Published February 19, 2024 Vincent Paquette
How long have you heard people say that if you drop your phone in water, you should quickly put it in a bag of rice? According to this rumor, rice absorbs moisture from our mobile phone (smartphone) and limits damage. However, this is wrong and Apple emphasizes that it can harm our iPhone or cell phone. A policy that applies to all phones such as Samsung, Google and others.
It's not always easy to distinguish a rumor from an urban legend. Especially when it is something that is deeply anchored in collective thinking.
One of these rumors that has become an urban legend is the idea of putting our smartphone in a bag or a bowl of rice when it falls into water.
Since rice has a reputation for being able to absorb moisture, the idea that it could remove the water inside the phone spread.
Some people even suggest better solutions, they say, like putting the wet phone in kitty litter or oatmeal or using a cotton swab.
So many options that don't go well together!
How do I remove moisture and water from a phone?
There is a page on Apple's support site that explains what we should and shouldn't do if our phone falls into water.
How do I dry my phone quickly?
To dry our phone, Apple recommends:
What should we not do if our phone falls into water?
Conversely, Apple does not recommend the following to dry our phone:
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Do not dry your iPhone with an external heat source or can of compressed air.
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Do not insert foreign objects such as cotton swabs or paper towels into the port
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Do not put your iPhone in a bag of rice as small particles of this grass could damage your device.
Why shouldn't you put your phone in the rice?
While it is true that rice can absorb some moisture, it is wrong to think that it can absorb all the water that has entered the phone's circuitry.
In addition, as Apple mentions, rice particles can enter our cell phone and thus damage the interior of the phone.
Although it's scary to see your phone fall into the water, we have to stay calm. Especially since most phones these days come with a water resistance rating.
Most have an IP67 rating, which allows our phone to be submerged to a depth of about 1 meter.
If we drop it into a deeper pool, the pressure will cause water to enter our phone.
Therefore, as counterintuitive as it may seem, we must remain calm and follow Apple's advice.
In the event that our phone still does not wake up, we must contact a certified repairer to try a final intervention.