Apple dispels the age-old solution for a wet iPhone: don’t put it in rice

Ever since cell phones existed, we’ve been throwing them in water. And even though today’s iPhones are resistant to splashes, dips, and dunks in water, there are still times when they get too wet and the dreaded liquid detection alert pops up on your screen.

For years, we’ve turned to a simple staple when we need to save our iPhones from liquid death: a bag of rice. The method is decidedly low-tech. Just put your phone in a bag of rice, seal it and wait a day or so. The idea is that the rice will extract water from the inside of the phone before it can fry the internal parts. People who have experienced waterlogged phones swear by this product, and there is tons of anecdotal evidence that it actually works.

However, researchers have said for years that rice doesn’t dry your phone any faster and could slow down the process, leaving your motherboard vulnerable to further damage. And a new 2024 Apple support document actually advises against using rice to dry your iPhone, because “doing so may allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone.” Instead, Apple suggests the following steps:

1. Gently tap your iPhone against your hand with the connector facing down to remove excess liquid. Leave your iPhone in a dry place with some air circulation.
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 fluid in the connector or under the pins on your cable. Leave your iPhone in a dry, well-ventilated place for up to one day. You can retry charging or connecting an accessory during this period. Complete drying may take up to 24 hours.
4. If your phone is dry but still won’t charge, unplug the adapter cable and unplug the adapter from the wall (if possible), then plug it back in.

Among the don’ts, Apple also recommends against drying your iPhone with an external heat source or compressed air, or inserting a foreign object, such as a cotton swab or paper towel, into it. the Lightning or USB-C port.

Granted, iPhones are capable of withstanding submersion in water to a maximum depth of 6 meters (about 20 feet) for up to 30 minutes since the iPhone 12, so chances are you haven’t had to have been worrying about liquid damage for some time. But if you ever do, just leave the rice in the cupboard.