{"id":84832,"date":"2026-07-16T09:45:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T16:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/?p=84832"},"modified":"2026-07-22T09:12:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T16:12:04","slug":"what-happens-when-smartphone-gets-wet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/en-ca\/blog\/what-happens-when-smartphone-gets-wet\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens When a Smartphone Gets Wet?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div id=\"case-study-image-and-title\" class=\"vc_section blog-header-top-padding vc_custom_1743006484198 wpex-vc-full-width-section wpex-vc-full-width-section--centered wpex-relative wpex-vc_section-has-fill wpex-vc-reset-negative-margin\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_raw_code wpb_raw_html wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t  <style>\n\n.vcex-video.wpex-bg-black {\n  border-radius: 15px;\n  overflow: hidden;\n}\n\n.vcex-video-inner video {\n  border-radius: 15px;\n}\n\n.case-study-video {\nborder-radius: 15px !important;\n}\n\n.cs-red-heading {\n      color: #EC0912;\nfont-weight: 600;\n    }\n.vcex-heading-inner {\nmargin-bottom:12px;\n}\n        .single-post-title {\n            display: none;\n        }\n    ul.meta {\n       display:none;\n        }\n\n.parent-div {\n  display: flex !important;       \/* Lay the items out in a row by default (desktop) *\/\n  flex-wrap: nowrap !important;   \/* Prevent wrapping on large screens *\/\n}\n\n\/* When the screen is below, say, 768px, wrap and make each child 50% width *\/\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\n  .parent-div {\n    flex-wrap: wrap !important;   \/* Allow wrapping on smaller screens (mobile) *\/\nfont-size: 15px !important;\n  }\n  .parent-div > div {\n    width: 50% !important;        \/* 2 columns (two items per row) *\/\n    box-sizing: border-box !important; \n  }\n.cs-quote-headshot {text-align: center;margin-bottom:13px;}\n.cs-quote-box {\n    margin-left: 30px;\n    margin-right: 30px;\n\n}\n.cs-quote-headshot-image {\nmax-width: 170px;\nmargin-bottom:13px;\nmargin: auto;\n}\n.cs-quote-nametitle {\ntext-align: center !important;\nalign-items: center !important;\n}\n\n}\n\n.cs-main-image-header .wpex-p-30 {\n    padding: 0 !important;\n    padding-left: 3% !important;\npadding-bottom: 3% !important;\n}\n\n.cs-main-image-header .wpex-items-center {\n    align-items: end !important;\n}\n\n@media screen and (max-width: 1300px) {\n    .cs-main-image-header .vcex-ib-content .vcex-ib-title {\n        font-size: 3.5vw !important;\n    }\n\n    .cs-main-image-header .vcex-ib-content .vcex-ib-caption {\n        font-size: 5.5vw !important;\n    }\n}\n\n.cs-main-image-header .vcex-ib-content {\n text-shadow: 0 0 10px #000; \n}\n\n.vc_custom_1743006484198 {\n    margin-top: -10px !important;\n    padding-bottom: 4% !important;\n    background-color: #000000 !important;\n}\n\n.case-study-image-and-title\n{\n    margin-top: -10px !important;\n    padding-bottom: 4% !important;\n    background-color: #000000 !important;\n}\n.blog-header-top-padding\n\n{\n    margin-top: -10px !important;\n    padding-bottom: 4% !important;\n    background-color: #000000 !important;\n}\n  <\/style>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1764869151897 wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><style>.vcex-image-banner.vcex_6a63e7e9cbfd3 .vcex-ib-title{color:#fefefe;font-size:45px;font-family:'DM Sans', sans-serif;font-weight:600;}.vcex-image-banner.vcex_6a63e7e9cbfd3 .vcex-ib-caption{color:#ffffff;font-size:57px;font-family:'DM Sans', sans-serif;font-weight:600;}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-module vcex-image-banner wpex-flex wpex-flex-col wpex-w-100 wpex-justify-center wpex-relative wpex-overflow-hidden wpex-bg-gray-900 wpex-text-white wpex-hover-text-white wpex-text-left wpex-rounded-md vcex-has-img-tag cs-main-image-header vcex_6a63e7e9cbfd3\"><img  src=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/What-Happens-When-a-Smartphone-Gets-Wet2-1.jpg\" class=\"vcex-ib-img wpex-block wpex-transition-all wpex-duration-500\" alt=\"\"><div class=\"vcex-ib-content-wrap wpex-w-100 wpex-transition-all wpex-duration-500 wpex-absolute wpex-inset-0 wpex-flex wpex-items-center wpex-p-30\"><div class=\"vcex-ib-content wpex-flex-grow wpex-mr-auto\"><h3 class=\"vcex-ib-title wpex-heading\">What Happens<\/h3><div class=\"vcex-ib-caption wpex-text-lg wpex-last-mb-0\">When a Smartphone Gets Wet?<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:35px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:18px;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Water doesn&#8217;t usually kill a phone. Electricity does. Current, supplied by the phone&#8217;s own battery, can find a path through water to components never built to carry it. That&#8217;s the fact underneath almost everything else here: the first damage from a wet phone often comes not from the liquid itself, but from what happens when electricity meets it. That&#8217;s why the first move is always to cut the power, not to dry the phone.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"case-study-blurb-and-scenario\" class=\"vc_section vc_custom_1772461320762 wpex-relative\"><div id=\"video\" class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\" id=\"video\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9cdbb9{color:#3e3d3e;font-size:35px;font-weight:400;}@media (max-width:1024px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9cdbb9{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:959px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9cdbb9{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:767px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9cdbb9{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:479px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9cdbb9{font-size:25px;}}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-div vcex_6a63e7e9cdbb9 translation-block\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\"><strong><span style=\"color: #e31f26\">What to Do<\/span><\/strong> If a Phone Gets Wet<\/span><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 15px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-top vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column blog-educational-image vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1739319183592\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 10px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#3e3d3e;font-size:18px;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>If your phone was already backed up before it got wet, your data is safe, and if the phone can be professionally dried and cleaned, it may be able to be returned to service rather than replaced.<\/p>\n<p>If it wasn&#8217;t backed up, cutting the power now still comes first. Your response in these next few minutes could be the determining factor in whether the data is recoverable.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div style=\"border-color:#000000!important;\" class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1784291879114\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div style=\"color:#3e3d3e;font-size:18px;letter-spacing:var(--wpex-tracking-tight);font-weight:600;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element numbered_phone_list\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<ol>\n<li>Turn it off immediately.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t plug it in or try to charge it.<\/li>\n<li>Remove the case and SIM tray if possible.<\/li>\n<li>Skip the rice. Rice can cause additional issues.<\/li>\n<li>If the data matters, send it to a professional recovery service. Otherwise, have it professionally cleaned as soon as you can.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1784235021395 vc_row-o-equal-height vc_row-flex wpex-relative wpex-vc-has-custom-column-spacing wpex-vc-column-spacing-0px no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div style=\"border-color:#000000!important;\" class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1784235068667\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"translation-block\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-plug-circle-xmark\" style=\"color: #f60000; font-size: 22px; vertical-align: middle;\"><\/i> <strong>Cut the power immediately.<\/strong> This breaks the circuit before current can find a path through the water and short something out. The memory, data circuits, and other flash components are all at risk. Do not attempt to open the phone; nearly all modern smartphones are sealed, and opening one yourself is likely to cause further damage rather than prevent it.<\/p>\n<p>Never try to charge a wet phone or power it back on once it&#8217;s failed. If your phone shows a &#8220;Liquid Detected&#8221; alert, take it seriously. There&#8217;s still moisture in the charging port. There&#8217;s also a safety dimension beyond data loss: a lithium-ion battery compromised by water can swell, overheat, or in rare cases vent or ignite, particularly if the device is powered on or charged while still wet. That&#8217;s one more reason to cut power and leave it off.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1784235028850 vc_row-o-equal-height vc_row-flex wpex-relative wpex-vc-has-custom-column-spacing wpex-vc-column-spacing-0px no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div style=\"border-color:#000000!important;\" class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1784235077084\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"translation-block\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-wind\" style=\"color: #f60000; font-size: 22px; vertical-align: middle;\"><\/i> <strong>Dry what you can, then get it to a professional as soon as possible.<\/strong> Remove any case, and if your phone has a physical SIM tray, pop it out. This gives trapped moisture an escape path instead of staying sealed against the phone. Wipe the outside with a paper towel, gently tap it with the charging port facing down to help water drain, and leave it in a warm, dry spot with good airflow, not the oven, and not in front of a hair dryer. A fan or, in humid conditions, a dehumidifier can help. But drying the outside of the phone is far less important than getting it to a professional quickly. Surface drying doesn\u2019t remove the moisture trapped inside the phone, where corrosion continues.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-equal-height vc_row-flex wpex-relative wpex-vc-has-custom-column-spacing wpex-vc-column-spacing-0px no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div style=\"border-color:#000000!important;\" class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1784235085085\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"translation-block\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-xmark\" style=\"color: #f60000; font-size: 22px; vertical-align: middle;\"><\/i> <strong>Skip the rice.<\/strong> Rice absorbs surface moisture, but it doesn\u2019t reach the internal components and connections that actually matter. Rice particles and dust can also work their way into the device and add to the problem rather than solve it. If the phone happens to power on after a stint in rice, the moisture that\u2019s still inside will keep corroding connections, and the phone is likely to fail again.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"case-study-solution\" class=\"vc_section wpex-relative\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 40px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d0be8{color:#3e3d3e;font-size:35px;font-weight:400;}@media (max-width:1024px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d0be8{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:959px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d0be8{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:767px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d0be8{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:479px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d0be8{font-size:25px;}}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-div vcex_6a63e7e9d0be8 translation-block\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">What Your Phone's Water-Resistance Rating <strong><span style=\"color: #e31f26\">Doesn't Tell You<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;font-size:18px;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Over the past five years, calls to DriveSavers about water-damaged smartphones have climbed more than 50%. Roughly one in six calls we take during the summer now involves liquid damage, even though nearly every current phone carries a water-resistance rating, usually expressed as an IP, or Ingress Protection, rating.<\/p>\n<p>That rating is earned under conditions your phone will probably never actually face. It&#8217;s tested in still water, but diving into a pool or getting caught in a wave creates pressure that can force water past seals. It&#8217;s tested with fresh water, not chlorinated pool water or seawater, both of which are far more corrosive. The seals themselves also degrade over time. Repeated exposure to high temperatures gradually softens the adhesive holding the seals in place. Drops and everyday impacts can create cracks too small to see, and even the steady pressure of being carried in a pocket every day works against the seal over months of use. IP ratings are real and accurately measured, but they&#8217;re based on a pristine device tested under controlled, fresh water laboratory conditions, not on the phone in your pocket after months of drops, heat, and daily wear.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 20px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 40px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d1bba{color:#3e3d3e;font-size:35px;font-weight:400;}@media (max-width:1024px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d1bba{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:959px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d1bba{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:767px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d1bba{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:479px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d1bba{font-size:25px;}}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-div vcex_6a63e7e9d1bba translation-block\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">What's Happening <strong><span style=\"color: #e31f26\">Inside a Wet Phone<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 20px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Inside every smartphone is a printed circuit board carrying thousands of components, but only a handful determine whether recovery is possible at all: the memory chip, where the data itself is physically stored, the CPU, and the logic EEPROM. If any of those three is damaged beyond repair, there&#8217;s no path forward, regardless of the condition of everything else on the board.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 15px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-8\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>That&#8217;s part of why powering on or charging a wet phone is so risky. A short can originate almost anywhere, in a capacitor, a resistor, a solder connection, and travel from there to one of the three components that actually hold or process the data. Damage to the rest of the board can often be resolved. Damage to the memory chip, CPU, or logic EEPROM usually isn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<p>Corrosion doesn&#8217;t always look the same. Sometimes it shows up as a crusty buildup of green and white deposits, easy to spot once a board is open. Other times it&#8217;s a sludgier layer of gunk underneath a chip, a mix of contaminants and corrosion byproduct. Corrosion can also bridge connections that were never meant to touch, creating a short.<\/p>\n<p>The opposite case is harder to solve. Corrosion can erode a connection until it&#8217;s simply gone. A missing solder ball underneath a BGA chip, corroded away entirely, leaves no short to trace and no heat signature to follow. The connection is critical, and it&#8217;s just not there anymore.<\/p>\n<p>DriveSavers uses X-ray technology to see damage hidden underneath components. Many of the critical chips on a phone&#8217;s board, including the memory chip, are BGA components, ball grid arrays, which connect to the board not through visible pins on the edge but through a grid of tiny solder balls on the underside of the chip itself. That underside, sandwiched against the board, is one of the places corrosion and debris can collect completely out of sight. The X-ray lets us see what&#8217;s happening in that hidden space before any microsoldering begins, so the work we do on the board is targeted rather than exploratory. The recovery work itself is done under a high-power microscope.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-4\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><style>.vcex-image.vcex_6a63e7e9d2ddb .vcex-image-img{border-radius:15px;}<\/style><figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module wpex-text-center case-study-video vcex_6a63e7e9d2ddb\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><img width=\"966\" height=\"1511\" src=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/corrosion-red-background-1.jpg\" class=\"vcex-image-img wpex-align-middle\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/corrosion-red-background-1.jpg 966w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/corrosion-red-background-1-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/corrosion-red-background-1-655x1024.jpg 655w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/corrosion-red-background-1-768x1201.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/corrosion-red-background-1-8x12.jpg 8w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 966px) 100vw, 966px\" \/><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"case-study-results\" class=\"vc_section vc_custom_1772464064344 wpex-vc-full-width-section wpex-vc-full-width-section--centered wpex-relative wpex-vc_section-has-fill wpex-vc-reset-negative-margin\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 40px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d3f27{color:#3e3d3e;font-size:35px;font-weight:400;}@media (max-width:1024px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d3f27{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:959px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d3f27{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:767px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d3f27{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:479px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d3f27{font-size:25px;}}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-div vcex_6a63e7e9d3f27 translation-block\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">Why <strong><span style=\"color: #e31f26\">Dissolved Minerals Matter<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 20px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-4\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><style>.vcex-image.vcex_6a63e7e9d49dd .vcex-image-img{border-radius:15px;}<\/style><figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module wpex-text-center case-study-video vcex_6a63e7e9d49dd\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><img width=\"1433\" height=\"881\" src=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/wet-phone-IMG_4125-1.jpg\" class=\"vcex-image-img wpex-align-middle\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/wet-phone-IMG_4125-1.jpg 1433w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/wet-phone-IMG_4125-1-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/wet-phone-IMG_4125-1-1024x630.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/wet-phone-IMG_4125-1-768x472.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/wet-phone-IMG_4125-1-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1433px) 100vw, 1433px\" \/><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-8\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Pure water is actually a poor conductor of electricity. What accelerates corrosion is what&#8217;s dissolved in it. Salt water, pool water, and even ordinary tap water all contain dissolved minerals and ions that conduct electricity far more readily than pure water. Chlorides, particularly those found in seawater, also react aggressively with the metals on a circuit board, accelerating corrosion. That&#8217;s why an ocean dunk tends to produce faster, more severe corrosion than the same phone dropped in a sink of clean water, even given the same amount of time.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_section vc_custom_1772464080847 vc_section-o-content-middle vc_section-flex wpex-vc-full-width-section wpex-vc-full-width-section--centered wpex-relative wpex-vc_section-has-fill wpex-vc-reset-negative-margin\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 30px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d5dbf{color:#3e3d3e;font-size:35px;font-weight:400;}@media (max-width:1024px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d5dbf{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:959px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d5dbf{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:767px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d5dbf{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:479px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d5dbf{font-size:25px;}}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-div vcex_6a63e7e9d5dbf translation-block\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">Why <strong><span style=\"color: #e31f26\">Timing Isn't the Same<\/span><\/strong> for Every Phone<\/span><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 20px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>If your phone was already backed up before it got wet, your data is safe, and if the phone can be professionally dried and cleaned, it may be able to be returned to service rather than replaced. If it wasn&#8217;t backed up, cutting the power now still comes first. Your response in these next few minutes could be the determining factor in whether the data is recoverable.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1777731664853 vc_row-o-equal-height vc_row-flex wpex-relative wpex-vc-has-custom-column-spacing wpex-vc-column-spacing-0px no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-3 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div style=\"border-color:#000000!important;\" class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1777731447846\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><style>.vcex-icon.vcex_6a63e7e9d6b43{font-size:25px;}.vcex-icon.vcex_6a63e7e9d6b43 .vcex-icon-wrap{color:#f60000;}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-icon vcex-module vcex-icon-normal wpex-text-center vcex_6a63e7e9d6b43\"><div class=\"vcex-icon-wrap wpex-inline-flex wpex-items-center wpex-justify-center wpex-leading-none\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vc-material vc-material-phone_iphone\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;text-align:center;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><strong>The condition of the phone<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Degraded seals and any existing cracks or frame damage both accelerate the process.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-3 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div style=\"border-color:#000000!important;\" class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1784215396321\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><style>.vcex-icon.vcex_6a63e7e9d7415{font-size:25px;}.vcex-icon.vcex_6a63e7e9d7415 .vcex-icon-wrap{color:#f60000;}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-icon vcex-module vcex-icon-normal wpex-text-center vcex_6a63e7e9d7415\"><div class=\"vcex-icon-wrap wpex-inline-flex wpex-items-center wpex-justify-center wpex-leading-none\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa fa-solid fa-hand-holding-droplet\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;letter-spacing:var(--wpex-tracking-normal);text-align:center;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><strong>What kind of liquid it was<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Salt water and pool water conduct electricity and corrode metal far more aggressively than plain tap water (more on why below).<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-3 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div style=\"background-color:#ffffff!important;border-color:#000000!important;\" class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1777731463422\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><style>.vcex-icon.vcex_6a63e7e9d7d02{font-size:25px;}.vcex-icon.vcex_6a63e7e9d7d02 .vcex-icon-wrap{color:#f60000;}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-icon vcex-module vcex-icon-normal wpex-text-center vcex_6a63e7e9d7d02\"><div class=\"vcex-icon-wrap wpex-inline-flex wpex-items-center wpex-justify-center wpex-leading-none\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa fa-solid fa-cloud-rain\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;text-align:center;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><strong>How the incident happened<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A quick splash, a brief dunk, and an extended submersion all leave the phone in very different states.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-3 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div style=\"border-color:#000000!important;\" class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1777731472225\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><style>.vcex-icon.vcex_6a63e7e9d858b{font-size:25px;}.vcex-icon.vcex_6a63e7e9d858b .vcex-icon-wrap{color:#f60000;}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-icon vcex-module vcex-icon-normal wpex-text-center vcex_6a63e7e9d858b\"><div class=\"vcex-icon-wrap wpex-inline-flex wpex-items-center wpex-justify-center wpex-leading-none\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fa fa-solid fa-fan\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;text-align:center;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><strong>What happened afterward<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Humid conditions or a bag of rice both extend the time the phone spends wet on the inside, which extends the window for corrosion to do damage.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 10px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Because of that, there&#8217;s no reliable countdown to give you. The only response that works across all of these variables is to act immediately rather than wait and see.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"case-study-takeaways\" class=\"vc_section vc_custom_1772464095377 vc_section-o-content-middle vc_section-flex wpex-vc-full-width-section wpex-vc-full-width-section--centered wpex-relative wpex-vc_section-has-fill wpex-vc-reset-negative-margin\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 40px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d9ca2{color:#3e3d3e;font-size:35px;font-weight:400;}@media (max-width:1024px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d9ca2{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:959px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d9ca2{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:767px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d9ca2{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:479px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9d9ca2{font-size:25px;}}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-div vcex_6a63e7e9d9ca2 translation-block\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\">What We've <strong><span style=\"color: #e31f26\">Recovered<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-8\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Time and condition matter, but they&#8217;re not a hard cutoff. We&#8217;ve recovered data from boards where a short circuit burned hot enough to burn straight through the PCB. We&#8217;ve also recovered data from phones submerged in salt water for months, where the CPU had begun delaminating and some of its solder pads, each roughly a quarter of a millimeter across, about half the width of a grain of sand, had to be rebuilt one at a time. The longer a device sits and the worse the corrosion, the harder the recovery and the lower the odds, but harder and lower odds are not the same as gone.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-4\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><style>.vcex-image.vcex_6a63e7e9da9fa .vcex-image-img{border-radius:15px;}<\/style><figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module wpex-text-center case-study-video vcex_6a63e7e9da9fa\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><img width=\"725\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chip-vs-coin-2.png\" class=\"vcex-image-img wpex-align-middle\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chip-vs-coin-2.png 725w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chip-vs-coin-2-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chip-vs-coin-2-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 725px) 100vw, 725px\" \/><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-o-content-middle vc_row-flex wpex-relative no-bottom-margins\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 30px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><style>.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9db7d6{color:#3e3d3e;font-size:35px;font-weight:400;}@media (max-width:1024px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9db7d6{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:959px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9db7d6{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:767px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9db7d6{font-size:25px;}}@media (max-width:479px){.vcex-heading.vcex_6a63e7e9db7d6{font-size:25px;}}<\/style><div class=\"vcex-heading vcex-heading-plain vcex-module wpex-heading wpex-text-2xl wpex-div vcex_6a63e7e9db7d6 translation-block\"><span class=\"vcex-heading-inner wpex-inline-block\"><strong><span style=\"color: #e31f26\">Preventing Data Loss <\/span><\/strong>From Water<\/span><\/div>\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Back up your phone to at least two places, for example, a computer and the cloud, no matter what other precautions you take. Waterproof cases and bags can add a layer of protection, and it&#8217;s worth remembering that manufacturer warranties don&#8217;t cover liquid damage, regardless of a phone&#8217;s water-resistance rating.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 40px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1776873720672 wpex-relative wpex-vc_row-has-fill no-bottom-margins wpex-vc-reset-negative-margin\" style=\"border-color:#000000!important;\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 wpex-vc_col-has-fill\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner vc_custom_1760029818507\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div style=\"color:#6f737e;\" class=\"wpb_text_column has-custom-color wpex-child-inherit-color wpb_content_element vc_custom_1784235288705\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"translation-block\"><strong>DriveSavers recovers data from hundreds of <a href=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/en-ca\/data-recovery-services\/devices-supported\/smartphones-and-tablets\/iphone-data-recovery\/\" target=\"_self\">iPhones<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/en-ca\/data-recovery-services\/devices-supported\/smartphones-and-tablets\/android-data-recovery\/\" target=\"_self\">Androids<\/a>, and other <a href=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/en-ca\/data-recovery-services\/devices-supported\/smartphones-and-tablets\/\" target=\"_self\">smartphones<\/a> every month, from every type of liquid damage situation. If you\u2019ve dropped your phone in the ocean, a pool, a toilet, or anywhere else, call us 24\/7 at &nbsp;<a href=\"tel:+18004401904\" target=\"_self\">1 (800) 440-1904<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the past five years, calls to DriveSavers about water-damaged smartphones have climbed more than 50%. Roughly one in six calls we take during the summer now involves liquid damage, even though nearly every current phone carries a water-resistance rating, usually expressed as an IP, or Ingress Protection, rating.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":84887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[264],"tags":[97,148],"post_series":[],"class_list":["post-84832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-iphone","tag-smartphone","entry","has-media"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Happens When a Smartphone Gets Wet?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Over the past five years, calls to DriveSavers about water-damaged smartphones have climbed more than 50%. Roughly one in six calls we take during the summer now involves liquid damage, even though nearly every current phone carries a water-resistance rating, usually expressed as an IP, or Ingress Protection, rating.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/en-ca\/blog\/what-happens-when-smartphone-gets-wet\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Happens When a Smartphone Gets Wet?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Over the past five years, calls to DriveSavers about water-damaged smartphones have climbed more than 50%. 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