How to get water out of iPhone camera: your best guide

How to get water out of iPhone camera? Nowadays, our smartphones have become part of our hands. We take them everywhere we go including bathrooms, beaches, kitchens, the rainy weather, etc.

Therefore sometimes little accidents with water cannot be avoided. Water can get onto a device or, what is worse, we can accidentally drop it in it. In those cases, it is often important to immediately remove the liquids to secure the smartphone from further damage.

Some newer iPhone models are relatively water resistant but in certain situations, even those can let some moisture inside. Of course, an older iPhone model will be less protective of the internal components, especially the camera’s lens.

In this article, you will find some instructions on what should be done if you need to get water out of iPhone.

Estimating the level of water damage

After your device came in contact with water the first rule would be to not make things worse.

Before you examine your iPhone for damage, there are a few things you should do first.

Should be done immediately

1. Retrieve it from the liquid (if it was accidentally dropped into it) as soon as possible or move it away from the moisture to avoid more of it soaking in.
2. Switch the phone off. You should fight your instinct to check if it works okay by going into the apps or your gallery. As you know water is not a friend of electrical devices so if they continue working with moisture inside it raises the chance of a short circuit. If that happens, you might not be able to help your device anymore.
3. Retrieve the SIM card slot and the battery if possible.
4. You need to gently wipe it with a lint free cloth to absorb moisture you can see. Do not forget to remove the protective case before that if you have it.

What you should never do

Do not use heat or a hairdryer to dry your device. Not only the heat can damage the fragile parts but it also can help the moisture spread.

Do not shake your smartphone trying to get the water out – it will only help it travel further inside. On the contrary, keep your phone upright and steady.

Avoid direct sunlight. After you make sure to do all the above, carefully examine your smartphone for the presence of water inside.

You can assume how much water damage is done if you know for how long the device was in contact with water or in it. Certainly, the longer the worse.

Older iPhone models (before the iPhone 7) are not at all water resistant. Later ones can handle up to 30 minutes under the water at a depth from 1 to 6 meters (the depth varies for different models) without serious damage. However, you should remember that moisture can still get into the iPhone’s internal components.

The first one to suffer from water is usually the camera module as it is the least protected.

If it was submerged in liquids for a while that is enough reason to take your smartphone straight to a repair shop which is an obvious solution and probably the best one.

Sometimes though if the damage is not significant or a repair store is unavailable it could not hurt to know a few tricks on how to get water out of iPhone camera or other parts.

What to do if the water got into the iPhone camera lens

If you have your phone carefully wiped with a microfiber cloth after the contact with water and you still can see the drops under the housing or the camera lens seems fogged that means that the moisture got inside.

We will now introduce you to a few tips on how to get water out of iPhone camera assuming that it was just the camera that got damaged.

So, once you have your phone switched off, the sim tray and the protective case removed, and the device is placed into the dry environment you can go for one of the following methods to help the water evaporate faster.

Silica gel

Silica gel is the most effective among other desiccant materials which is quite commonly used for protecting new goods from excess humidity.

You may have found some silica gel packets inside the box with your new shoes or other purchases you made.

If those can still be found at home here is what you should do:

1. Find an air-tight container or a zip lock bag that would fit your iPhone.
2. Take several silica gel packets (from 5 to 10 or as many as you have available). Make sure they were not already used to soak up moisture before as their capacity is quite limited.
3. Place your phone into the bag or plastic container together with silica gel backs. Some of them should be laid on the bottom and some on top of the device.
4. Close it tightly to prevent the air from getting in. This will help you make sure that the desiccant will be soaking the moisture from the device and not from around.
5. Leave it like this for at least 24 hours. A few hours might not do a trick, so you should avoid using your device for one or even two days. Do not try to charge the device during the drying time as well!

Now, you can finally take it out and switch it on.

When you start using your device again pay close attention to how it functions. Ideally, everything should work the same as before the contact with water.

If the screen does not respond adequately, or you can still see that the camera lens is foggy or the pictures you take are blurry that most likely means that the moisture is still there and got into your iPhone’s internal components.

Another indication of the remaining problem can be the blurry sound.

If any misfunction appears after the drying we strongly suggest taking your device to the Apple store or another repair shop.

Rice method

Rice has proven itself to be quite an effective solution for water-damaged electronics as well.

It is often easier to find on short notice, so in case silica gel packets are not available rice can be a lifesaver.

As for its disadvantages, its grains are small and can get inside your device through ports, or get stuck in dynamics or housing. It usually does not take much effort to retrieve them though.

So, if rice is your choice, follow the steps below:

1. Find an air-tight container or a zip lock bag that would fit your iPhone.
2. Fill it up to half with uncooked rice.
3. Place your device inside so the rice grains surround it.
4. Once again time is everything. Be prepared to leave your device in rice for one or two days – the longer you let the rice soak the water out of iPhone the better.

When it is time to get it out make sure to clean in from the grains that might have stuck into the housing.

Once again, for the next couple of days be attentive to the way the phone functions. In case there is something odd take your device to a repair shop or Apple store as soon as possible.

Disassembling for better drying

Before we share the tips on this one, please consider a few things that might make decide against this method.

First of all, usually, the minute you disassemble your device yourself the warranty stops applying.

Secondly, there is always a chance to damage it more without proper skill, knowledge and equipment.

If you still feel confident about the procedure let’s get started:

1. Clear up the space making sure that there is nothing on the way and that you will be able to place and find all the tiniest details.
2. You are going to need a proper-sized screwdriver.
3. Carefully remove the screws starting with the ones in the charging port, and place them somewhere safe where you will be able to find them.
4. Split the display and the back slowly and carefully. For that, you can use a spudger for instance.
5. Once it is done, remove the battery to avoid a short circuit. This is crucially important if you want to prevent any further damage.
6. If you can see the water on the insides gently wipe them with a soft dry cloth.
7. In case there is a reason to suspect that the components out of your reach can still withhold moisture leave the phone disassembled to dry for a few hours. That should help evaporate water out of iPhone.
8. Placing all the parts exactly where they were, reassemble the device.

Keep an eye on how the device functions afterward.

Apple support vs. other methods

We must say that neither of the tips on how to get water out of iPhone camera described above are as safe as putting it in the hands of a professional.

A specialized repair person will provide you with a service that includes the most thorough inspection and repair due to the equipment and knowledge they have at their disposal.

Therefore, we suggest going for the methods above only in case you cannot find professional help on short notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

To sum up

We cannot always prevent water damage to our devices, so it is useful to know how to act if it happens.

Rice and silica gel have proved to help absorb the moisture from an iPhone camera especially if we are talking about slight damage. Keeping the phone inside a ziplock bag for at least 24 hours should do the trick.

There are a few important things to remember though.

First, always switch off the phone immediately after the incident.

Never try to use extreme heat or a hairdryer.

Do not charge the device unless you are sure it dried completely.

Although we hope that the tips above will serve you well, the best recommendation is still to get professional help to deal with water damage.