Most smartphones are water-resistant nowadays, and maybe yours too. But unfortunately, it doesn’t mean they are immune to water spoilage. Every device comes with the potential risk of water damage, especially when the charging port is wet. Should you get water out of charging port or should you dry charging port? Let’s understand it!
Luckily, most smartphones come with a liquid detection alert. So, even if you don’t know how water entered inside the charging port, you see the flashing alarms. Today we will be talking about the ways you can get the water out of your charging port, but most Safely!
Is It Safe To Charge Your Phone While It’s Wet?
No, it is not good to charge your phone if its wet. It can bring in unintended problems. The pins inside the charging point can be damaged as well as the charging cable. These might cause the conception port and the iPhone accessories to cease function.
In the worst-case scenario, you might get electric shocks while charging a wet device. So, it’s an all bad idea to charge a phone while it’s still wet. If you have already tried charging your wet phone, check its IP rating.
IP Ratings of Android and iPhones: IP rating or ‘Ingress Protection’ measures protection from water and dust particles. It consists of two digits like IP68, IP66, IPX8, etc.
- The first digit represents protection from dust which measures on a scale of 0 to 6. Here, 0 means no protection and 6 means complete dust tightness.
- The second digit stands for protection from water and it’s measured on a scale of 0 to 9. Here, 0 means no protection and 9 means the phone can withstand high-pressure and hot water.
Lets understand the below examples:
IP68: This is a very good rating. The phone is completely dust tight (6) and can withstand being submerged in water up to a certain depth (usually 1-1.5 meters) for a certain amount of time (usually 30 minutes). Both Samsung s22 series and iPhone 13 are IP68 rated.
IP66: This phone is also dust tight (6) but can only withstand powerful water jets, not submersion.
IPX8: This phone is not rated for dust protection (X) but can withstand being submerged in water, similar to an IP68 phone.
In case your phone was just a little wet and you use a cordless charger, you can continue using it. And plug the charger when the port is dry.
How To Get Water Out Of Charging Port On Android & iPhone?
First, we would highly recommend you not to click on that “Emergency Override” button. Hang on, do not panic. Gently tap on your phone and get the excess water out.
Immediate Steps To Remove Water From Charging Port:
- Unplug your phone immediately.
- Wear gloves as you are dealing with electric cables. D
- Do not try to push any sharp object into the charging port as this can mess with the connectivity.
- Hold your phone with the charging port facing downwards and gently shake it to remove excess water.
- Gently wipe the exterior of the charging port to remove surface moisture.
Solutions To Get Liquid Out Of Charging Port:
1. Remove Moisture
The very first thing that you would do is to try to get moisture out of charging port’s surface. To get moisture out of charging port, you can grab a towel but a soft cotton cloth will soak faster.
Gently rub the cloth inwards and soak as much moisture as possible. Do not be harsh as it can damage the port or push more water inside. Wait for half an hour or so to let your phone dry on its own.
2. Let it Evaporate
Believe it or not, the most effective way to dry your phone is to leave it till the moisture evaporates naturally. Usually, the moisture trapped inside the port should evaporate on its own in a few hours. Make sure you keep your device in an upright position where it’s well-ventilated.
3. Use a Wireless Charger
If your phone doesn’t charge with a charging cable despite trying the above-mentioned methods, use a wireless charger. Make sure your phone is dry before you plug it in.
4. Contact Customer Service
If none of the above methods works, and you are sure that the charging port has been damaged, you may try to contact customer service. Android users may visit their official website and then go to the support page. Even better, you can visit a nearby walk-in service centre for immediate support.
If you own an iPhone, visit their website and go to the Apple Support page. You can also try taking your phone to a local service centre if you have failed to try the fixes mentioned above.
How To Dry Charging Port?
- Air drying:
This is the safest method. Place your phone in a well-ventilated area and allow it to air dry completely.
- Rice or silica gel:
While these can absorb moisture, they might not be as effective as air drying. If you use them, ensure your phone is completely dry before charging.
- Avoid using heat:
Do not use hair dryers or ovens as the heat can damage your phone’s internal components.
Other Methods: Myth or Does It Really Work?
There is a lot of quick-fix advice for rescuing a water-damaged phone. When in a panic you might want to try some of these quick-drying methods, but most of them do no good instead can cause more damage to your device.
Let’s bust some of the myths that are popular but do more harm than good.
- Dry in The Sun
Drying your phone out in the sun is commonly believed to be a good fix. But did you know that prolonged exposure to the sun can actually cause permanent damage?
Your phone’s internal components can be severely damaged due to high temperatures. It might overheat the battery and flex the miniature circuit distorting its internal parts causing permanent damage.
Moreover, prolonged exposure to sunlight can damage the screen, crack it, and cause pixelation which ultimately makes the touch-screen non-responsive.
- Dry Rice
Another popular quick-drying fix is putting your phone inside a jar full of rice grains. It’s an old method of removing water from your wet devices and it’s universally accepted.
However, the trick as popular as it sounds can do more damage to your phone. While rice has the ability to soak up moisture, it can also leave fine dust particles inside the USB port causing more problems. Instead, you can try keeping silica gel packs beside.
- Cotton Swab
Pushing a cotton swab inside the port is also a bad idea. Pushing anything inside is a really bad idea. Pushing a cotton swab inside will either take the water further inside or worse it can loosen up the connection points of the port.
- Paper Towel
Inserting a paper towel into a wet port will also make the paper towel wet and it can get stuck inside. It will be more difficult to pick the tiny paper particles out of the charging port. So, better not try this solution.
- Vacuum
Some people will tell you to use a vacuum hose to pull out the water. While a vacuum hose might help you take out some water, the immense amount of air pressure can cause trouble to the internal parts of your phone. Also, a vacuum hose cannot pull any other liquid dirt out of the charging port.
- Hair Dryer
Don’t use a blow dryer either. Blowing air inside the port can actually make the water crepe further inside which does more harm than good.
The screen, battery, and seals are heat sensitive. Blowing hot air directly into the port can cause damage to these parts. Though some parts of the phone are heat resistant, it can be harmful to the delicate components inside so it’s better to stay away from hair dryers.
While you might think of using the hair dryer in a cool setting, it’s also not a good idea. As compressed air can build up moisture inside as the cool air condenses creating water droplets.
- Letting Your Phone Sit
You should not just let your phone sit while it’s still wet for an extended period of time as this leads to another problem called corrosion. This is a slow damage process for electronic devices and their internal parts. The environmental change can take a few weeks and you might notice corrosion build-up.
- Shaking the Phone
Swinging or shaking your phone doesn’t lead to any good. It only takes the water further inside making it even more difficult to dry off. This can lead to more damage and more time to clean.
- Toothpick
As mentioned above you should not think of pushing any sharp object inside. Not even a toothpick wrapped in cotton. This can lose the connections in the charging port leading to more damage than you already have.
How Do I Know It’s Too Late?
If you have tried rescuing your phone by following the steps that we recommend and your phone still isn’t responding, chances are that your phone may have sustained water-damaged.
When the water gains access to the internal parts the device shows signs of water damage. You should completely remove water from charging port before you start using it.
Sings that it’s too late and symptoms of water damage that are not limited to its charging port only may look like this:
- Corrosion: If you notice signs of corrosion around the charging port, it means it’s too late for trying quick fixes. You should rush to the nearby customer service since corrosion causes permanent damage which can be costly to fix.
- Your Phone Doesn’t Power On: Might sound too obvious, but if your device is not powering on, even though it’s fully dry, it means the water has reached its internal parts.
- Your Phone is Getting Hot: The lithium-ion battery might get too hot when it undergoes water damage. It’s a sign that it’s too late and repairing will be costly.
- Problem with The Speakers: If either the speaker or the microphone doesn’t seem to work, it’s a clear sign of water damage.
- A foggy Screen: It’s the biggest indicator of water damage when water droplets of fog form underneath the screen.
- Problem Recognizing the SIM Cards: If the water reaches the internal parts in the worst cases your phone won’t be able to recognize its SIM cards. It’s time you contact customer service.
How Can I Tell My Phone Is Completely Dry?
If you don’t see any more moisture/liquid detection alters on your phone, rest assured that your phone is now completely dry. Also, if you no longer find minor glitches, your phone is 100% dry.
You might see a moisture detection alert but you are sure that your connection port and the device are completely dry.
In that case, inspect the charging port. Obstruction in the charging port like dirt and debris might cause a false alarm. If you find anything, clean it by blowing cool air. If you don’t see anything there might be a chance that the charging port is not working or the accessory that you are using is broken.
First Aid To Prevent Water-Damage Of Your Phone
You have dropped your phone in a pool? Or somehow water got inside the charging port?
First of all, don’t panic because there are certainly ways to rescue your phone from potential water damage.
Here’s what you should do:
- Quickie turn your phone off
- Remove any accessories. This includes the charger, earphones, and phone cover.
- Hold your phone in an upright position so water doesn’t get inside any further.
How To Fix False Liquid Detection Alerts For Android/iPhone Users
Sometimes you get false moisture detection alerts even though the port is completely dry. Here’s how you can solve the problem:
1. Disable Moisture Alert
You may disable the moisture detection alert from the settings if you are certain that the port is dry.
- Go to Settings
- Click on Battery Usage
- Go to the bottom of the page and click on Recent Battery Usage
- Choose Android System
- Now tap on Force Stop
2. Power Cycling
Power Cycling a phone is like resetting. Many issues simply resolve by just turning the phone on and off. Shut off your phone then wait for 1-2 minutes and then power on.
3. Update Your Device
Updating the OS can fix minor bugs. Check if there’s any software update and your issues with false liquid alter might resolve.
4. Replacing the Charging Cable
Check if the charging cable is wet or if it’s damaged which is giving false alerts. By simply changing the charging cable you can stop such alerts.
5. Restart Your Phone on Safe Mode
If you continue receiving false alerts after power cycling, you can reset your phone to safe mode.
For Android Users:
- Switch your phone off for a few seconds.
- Long press the power button for 2-3 seconds. A pop-up notification should arrive which says Confirm Reboot in safe mode.
- Press the OK button.
For iPhone Users:
- Switch your iPhone off for 30 seconds
- Now turn your iPhone on
- While it’s turning on, press the side button until you see the Apple sign.
- When you reboot your iPhone it automatically goes into Safe Mode.
6. Look for Rust Inside the Charging Port
There can be rust or other small particles stuck inside the port which are causing the false alerts. Use a flashlight to check but do not push any sharp objects inside.
7. Think of a Full Factory Reset
If nothing works you may want to opt for a ‘Full Factory Reset’. It’s important to know that a full factory reset will get rid of all your data including your contacts and pictures. So make sure you have a storage backup.
Because a full factory reset can not be undone, it’s best if you try it at the end when nothing else seems to work.
For Android Users:
- Open settings
- Then choose Backup and Reset
- Click on Factory Data Reset
- Click on Erase Everything
This may vary depending on the brand you’re using and the model.
For iPhone Users:
- Go to settings
- Select General Settings
- Then click on Reset iPhone
- Select the option ‘ Erase All Content and Settings
8. Repair the Charging Port
If you have tried every solution and nothing seems to work, the problem might be in the charging port that needs a replacement. You can visit a nearby walk-in-store or a local repair shop.
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Conclusion
Some of you ask, what if my phone is water resistant? Well, water-resistant smartphones are not waterproof. The metal parts inside the device can still corrode and stop working.
You should never charge while the port is dry and the electric flow can cause corrosion to metal pins inside. If you let the port dry completely, water or any type of liquid shouldn’t cause any lasting damage.
And remember do not use your charging port with hot air, or poke with sharp objects, not even cotton swabs or paper towels. Soak up the moisture, hold it at an upright position and wait for 3-4 hours for the moisture to evaporate naturally.
FAQs:
1. Can you get water out of charging port while charging?
Ans: No, while charging you should not get water out of the charging port. Charging a wet phone is extremely dangerous and can cause serious damage to the device.
2. How long to dry phone after getting wet?
Ans: Drying your phone completely can take 24 to 72 hours. This depends on the extent of water damage and the drying method used. Patience is key!
3. What should I do if my phone doesn’t turn on after drying?
Ans: If your phone still doesn’t turn on after drying, it might have sustained internal damage. Visit a professional repair service for diagnosis and potential repairs. Avoid attempting to fix it yourself.
4. Is there a warranty for water damage on phones?
Ans: Usually, no. Most phone warranties don’t cover liquid damage. Check your phone’s specific warranty terms for exceptions. Consider purchasing additional insurance for broader coverage.
