Beach and pool season in Lebanon means more phones near water. A phone slides off a sun lounger into the pool, a wave soaks your bag on the sand, or it slips into the sink while you are washing up.
What you do in the first few minutes matters. Some very common reactions, like plugging the phone in to see if it still works or drying it with a hair dryer, can make the damage worse.
If your phone fell in water, here are the steps to take right away, the myths to skip, and how to tell when it needs a professional water-damage inspection.
1. Get It Out and Switch It Off
Take the phone out of the water as quickly as you can. The longer it stays under, the more chance water has to get past the seals.
Then switch it off, even if it seems to be working normally. Water and electrical current together are what cause short circuits, so a phone that is off is better protected while it dries.
Avoid pressing the buttons over and over or opening apps to check what still works.
2. Do Not Charge It
Charging a wet phone is one of the most common mistakes. Water in the charging port combined with power can damage the port and the parts behind it.
Many recent iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones can detect moisture in the charging port and show a warning. If you see one, unplug the cable and leave the phone to dry. Our advice is to hold off on charging of any kind, wired or wireless, until the phone has dried out completely.
3. Remove the Case, SIM Tray and Memory Card
Take the phone out of its case. A case can hold water against the phone and slow down drying.
Carefully remove the SIM tray, and the memory card if your phone has one, using the proper ejector tool. Let them dry separately and only put them back once everything is fully dry. If your phone uses only an eSIM, there is no tray to remove.
4. Dry the Outside Gently
Wipe the phone with a soft, lint-free cloth or towel, paying attention to the edges, buttons and camera.
To help water drain from the ports, hold the phone with the charging port facing down and tap it gently against your palm. Gentle is the key word, because hard shaking can push water further inside.
Do not push cotton buds, tissue or paper into the charging port or the speaker holes.
5. Let It Air Dry
Leave the phone in a dry place with some airflow, ports facing down. A room-temperature fan is fine. Direct heat is not.
Give it time. A dry outside does not mean a dry inside, and a phone that was fully submerged needs longer than one that only got splashed. If you are unsure, it is better to wait longer than to switch it on too soon.
Myths and Mistakes to Avoid
Some of the most popular tips for a wet phone do more harm than good.
Putting It in Rice
Rice is the best-known home remedy, but it is not a reliable way to dry a phone, and starch dust and small grains can end up in the ports. Apple has publicly advised against putting a wet iPhone in a bag of rice.
Using a Hair Dryer, Oven or Direct Sun
Heat can damage the battery, the screen and the adhesive seals that help keep water out. Leaving a wet phone in the sun has the same problem. As we explained in our guide on why your phone overheats in summer, direct sun heats a phone much faster than warm air alone.
Shaking It Hard or Blowing Into It
Hard shaking, blowing into the ports or using compressed air can push water deeper into the phone instead of getting it out.
Turning It On to Check
It is tempting to switch the phone on to see if it survived. If water is still inside, powering it up can cause the very damage you are trying to avoid.
Salt Water and Pool Water Are Harder on Phones
Fresh water is the least harmful liquid for a phone. Sea water leaves salt behind as it dries, and pool water contains chlorine and other chemicals. Both can speed up corrosion on the ports and the parts inside.
Sand from the beach adds another problem, because it can get into the charging port, speaker grilles and buttons.
Some manufacturers’ guides for water-resistant phones suggest a gentle rinse with fresh water after contact with salt water or pool water, followed by thorough drying. Check your phone’s user guide before doing this, and skip it if the phone has a cracked screen or back, or is not rated as water resistant.
If your phone went into the sea or a pool, it is worth having it inspected even if it seems fine. Corrosion does not always show up straight away.
What Water Resistance Ratings Really Mean
Many phones carry an IP rating, such as IP54, IP67 or IP68. The first digit refers to dust and the second to water, and a higher second digit generally means the phone was tested for more demanding water exposure.
Here is how that looks on a few phones from our range:
- The Samsung Galaxy A17 is rated IP54, which covers water splashes, not being dropped into water
- The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G is rated IP67, for immersion up to 1m for 30 minutes
- The iPhone Air is rated IP68, for immersion up to 6m for 30 minutes
These ratings come from controlled tests, usually in still, fresh water. They are not a promise that the phone will survive swimming, waves, jumping into a pool or the steam of a hot shower. Manufacturers, Apple included, generally advise against swimming with your phone.
Water resistance is also not permanent. Seals can wear with age, drops and repairs, so a phone that handled a splash well when it was new may not do the same a few years later.
Whether liquid damage is covered depends on the warranty, so check your warranty terms rather than assuming a rating means you are protected.
Signs Water Got Inside
Even if the phone turns on, keep an eye out for these signs over the next few days:
- Fog or droplets inside the camera lens
- Spots, lines or discoloured patches on the screen
- A muffled speaker or microphone
- A moisture warning in the charging port, or charging that starts and stops
- A touchscreen that reacts on its own or does not respond
- Random restarts, unusual heat or fast battery drain
Any of these is a good reason to stop using the phone and have it checked.
When to Bring It in for a Water-Damage Inspection
Bring the phone in if it went into salt water or a pool, if it was fully submerged for more than a moment, if it will not turn on, or if you notice any of the signs above.
A water-damage inspection lets a technician check the phone for moisture and corrosion and tell you what, if anything, needs repair before more parts are affected. Both H2 Group branches handle water-damage inspection, along with screen, battery, charging port, speaker, microphone and camera repairs.
Water exposure is one of the warning signs covered in our guide to the 8 signs your phone needs repair. If you have questions before you visit, you can contact us here.
Beach and Pool Habits That Help
The easiest water damage to deal with is the kind that never happens. A few simple habits can lower the risk:
- Keep your phone in a zipped bag pocket, away from the pool edge and the shoreline
- Let a waterproof speaker sit near the water instead of your phone. The JBL Clip 4 is rated IP67 and has a built-in carabiner that hooks onto a bag
- The JBL Charge 5 is also rated IP67 and has a built-in power bank, so you can top up your phone while it stays dry in the shade
- A well-fitting case helps protect against drops on wet tiles, but a regular case is not waterproof. You can browse our phone cases, watch bands and bags for your model
- Dry and clean your hands of sand and sunscreen before handling your phone
Quick Answers
Is my phone waterproof if it is rated IP68?
No. IP68 means the phone is water resistant under specific test conditions. It is not waterproof, and the protection can weaken over time.
My phone seems fine after falling in water. Do I still need to do anything?
Dry it properly and watch for the signs above for a few days. If it went into salt water or a pool, an inspection is worth considering, because corrosion is not always visible straight away.
What should I do if a moisture warning keeps appearing?
Leave the charging cable out until the warning clears. If it keeps coming back after the phone has had plenty of time to dry, have the charging port checked.
Water-Damage Inspection at H2 Group Beirut
If your phone has been in water and you are looking for a water-damage inspection in Beirut, bring it to either of our branches. Our team can check it and explain your options before any repair.
The sooner a wet phone is checked, the more options you are likely to have.
H2 Group Hamra
Bliss Street, Hamra, Beirut
Phone: 71 26 25 26
H2 Group Tareek Al Jadidah
Tareek Al Jadidah, Beirut
Phone: 71 26 25 24
If your phone took a swim, switch it off, keep it away from the charger and bring it in so our team can take a look.