Phone dropped in water: should you put it in rice?

Skip the rice. Air does the job.

The answer in 2 lines. No: rice doesn't dry a phone better than open air, and its dust and starch can get into the charging port. Apple advises against it. Take the phone out, wipe it, tap it gently with the charging port facing down and leave it to dry somewhere dry with a bit of airflow. Don't charge it while it is still wet: wait at least 30 minutes, and up to a day if a liquid alert stays on screen. Liquid damage is usually not covered by the maker's warranty, but phone or gadget insurance may cover it: check your policy.

The first 3 steps

Get it out of the water quickly and unplug it if it was charging, after switching off at the socket if the plug or socket is in the water.
Take the case off, wipe it with a soft cloth, then tap it gently against your hand with the charging port facing down to let the water out.
Leave it to dry somewhere dry with a bit of airflow. Wait before charging: at least 30 minutes, often longer, and up to a day if a liquid alert is still showing.

Stop: danger

Phone dropped in water while plugged into the mains: don't put your hand in the water. Switch off at the socket or at the consumer unit first (if they are dry), then get it out.
Phone getting hot, swelling, hissing or smoking after getting wet: put it on a surface that won't burn, away from anything flammable, and move away. Fire: get out and call 999.

Why not rice

Rice doesn't pull water out of the inside of a phone faster than air does.
Grains and starch dust can get stuck in the charging port and speakers.
Apple's support pages tell iPhone users not to put their phone in a bag of rice.
Silica gel sachets do no harm, but somewhere airy is enough.

What you can do yourself, and where to stop

If your phone isn't water resistant and still works, switch it off to limit short circuits.
After sea water, pool water or a sugary drink, some water-resistant models' manuals advise rinsing with clean water then drying: follow the guidance for your model (Apple — liquid-detection alert, Samsung UK — moisture in the charging port).
Stop there: no hairdryer, radiator, oven or microwave. No cotton buds or paper in the port. Don't open the phone.
Samsung phones may show a "moisture detected" warning and block wired charging until the port is dry: that is a protection, not a fault.

Water resistant or not?

Many recent phones resist water to a rating (for example IP67 or IP68) shown in their specifications.
That resistance wears off with time, drops and repairs: it is never guaranteed for life.
Water resistance is not waterproofing: makers usually exclude liquid damage from the warranty even on water-resistant models.

When to get it repaired

After a day of drying, it won't switch on, the screen has marks, the sound is muffled or the liquid alert won't go.
It went into salt water, dirty water or a sugary drink.
It gets hot, swells or smells of burning: see the "Stop" box.
Act quickly: corrosion gets worse over time. How to choose a repairer: the maker's own service (Apple, Samsung) or an authorised repairer keeps genuine parts; an independent shop is often cheaper. Ask for a written quote, which parts they use, and how long the repair is guaranteed.

In England: warranty and insurance

Warranty and your rights: liquid damage is usually covered neither by the maker's warranty nor by your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, because it isn't a fault in the phone. Apple says so in its support pages.
Insurance: if you have phone or gadget insurance (sometimes with a bank account or added to home contents cover as "accidental damage" or "personal possessions"), check whether it covers liquid damage, the excess, and how quickly you must claim. Claim promptly.
Claim refused: complain to the insurer in writing. If you are still unhappy after eight weeks, or after its final answer, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service, free of charge: FOS — Mobile phone and gadget insurance.
A repairer who did a poor job: Citizens Advice explains your rights and how to complain: Citizens Advice — Something's gone wrong with a purchase.

Good to know

Back your phone up regularly: if it dies, you keep your photos and contacts.
A waterproof pouch for the beach or pool saves a lot of trouble.
Electrical Safety First and fire services advise using the charger and cable made for your device, and not charging overnight on a bed or sofa.

In Brighton, Maya drops her phone into a full sink. She takes it out straight away, wipes it, taps it with the port facing down and leaves it by an open window, no rice. When she plugs it in, a liquid alert shows: she waits until the next morning. It charges normally.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 1 November 2026, for England. Confidence: high for the drying steps and the advice against rice (Apple, Samsung); high that liquid damage is usually not covered by the maker's warranty; high for the Financial Ombudsman Service route; medium for insurance cover, which depends entirely on your policy. We found no official UK statistics on phones damaged by water, so we don't quote one. This guide describes common cases, not a diagnosis.