iPhonegot wet?

The first minute

1. Get it out and switch off any cable. Unplug the charger or accessory straight away and keep it unplugged until the phone and the cable are completely dry.
2. Take the case off. Cases trap water against the phone and in the port.
3. Wipe the outside with a soft, lint-free cloth. Do not open the SIM tray until the phone is dry.

Clear the speaker

If audio sounds muffled, quiet or crackly, there is water in the grille. Apple’s suggestion is to place the phone speaker-side down on a lint-free cloth and see whether water drips out. Playing a low tone speeds that up:

1. Disconnect AirPods and Bluetooth speakers, switch Silent Mode off, turn the volume to maximum.
2. Point the bottom speaker at the floor and run the Eject tone for 30 seconds. Repeat two or three times.
3. Still muffled? Try Sweep. Then turn the phone over and run it with the earpiece facing down.

Dry the rest of the phone

Tap the phone gently against your palm with the charging port facing down to shake out liquid, then leave it in a dry place with good airflow. Apple notes that a fan blowing cool air directly into the port can help.

When it is safe to charge

Apple gives two figures in two articles, and both are worth knowing. Its liquid-detection article says to try a cable again after at least 30 minutes, and that full drying can take up to 24 hours. Its water-resistance article says to wait at least 5 hours before charging with a cable or connecting an accessory. If you can wait, the longer figure is the cautious one.

You can use a Qi-certified wireless charger sooner, as long as the back of the phone is wiped and dry.

If you see a liquid detection alert

iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later can detect liquid in the Lightning or USB-C port and will show an alert when you connect a cable. It means charging is paused to protect the phone. Unplug, dry the phone as above and try again after 30 minutes; if the alert returns, there is still liquid in the port or on the cable, so leave it longer. There is an emergency override that lets you charge anyway, but Apple recommends against charging while wet.

If the alert appears every time with one particular cable while the phone is dry, the cable or accessory may be the problem.

Sources: Apple, If you see a liquid-detection alert on your iPhone and Apple, About splash, water and dust resistance of iPhone. Checked 22 October 2026.

Salt water, pool water and drinks

Ratings are tested with fresh water. For anything else, such as sea water, chlorinated pool water, soda, coffee or juice, Apple suggests rinsing the affected area with tap water and then wiping and drying the phone as above. Sugar and salt leave residue that water alone does not, so do this promptly.

When to get help

Book a repair check if, once the phone has been dry for a day, the speaker is still distorted, the screen shows patches or lines, the phone will not charge with a known-good cable, or the camera lens has condensation inside. Apple states that liquid damage is not covered by its standard warranty, though you may have rights under consumer law and some plans cover accidental damage.