If you dropped your phone in water and it will not turn on, do not charge it, do not press the power button repeatedly, and do not put it in rice. Turn it off if possible, remove the case and SIM tray, gently dry the outside, and bring it for professional water damage inspection as soon as possible. Fast inspection improves the chance of saving the phone and data.
Short answer
Water damage is urgent. A phone may look dry on the outside but still have liquid inside the charging port, screen, speaker area, battery connector, or logic board. Charging it too soon can cause a short circuit.
CellularFix handles water-damaged phones in Richmond Hill and can inspect iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, and other smartphones.
What to do immediately
Follow these steps:
- Remove the phone from water quickly.
- Turn it off if it is still on.
- Do not charge it.
- Do not keep pressing the power button.
- Remove the case.
- Remove the SIM tray if possible.
- Dry the outside gently with a clean towel.
- Keep the phone upright if water entered the charging port.
- Bring it for inspection as soon as possible.
What not to do
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Do not put the phone in rice.
- Do not use a hair dryer.
- Do not place it in an oven or near a heater.
- Do not shake the phone aggressively.
- Do not plug it into a charger.
- Do not wait days hoping it will fix itself.
Rice does not remove corrosion from the board. Heat can damage the screen, battery, adhesive, and internal parts.
Can the phone be saved?
Many water-damaged phones can be saved, especially when they are inspected quickly. The outcome depends on:
- how long the phone stayed in water;
- whether it was salt water, pool water, clean water, coffee, juice, or another liquid;
- whether it was charged after getting wet;
- whether the battery or board shorted;
- how quickly corrosion is cleaned;
- whether important components were damaged.
Even if the phone cannot be fully repaired, data recovery may still be possible in some cases.
Why “it turned on for a minute” is not a safe sign
Some phones turn on briefly after water exposure, then fail later. That does not mean the phone is safe. Liquid residue and corrosion can continue damaging internal parts after the first incident.
If the phone turns on, back up important data immediately if possible, then get it inspected.
CTA
Dropped your phone in water in Richmond Hill? Bring it to CellularFix at 10909 Yonge St before charging it again. Call (905) 770-7331 for help.
FAQs for this page
Should I charge my phone after dropping it in water?
No. Charging a wet phone can cause a short circuit and make the damage worse.
Does rice fix a wet phone?
No. Rice may absorb some moisture around the outside, but it does not clean corrosion or liquid residue from internal components.
Can data be recovered from a water-damaged phone?
Sometimes. The chance depends on the condition of the storage, board, and how quickly the device is inspected.
How fast should I bring in a wet phone?
As soon as possible. Same-day inspection gives the best chance of reducing corrosion and saving the device.