What should I do if my phone or laptop gets wet?

The first five minutes that determine whether the device survives, and the popular advice that makes things worse.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 30 min
Read: 2 min
Safety: warning

Short answer

Turn it off immediately, do not plug it in, and do not try to switch it on to check. Dry the outside, keep it in a warm airy place for at least 48 hours, and do not put it in rice — it does not work and leaves dust inside.

Water alone rarely destroys electronics. Corrosion and short circuits do, and both are caused by power flowing through a wet device. Everything useful in the first hour is about removing power and removing water.

Safety

Do not plug in or charge a wet device — it risks a short circuit, damage and in rare cases fire. Do not use a hairdryer or oven to dry it. If a lithium battery has been submerged and the device swells or gets hot, keep it away from anything flammable and seek professional help.

What you'll need

Absorbent cloth
Silica gel packets (optional)
Patience (optional)

Step by step

Turn it off immediately and do not turn it back on.Power through a wet circuit is what causes the damage. Resist the urge to check whether it still works.
Do not plug it in or charge it.This is the single most damaging thing you can do, and it is what most people do first.
Remove the battery if it is removable, and any cards or cases.SIM tray, memory card, case. It opens the device up to airflow and removes the power source.
Dry the outside and shake water out of the ports gently.Face the ports downwards and tap gently. Do not shake hard, which drives water further in.
Leave it somewhere warm and airy for at least 48 hours.A warm room with air movement, ports facing down. Longer is better. Patience is genuinely the technique here.
Do not use rice.It is ineffective and leaves starch dust and grains in the ports. Manufacturers explicitly advise against it. Silica gel packets work considerably better.
Do not use a hairdryer, oven or radiator.Heat damages components and adhesives, and a hairdryer drives water further into the device.
Get it professionally cleaned if it was salt water or anything sugary.Both are far more corrosive than clean water. A repair shop can clean the board before corrosion sets in, and speed matters.

Tips

Even if the device works afterwards, back it up immediately. Water damage often causes failure days or weeks later.
Water damage is usually excluded from warranties and most devices have internal indicators that show it happened.
A device that was only splashed and is rated water-resistant is usually fine — but still dry the ports before charging.

Common mistakes

Turning it on to see if it works — Power through a wet circuit causes short circuits and permanent damage. Leave it off until it is completely dry.
Putting it in rice — It does not absorb meaningfully faster than air and leaves dust and grains in the ports. Manufacturers advise against it.
Charging it before it is fully dry — It is the most reliable way to turn a recoverable device into a dead one.

Questions people ask

Does putting a wet phone in rice work?

No. It absorbs no faster than open air and leaves starch dust and grains in the ports. Silica gel packets are better, and warm moving air for 48 hours is better still.

How long should I leave a wet phone before turning it on?

At least 48 hours in a warm airy place with the ports facing down, and longer if it was fully submerged. Turning it on early is what causes permanent damage.