Got your phone wet? Here’s what you’ll need to do next
With the weather getting warmer, many of us will be making a beeline for the beach. Our phones will inevitably go with us in order to capture that perfect family portrait or, possibly, a selfie with friends.
Whilst the reasons for taking our phones to the beach are obvious, it’s not a particularly tech-friendly environment. Sand can clog up small entry points, mobile devices don’t usually like the heat and last but by-no-means least, there’s the obvious potential for water damage which, all too often, leads to problems including, but not limited to, data loss.
Of course, phones suffer from water damage at all times of the year but, as trips abroad and local beaches will result in an increased number of phones suffering from it over the summer months, we thought it presented a nice opportunity to write about what you should do if your phone finds its way into the big blue.
1. Turn it off
We’ve started with what is absolutely the most important thing you’ll need to do after your phone gets dropped in water. Yes, you’ll need to use it to turn it off, but this is definitely the lesser of two evils.
If you were to leave your phone on, the water would act as a conductor, causing various circuits to short and causing irreparable damage.
2. Remove what you can
After you’ve powered down your phone, it’s time to give it the best chance possible of drying out.
Firstly, remove any case you may have. Then remove the sim card and tray along with, if possible, the battery. Don’t be tempted to undo screw and take your phone apart, though; you’ll probably do more harm than good and it’ll be unlikely you’d be able to put it back together anyway.
3. Dry the individual parts (gently)
After you’ve disassembled your phone as much as possible, wipe it dry with an absorbent cloth and stand the phone upright to allow water to drain out of it as easily as possible.
Under no circumstances should you try to speed up the process of drying out your phone with a hairdryer or by placing it in the microwave. Exposure to heat can cause more damage than water and, if you place your phone in your microwave, you’ll not only damage your phone beyond repair but your microwave, too.
Also, don’t place your phone in a bag of uncooked rice. The grains can find their way into small spaces and then expand after soaking up the water – this is truly a recipe (no pun intended) for disaster.
4. Be patient
Under no circumstances should you attempt to turn your phone back on or even press any buttons whilst you’re waiting for it to dry out. Instead, leave the phone alone in a dry place for at least 24 hours, though we’d advise 48 just to be safe.
Sadly, whilst there are no guarantees that your phone will once again be fully operational after you’ve followed these steps, you’ll certainly have given it the best possible chance.
If it’s too late for you and you’re looking for mobile phone data recovery services, click on the link to get in touch with Fields Data Recovery today.