Buzz
Accidentally dropping your smartphone into a sink, bowl of soup, or any water source is not uncommon for smartphone users. However, since most smartphones on the market today are not waterproof, they often end up 'dead' when submerged in water.
So how do you recover a smartphone that has unfortunately taken a dip?
- Immediately power off the smartphone, remove the memory card and SIM card, and if applicable, remove the SIM card tray as well (quickly dry the memory card and SIM card to prevent damage).
- Hold the phone firmly and shake it vigorously with the SIM card tray or speaker holes facing downwards to let the water drain out (make sure to hold it securely to avoid dropping and causing further damage). Use a soft cloth or absorbent cotton to dry up any remaining water.
- Immediately take it to a repair center (authorized service center or professional store) to disassemble the device and dry each component. It can be disassembled by yourself, but it is not recommended to do so as it may easily break or damage components, especially the integrated ones that are difficult to disassemble and require professional skills and tools.
- If you cannot immediately take it for repair, use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the water (Do not use a hairdryer to blow into integrated components), place the phone in a container of rice (rice has excellent moisture-absorbing properties) or a sealed bag with a few moisture-absorbing packets (silica gel), which are commonly found in biscuit boxes, shoe boxes, medicine boxes, etc.
- Wait for 2~3 days to ensure there is no water left inside the phone, then insert the battery and try to power it on. If the device does not power on or functions unstably as initially, it is advisable to take it to the manufacturer's authorized service center for repair.
The above steps should be carried out as soon as possible because the longer the delay, the higher the chance of oxidizing the repairable components. The same procedures should also be applied to other devices such as laptops, tablets, etc.
- Absolutely do not attempt to charge the phone when there is still water inside.
- In cases where it is impossible to find a place to disassemble the phone and unable to immediately send it to an authorized service center, you can look for a shop with a vacuum machine: professional staff will perform a warm-up process (temperature not too high, do not use a microwave) sufficient to evaporate the water inside the device and then put it into the vacuum machine to extract all the air. -> A user with an S7 Edge has successfully performed this and saved their device.
Preventing accidents of dropping phones into water:
Cheap and high-quality waterproof bags
- Do not leave the phone in a pocket and put it in the laundry.
- Even if the phone has waterproof function, do not attempt to test it by submerging it in water, as the waterproof capability may be disabled due to various reasons.
- When going out, remember to bring a raincoat.
- Purchase a cheap yet high-quality waterproof bag to protect your phone even when swimming.
These steps are measures to help save your phone when it falls into water. Hopefully, they will be useful to you in your usage journey.
