One of the most unpleasant situations that the owner of a modern iPhone may encounter is the fall of an expensive device into snow or water. Such a nuisance usually occurs in the autumn-spring period and winter, when people conduct their conversations on the street, not paying attention to cloudy weather. You may accidentally drop your phone into a puddle or snow under your feet. Moisture can also enter the device while talking on a mobile phone in the rain.
Manufacturers of popular “smart phones” try to prevent moisture from entering the device in such situations, so they initially equip the phone with a special waterproof case. “A truly revolutionary invention!” you say. Yes, but, unfortunately, such a leading smartphone manufacturer as Apple has not yet set itself the goal of equipping its devices with such protective cases. This reluctance is explained by “branding”: Apple uses in its digital technology only those modern technologies that have been literally brought to perfection. It is not customary to introduce “raw” innovations.
When an iPhone without a protective case accidentally falls into water, many owners are horrified and simply don’t know what to do.
There are several universal tips that, if they don’t fix it, then at least won’t make the problem even worse.
1. First of all, the mobile phone must be turned off and dried. It will not be possible to remove the battery from a wet iPhone, since its case cannot be disassembled. This type of mobile phone should be left switched off for at least 24 hours.
2. The cover will also need to be removed. You should also check for traces of moisture under the film. If such traces are found, then the film will need to be removed.
3. It is important to immediately wipe the phone with a dry cloth. You can also often find the following recommendations: put a wet iPhone in a bowl with ordinary rice, as this grain has exceptional hygroscopic properties. You will have to be disappointed, since this trick works with old-style mobile phones, in which the case can be disassembled.
4. Only a qualified technician should disassemble the iPhone. Even if the user is familiar with the process of disassembling his smart phone, this should not be done.
5. You cannot use a hair dryer or similar devices to dry your phone., because a stream of warm air, even at a minimum temperature, may not eliminate, but on the contrary, drive moisture even further inside the phone and further aggravate the situation.
6. Various sources often advise removing moisture from the case using a straw or cotton swabs. These are also prohibited techniques: you can accidentally damage the precise mechanism of the iPhone.
Modern technology from Apple or other leading global manufacturers has one not entirely pleasant feature. If water gets inside the iPhone case, namely on its circuit boards, then the owner may not immediately feel the consequences of this unpleasant incident. For example, if the phone fell into water today and after completely drying it works as usual, then after a few weeks the sensor may stop responding, the sound may disappear during a call, etc. Such consequences are always unpleasant for an iPhone owner. Considering this fact, after your phone gets into snow or water, it must be taken to a service center to check the serviceability of all systems, even if everything works fine. The service center employs qualified specialists who know exactly what needs to be done with the device that has undergone the “bathing procedure.”
If the owner brings his phone damaged by moisture to a service center, he must tell the technician exactly what happened to the device (it fell into a puddle, came under a powerful stream of water, was damaged in light rain). After all, each type of exposure to moisture on a mobile phone differs in both the consequences and the type of repair work that must be undertaken to eliminate them. There is no need to hide if the device is wet due to the user’s fault. This fact will not affect the cost of repairs, but will make it easier for the technician to diagnose and fix the problem. A professional will be helped by sensors installed inside every modern iPhone. They react to moisture and greatly simplify the diagnosis of a possible device problem. Thanks to their presence, you can accurately determine where exactly the moisture has gotten inside the device.
In a good service center, technicians will thoroughly dry all the components of your mobile device. If during the diagnostics it was discovered that water had entered important components of the system, the company will offer to carry out the necessary repair work to eliminate possible malfunctions. After the repair, the client will not even notice that his phone has been in contact with water or snow - the device will work like new.
It will not be possible to hide the contact of the device with water or snow, since it can be determined by sensors. If the owner does not plan to sell his Apple mobile phone, then timely and high-quality preventive maintenance of the device after such a “bath” will help avoid possible negative consequences.
Like it or not, many of us have been spending a lot of time surrounded by huge piles of snow these days.
Whether you are building a snowman with your child, playing in the snow, or just going to work, it is almost impossible to avoid contact with snow. You should be especially careful with your mobile phone during this time. If you drop it in a snowdrift, it may never work again. But according to online retailer Mobiles.co.uk, there are several ways to save your gadget if you still can't hold your device with frozen hands.
Act quickly
The longer your phone is immersed in snow and moisture, the more likely it is that you will not be able to restore it.
Immediately pick up the phone, turn it off, and remove the SIM card and battery (if you have one). Wrap the gadget in something soft. Your gloves will do, but a kitchen towel is best.
Dry your phone from the inside
Use a soft towel to gently absorb the water inside the phone. At this point, it is extremely important not to turn or shake the phone to prevent the moisture from spreading further.
Remove any remaining water
If there is a lot of water in your phone, you can use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of it. It is important to keep the vacuum cleaner at a sufficient distance from the phone.
Never use a hair dryer. On the contrary, it will blow water even deeper into the phone.
Look for silica gel
Silica gel is a dried gel formed from supersaturated solutions of silicic acids at pH > 5-6. Solid hydrophilic sorbent.
Remember those small bags that you probably found in shoe or equipment boxes? These are silica gel packets. Look for them.
Silica gel absorbs water well. It can be indispensable in saving your phone. Place your phone in a lunch box with as many silica sachets as you can find and close it.
If you don't have such bags, use rice. Place your phone in a bowl of rice and rotate it every few hours. This needs to be done for at least a day, but the longer you keep the gadget in the rice, the better.
Wait
The worst thing that can happen to a phone that has been exposed to moisture is a short circuit in the battery. Therefore, it is important not to rush to turn it on. The longer you can wait without your phone, the better.
What to do if you dropped your phone in the snow? The main thing is to act quickly updated: May 10, 2019 by: Elena Abdulaeva
The iPhone fell into the snow and the speaker does not work - a typical situation for owners of Apple equipment who like to talk on the street. Unlike Sony, Apple produces high-tech but waterproof gadgets. After liquid penetration, breakdowns occur: phones turn on spontaneously, sound does not work in speakers, stripes appear on screens, and so on.
If the phone falls and moisture gets inside the speakers, you cannot use it as before. If you dropped your iPhone in a puddle or snow, or spilled tea, coffee or juice on it, you must turn off the device and take emergency measures, wait for it to dry completely and prevent corrosion of internal parts:
- microcircuits
- motherboard
- controllers
- modules and others
Do not underestimate the situation if, at first glance, the iPhone fell into a snowdrift without negative consequences. Most users lost sound, had spots on the screen, and had communication problems only after several months had passed since the phone was dropped.
What is the reason for iPhone failure?
If the iPhone is dropped in the snow, the speaker, GPS module or touch screen does not work, it means moisture has gotten inside the device. Water will get onto connectors, microcircuits and boards, cause short circuits and lead to rapid destruction of contacts. The faster you can wipe the snow off your gadget and dry it, the higher the likelihood that the sound and other functions of the iPhone will work as they should.
However, complete drying of the liquid does not guarantee the functionality of the speakers and other parts. The snow melts, the liquid evaporates, but the minerals and salts remain. The sediment inside the iPhone affects electrical conductivity and causes corrosion (rotting) of components, including those responsible for sound. Many Apple users do not have speakers in their iPhones and the sound does not work only because they ignored the advice of professionals.
The smartphone fell into the snow and the sound does not work - what to do?
As soon as your iPhone falls into water or wet snow, you need to immediately turn off the device (if it did not turn off automatically when it fell). When you drop your iPhone, you cannot check:
- is the sound gone or not?
- the screen is working or has gone dark
- The Apple logo will appear or the smartphone will not turn on
Do not turn on a wet gadget - then there is a chance that damage to the speakers and other components will be minimal. If the speakers on your iPhones don't work, repairs won't cost much. And to replace a display module or motherboard damaged by snow, you will have to pay a large sum.
The most reliable way to save internal parts if you drop your iPhone is to promptly take it to an authorized service center or qualified Apple repair technician. If you yourself are carrying an iPhone found in the snow, make sure that the gadget does not accidentally turn on. In this case, you should stop using a towel: the humidity inside the iPhone will increase, and the situation will only get worse.
What to do if your iPhone falls in the snow and the service center is not working, or you decide to go there the next day:
- the most important thing is to turn it off and not turn it on (unfortunately, in iPhones you cannot remove the battery - there is a high probability that the device will begin to work poorly, for example, the sound will disappear)
- remove covers, bumpers and other accessories, remove glass and films from the screen if moisture has gotten there
- wipe the surface from snow and drops of water, dry the connectors with a cotton swab (dirt in the sockets is the main reason why the speakers on iPhones do not work and the sound disappears)
- place the device in a container with raw (in no case cooked) rice - the grain is highly hygroscopic and acts as a silica gel filler
- close the container and leave for 24 hours
- remove the iPhone, remove the stuck grain from the connectors
Don't be under the illusion that the rice removed all the moisture and restored the iPhone. As a rule, the gadget begins to work poorly (the sound disappears, problems arise with the screen) only a few weeks after the iPhone has fallen into the snow. Even if it seems to you that the cause of the breakdown has been eliminated, you need to take the iPhone to a service center or call an experienced technician for diagnostics.
What do experts do if an iPhone falls into water or snow?
When specialists find out that a smartphone has fallen into the snow and is not working, they immediately disassemble the device. All spare parts are blown with compressed air, cleaned with a contact cleaner to remove minerals and salts, and checked for functionality. Damaged elements (speakers, GPS modules, etc.) are replaced with new original Apple components.
- use a hair dryer (the flow of hot air speeds up the drying of the liquid, but you risk damaging parts and transferring moisture to other areas)
- dry the device in direct sunlight, on batteries and heaters
- pour alcohol (if the gadget has fallen into the snow and does not work, alcohol will help remove moisture, but there is a side effect - stains on the screen)
- work independently with iPhones without experience, qualifications, professional tools (suction cup, tweezers, mini-screwdriver)
There may be such a situation: the sound disappeared due to software glitches, and not because the iPhone fell into the snow. Then professionals and iPhone owners themselves can take the following steps: change the volume, restart the device, update the firmware or reset all settings.
Hi all! Unfortunately, the reason for writing this article is far from the saddest - after all, you are unlikely to read this instruction “for the future”, so to speak, most likely, the disaster has already happened and the iPhone fell into the snow or water (which is essentially the same thing). The most important thing is that we urgently need to save him - literally every minute counts! Therefore, we will no longer pull the cat in different places and put it off and get down to the essence. Go!
Now I’ll tell you what you should do to ensure that the device still works and makes you happy, as well as what you should not do under any circumstances (believe my sad experience, this is also very, very important!). And we will start with the last one - with bad advice or what not to do under no circumstances...
So, remember, these actions should not be performed:
- Turn on your iPhone immediately, the sooner this happens the better. Ideally, do this while it is still in the water. We need to know right away whether it will work or not!?
- If it’s turned on, we show it and tell everyone about it - look, my iPhone has been in water and for all intents and purposes, it even works!
- If those around you don’t believe you, throw it into the liquid one more time to be convincing. Let them know that Apple doesn’t produce any nonsense there!
- Doesn't turn on? The battery is dead - urgently connect the charger. The phone and water will evaporate faster.
Why was all this written? For the sake of making it finally clear - after the device gets into water or snow, it must be disable immediately, and under no circumstances should you turn it on, put it on charge, etc. Even for a second to see if it works or not? Believe me, with a high probability it still works and only due to the fact that it is still turned off.
Water and electricity are an excellent “springboard” for the formation of corrosion. Therefore, if the first has already happened, then there is no need to add electricity.
If you don’t have the disassembly skills or the necessary tools, you can run to a workshop (any workshop, fortunately there are plenty of them now, on every corner) and ask them to disassemble it there. They won’t charge a lot of money (for disassembly), and the chances of saving a drowned iPhone will increase many times over. You can leave it at the service center, for an additional fee they will clean it and make it “like new.”
For those who want to dry the iPhone themselves, here are some tips:
- Naturally, remove all covers, bumpers and other accessories. This also applies to films and glass installed on the screen if water gets under them.
- It is not recommended to use a hairdryer; you can easily overdo it, and then not only will the water evaporate, but something may melt. Plus, the air stream will “drive” water throughout the device. Just blot where you get it with regular napkins.
- Dipping it in alcohol is also not a good idea. There may be spots on the screen.
- About the rice. In principle, you can use it as a moisture absorber, but you must remember that it is not omnipotent. And it can only help if the phone has not been completely bathed, but only superficially, and of course, it will not be able to absorb all the liquid in 2 hours. You need to put it in rice for 1-2 days. And yes, this is probably the only option to try to get rid of moisture without disassembling the phone.
- Do not dry in direct sunlight, on a radiator, heaters, etc. It would be a good option to place the disassembled iPhone somewhere in a draft to dry. In a day or two, the device will dry out and you can try to turn it on.
And still know that the most correct decision would be to take it to a service center. Because when using other folk methods, of course there is some benefit, but it does not guarantee a 100% successful outcome. However, this is not guaranteed by the repair shop. It all depends on the extent of the damage.
By the way, you need to remember that even if the iPhone was removed from water and completely cleaned, this does not mean anything.
Such devices, the so-called “drowned ones,” can behave quite unpredictably. That is, it can work for several months (then it will start charging, etc.), or maybe several years. It depends on your luck. In any case, if you dry it properly and avoid the simplest mistakes, the chances of successful restoration increase.
P.S. Before you start taking action, you need to like it. +20% to luck and a successful solution to the problem is guaranteed! :)
There are a lot of situations when our smartphone can come into contact with water. You might get caught in a heavy downpour, knock over a cup of drink onto a nearby smartphone, or even drop your phone into the water while taking a hot bath. Recently, smartphone manufacturers have been trying to introduce water protection into their devices. However, the percentage of such devices is still very small, so our article will be relevant for a long time.
We will tell you what not to do if your smartphone gets wet, as well as several ways to correct the current situation.
1. Remove the smartphone from the water, turn it off and disassemble
As we were taught in life safety lessons, the first step is to get rid of the source of danger. In our case, we immediately take the device out of the water and turn it off. The smartphone has both slots and connectors for headphones/charging, through which water can instantly reach the insides and can cause a short circuit. After you take out the phone, you need to wipe it with a dry towel and also remove the battery. This will completely de-energize the device and reduce the likelihood of a short circuit to zero. We recommend removing the SIM card and memory card along with the battery.
IMPORTANT
Do not turn on your smartphone until you have completed all instructions.
2.Wipe all parts of the device well
After you take out the device, you need to wipe it thoroughly with a dry towel to get rid of all visible moisture. Do not use regular napkins or paper towels. It's no secret that paper napkins not only absorb moisture very well, but also quickly get wet, breaking up into small fibers. These lint will get caught in the holes and crevices of the device and will only make things worse.
Take a rag or cloth towel and wipe the device dry both outside and inside if water does get there. Do not leave a single drop on the surface, because any little thing can cause corrosion and render the device inoperable.
3. Hair dryer or vacuum cleaner?
For most people whose phone has fallen under water, the following situation occurs. They successfully complete the first two points of our article, but then they begin to search for additional solutions, what else can be done for the wet device. The most popular options are a hair dryer and a vacuum cleaner.
REMEMBER! Never use a hair dryer to dry your phone. Contrary to the idea that hot air will quickly dry out all the moisture, you need to understand: the air flow will not only drive the water even deeper, but can also melt some parts.
To speed up the drying process, you can use a vacuum cleaner. When drying, do not hold the hose too close to the smartphone; carry out the procedure for 7-10 minutes.
4. Put the phone in the sun in a box with absorbent or rice
Finally, when all the main steps are completed, you can begin the longest stage. The disassembled phone (we took out the battery, SIM card, flash drive) needs to be placed in a container with an absorbent substance. You've probably seen bags of this substance in shoe boxes.
You can purchase such a substance in the store in advance, in case of such an unforeseen situation. But, if the water ingress takes you by surprise, regular rice may be suitable as a “homemade substitute.” Place the device in the substance for a day and turn it over periodically, allowing water to drain out of all crevices. Only after the day has passed, having made sure that all the water has left the phone, can you try to start it.
If the device does not work, feel free to go to the service center.
5. What not to do
Finally, we would like to list what you absolutely cannot do if your phone falls into water.
- You cannot turn on the device right away. You can turn on the phone only after complete drying, when you have waited enough time for all the moisture to leave the device. Naturally, in a “wet” state, it is strictly forbidden to connect the device to a power source (put it on charge or connect it to a computer).
- Do not disassemble the device into parts. Most likely, you are not an expert, and by taking your smartphone apart (more than taking out the battery), you will only make things worse. The water will get even deeper, and you will break something.
All the best. Take care of yourself and your phones :)
