You’ve probably heard the popular myth that putting a wet iPhone in a bag of rice is a good idea. But the official line is quite the opposite, with a support document from Apple debunking the theory for good.
Sure, we’ve known this for a while. But with so many anecdotes of the rice trick “working” out there, it’s nice to have Apple weigh in with an official take. The company warns that submerging a wet iPhone in rice “could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone.” It also warns against using compressed air, hair driers, or “foreign objects” to clear water from the charging port.
What to do with a wet device
Instead, says Apple, you should do the following:
1. Tap your iPhone gently against your hand with the connector facing down to remove excess liquid. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow.
2. After at least 30 minutes, try charging with a Lightning or USB-C cable or connecting an accessory.
3. If you see the alert again, there is still liquid in the connector or under the pins of your cable. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow for up to a day. You can try again to charge or connect an accessory throughout this period. It might take up to 24 hours to fully dry.
4. If your phone has dried out but still isn’t charging, unplug the cable from the adapter and unplug the adapter from the wall (if possible) and then connect them again.
iPhones have been waterproof to some degree for several years now, so concerns about splash damage are almost nonexistent these days. But it remains a bad idea to take your device swimming or drop it in the sink, despite the many survival stories.
More on waterproofing
If you’re curious to understand just how splash-safe your specific model is, and learn the best practices if it does take an accidental dunk, read our deep dive on waterproofing for everything you’d ever want to know on the subject. Then you can impress your friends by knowing what IP68 protection really means.