicator that changes color depending on the presence of liquid inside the phone. This helps determine the cause of the phone breakdown, because if the phone does not work due to being in water, They will refuse to repair it under warranty. An exception may be additional insurance for your phone against exposure to water. It is worth noting that damage indicators only change color in very high humidity conditions.
• Do not place your phone (or any other electronic or metal-containing object) in a microwave oven. This will damage not only the phone, but also the microwave.
• Do not heat the battery; it may leak or explode. Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive. If you use a hair dryer, be sure to remove the battery before drying your phone.
• If you use alcohol, be sure to do it outside. However, you should not apply heat in any form to the phone. Do not insert the battery until the smell of alcohol has completely disappeared.
• Even if the phone was dried, the water could have time to damage the internal elements, subjecting them to corrosion. The phone's components are located so compactly inside the phone that even one drop of water is enough to cause a short circuit.
• To dry your phone, you need to disassemble it as much as possible. Cell phones are usually waterproof, so they can be used during light rain. But on the other hand, this means that water, once inside the phone, has little chance of finding its way out of the phone.
• The faster it is removed from the water and turned off, the higher the chance of saving your phone.
• Do not leave your phone wet for a long period of time. Dry it as soon as possible.
• Do not turn on your phone until you are sure it is dry. This may cause a short circuit.

What you will need

• Moisture-absorbent materials (rice or packets of balls found in new shoe boxes, noodle packages, etc.)
• Towels, paper towels
• Vacuum cleaner
• A bowl
• Sealed bag or container (optional)
• Cotton fabric

A lot can be done through carelessness. Mobile devices, which people now almost never part with, are especially at risk. They get dropped often. And it’s good if the phone fell on a soft surface. Even if you fall on the asphalt, there is a chance that nothing bad will happen. But if the device fell into a puddle, or did not even fall, but got wet in some other way, this is already unpleasant. In such a situation, you need to act quickly, without hesitation. Therefore, it is necessary to know the sequence of actions. What to do if water gets into your phone?

What not to do?

There are some strange methods, such as sticking the device in a bag of rice, which will draw out all the moisture. They also advise to completely fill the phone with alcohol. What to do if water gets into your phone? Definitely do not follow such advice. All this is ineffective, and later it will become clear why.

The most dangerous liquids for phones are sea water, water with washing powder or, attention, jam. Yes, they drop it on him too. Liquids that contain alkali, salts, and so on are also dangerous.

Even if the water that gets into the phone is distilled and does not allow electric current to pass through, the debris that is sure to be inside every device can lead to unpleasant consequences. What to do if water gets into your phone? Immediate action must be taken immediately. After all, even if you dry the device without disassembling it, then over time all the tracks on the board will still oxidize and collapse. After a month, irreparable problems may begin. A recessed phone will still work, but it won’t last long.

So, what sequence of actions is needed? What to do if water gets into your phone? And you need to do the following:

• Remove the back cover and remove the battery.
• Shake off any visible drops.
• Find a dry rag or towel.
• Remove the housing and remove all liquid inside the device.
• The board must be washed with alcohol.
• Do the same with all other metal parts (this can be done with a brush or in an ultrasonic bath).
• Let the device dry for at least 12 hours.

Detailed description of actions

Do not hesitate for a second to remove the battery! What to do if water gets into your phone? You need to get it out of the water if it falls there, since even a couple of seconds is enough for a significant amount of moisture to get into the holes for headphones and memory cards. It’s even worse if it’s water with washing powder. So housewives should put their phones away while doing laundry. The battery must be removed as quickly as possible, as a short circuit may occur. During the disassembly of the device, the SIM card and storage are removed. All this should be placed on a dry towel.

Disassembling the phone

Many users, of course, will take the recessed device to a service center, but not all technicians do high-quality equipment repairs. Especially if it's a wet phone. Some do only part of the repair, after which the device can work for no more than a month. Therefore, it is better to understand this issue and do everything with your own hands. After all, the user himself will treat his gadget much more carefully than a master who does not care about other people’s property. And with their “help” you can easily and irretrievably lose all valuable information.

First, on the Youtube website you need to find instructions for disassembling exactly the same phone model as the user. The video will show everything: from the type of latches to the number of cables. Touch devices have fewer nodes.

What tools will be needed?

• Set with small screwdrivers, asterisks or hexagons. This depends on the specific model.
• A sharp scalpel, a pick, or some thin plate that can be used to pry off parts of the device body.

Everything needs to be done slowly, very slowly and carefully. It is necessary to carefully disconnect all cables, speakers, etc.

Cleaning from the inside

This process is probably the most painstaking. It is better not to use cotton wool here, because it leaves too much lint. It is better to choose cotton fabric or napkins.

Solvent must not be used under any circumstances! In order to wash the device board, you can take ordinary ethyl alcohol from the first aid kit. After all, he is available.

We need to put the speakers, microphone and display aside for now. Then they can only wipe the contacts. There is no need to wipe the outside of the case with alcohol, as this can leave streaks and stains, which will ruin the appearance of the device. The board itself can be dipped in alcohol. All impurities and oxidations are cleaned from it. If you don’t do this right away and efficiently, then after a while it will be too late and you will need to solder it. If there is one, after cleaning the board with a brush, you can dip it in it.

Alcohol drying

After bathing, the board is wiped dry with alcohol. This must be done extremely carefully. Once the liquid has evaporated, no dissolved substances should be deposited on the parts. Alcohol dries very quickly, but moisture can remain under the microchips.

After all the above operations, you can assemble the phone and try to start it. Everything should work. This should save you nerves and money.

If, after all, the phone does not work, then you can’t do without visiting a service center. The main thing is to choose a good master. Recommendations from other people should help with this.

Water in the sensor

Sometimes it happens that water gets into the phone screen. What to do? In most cases, it needs to be replaced with a new one, since even small droplets are undesirable. The cost of the screen is not very high, and you can find it in specialized stores. You can also ask for repairs there.

If you decide to replace it yourself, you need to do the following:

• Disassemble the device.
• Separate the sensor itself from the screen. If there is a sticky layer, it can be wiped off using a cotton swab soaked in nail polish remover.
• Install a store-bought sensor.

Attention, before you buy it, you need to make sure that the problem is not in the connector or cable, since often the contacts simply deteriorate due to corrosion.

It also happens that water gets into the phone speaker. What to do in this case? There is no choice here: you just need to change it to a new one. The speaker can no longer be restored. What if water gets into the phone's camera? What to do then? It’s fifty-fifty here: either when disassembling and drying, the moisture in it will completely dry out, or the particularly sensitive elements will refuse to work and you will have to take the device to a service center, where, most likely, they will say that the camera needs to be replaced.

These steps will help if your mobile phone falls into water. What to do if this happens? The main thing is not to panic. If everything is done correctly, then within a day there will be no consequences left. But it is best to be careful and make sure that your mobile phone does not end up near sources of moisture.