Rice trick WON'T fix your phone if you get it wet in sink or pool on hols – the real ways to dry it are much safer too
DROPPED your iPhone in the sink? Your next move should NOT be to drop it in a bowl of rice.
It's a longstanding myth that rice will dry out your
6
This might look like the perfect place for a wet iPhone – but it's a bad idea
Credit: Getty
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Keep your iPhone dry – but if you can't manage that, don't turn to rice
Credit: Getty
But it turns out that rice isn't very effective at drying your
Worse still, Apple says it could even
WET IPHONE TROUBLES
There are loads of ways your iPhone could end up soaked, from dropping it in the sink or loo – or even the
pool
on holiday.
Apple
has been making its iPhones water-resistant since the iPhone 7, but that's not a guarantee that they're waterproof.
Read more on iPhone
And water can still do serious damage to your iPhone.
Most iPhones can likely survive a dunking in water, but pressurised and hot water (like in a shower) can breach water-resistance.
And getting water in your
Lightning
or USB-C port (the one you use for charging) is bad too.
In fact, you'll usually
Most read in Phones & Gadgets
It'll say something like: "Charging not available. Liquid has been detected in the
Lightning
connector.
"Disconnect to allow the connector to dry. This may take several hours."
iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit
If you ignore this warning, it can do serious damage to your iPhone.
So only override it if you're in an emergency.
Apple explains: "If you charge your iPhone while the Lightning or USB-C connector is wet, the pins on the connector or cable can corrode and cause permanent damage or stop functioning.
"Causing connectivity issues for your iPhone or accessory."
DRYING YOUR IPHONE – WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T DO
There are some things you absolutely shouldn't do, according to Apple.
And top of the list
"Don't put your iPhone in a bag of rice," Apple explains.
"Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone."
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Definitely don't stuff one of these in your iPhone either
Credit: Getty
Not only that, but rice simply isn't very good at drawing water from the air around it.
You're just as well leaving the iPhone out on the side, and won't risk ruining your mobile.
There are a couple of other rules to follow too.
"Don't dry your iPhone using an external heat source or compressed air," Apple warned.
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Never use a heat source to dry your iPhone – you could seriously damage it
Credit: Getty
IPHONE WATER RESISTANCE
Here's the full list from Apple..
Apple says the following iPhone models are "splash, water and dust resistant":
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone X
iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus
Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun
And the Californian tech giant added: "Don't insert a foreign object, such as a cotton swab or a paper towel, into the connector."
HOW TO ACTUALLY DRY YOUR IPHONE
There are two methods worth trying – one official, and one less so.
Firstly, gently tap your iPhone against your hand.
Apple recommends making sure that the connector is pointing down towards the ground to allow excess liquid to fall out.
Then all you need to do is leave your iPhone in a dry area with a bit of airflow.
Wait at least 30 minutes then try to charging again.
If the alert pops up warning you about moisture, Apple says leave your iPhone somewhere drive for up to a full day.
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Silica gel packets are one option for drying an iPhone, Apple fans say
Credit: Getty
The second isn't an official Apple method, but plenty of iPhone fans say it works.
It involves sticking your iPhone in a Ziploc bag with a load of silica gel packets.
They're those packets that you get inside a box with new shoes or furniture in.
Companies put them in boxes to draw in moisture and stave off damp – and they're extremely effective.
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A Ziploc bag containing silica gel packets can help to dry things more quickly
Credit: Getty
These packets – which you can also bag off Amazon – are much better at drawing moisture out from the air than rice.
Not to mention they won't end up sneaking into an iPhone nook or cranny.
You've probably got a few silica gel packets lying around at home, so grab a few and try using those instead.
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