There are only a select number of phone models that are waterproof or water-resistant, which means that most should not be submerged or come into contact with liquid at all. However, we can never guarantee that it won't happen, and while there are many ways to fix a wet phone, some measures do more harm than good.

Apple Advises Against Using Uncooked Rice

Apple devices like the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later devices tend to show an alert when your device sustains liquid damage, stating that liquid has been detected in the USB-C connector, not allowing you to charge the device.

You have the option to override the liquid detection in case of emergencies, but the tech giant insists that you should not as it might cause the pins of the connector to corrode, which might permanently damage the port or cause connection issues in the future.

The support site provides several ways for you to resolve the issue, but it also adds things that you should not do. For one, you should refrain from drying your iPhone using external heat sources or compressed air.

You should also avoid using external objects to help absorb water such as cotton swabs or a paper towel. And lastly, do not put your smartphone in a bag of rice. Small particles may enter the unit and further damage it.

What You Should Do Instead

If there's excess liquid inside your phone, you can lightly tap it on your hands to shake it out. Do so with the charging port facing down, and then leave your smartphone in a dry area that has airflow to allow it to dry naturally.

You should leave it as is for a minimum of 30 minutes, more if you live in a colder area. Once some time has passed, you can check if the liquid detection notice is still there. If it appears, leave it for up to a day to completely dry.

If the warning persists, you may try to unplug the cable from the adapter and then unplug the adapter from the power source. If it still doesn't work, then you might have to contact Apple Support or proceed to a repair service to have a professional look into the issue.

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The Myth About Drying Wet Phones with Rice

The "hack" has been a suggested solution by many, even predating its popularity on social media sites. However, there have already been studies dedicated to determining whether this was effective, and it was found that the method does not work.

Initially, people thought that the moisture from the phone would be absorbed by the rice grains and speed up the drying process. According to Business Wire, this not only is ineffective, but it could prolong the drying period since there won't be enough airflow.

Comparing a wet phone left in the open and one placed in a bag of rice, the study found that the drying process of the device with airflow within 48 hours led to the reduction of the water weight by 14.7%, while the one left in the bag of rice only reduced it by 13.1%.

Related: Foldable Phone Maintenance Guide: Tips to Prolong Your Device's Lifespan