Additional damage possible
Apple warns about iPhone drying in rice
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Rice is often seen as a last resort for smartphones that have taken an involuntary dip in water. Now Apple is sending a warning to its product lovers: The iPhone could be damaged by the procedure.
The technology company Apple warns against drying a wet iPhone with rice. This emerges from a support note on the US company's website. This supposedly safe way to get your iPhone working again after an unwanted water bath with uncooked rice is probably familiar to many smartphone owners; after all, the tip has been floating around the Internet for years.
The idea is to use the rice's ability to absorb liquid or moisture. But “small rice particles” could get into the device and damage the iPhone, according to the company. We also warn against using an external heat source for drying or inserting cotton swabs or paper towels into the openings.
Instead, Apple gives familiar advice and patience is sometimes required. If a warning lights up on your smartphone that the Lightning or USB-C port is wet, you should immediately remove the charging cable and only plug it back in when the phone is completely dry. To do this, gently tap the phone against your hand to shake out the water and then place it in a well-ventilated place. After at least 30 minutes you can try again with the charging cable.
If this is still not successful, you should let the cell phone dry for up to 24 hours and try again and again to see whether the problem has been resolved. However, Apple does not explain how to proceed if this does not help.
According to the manufacturer, the interior of the iPhones in the latest models is already protected against diving in shallower water. Many models have special properties according to the International Protection certification scale. The iPhone 15, for example, has the IP68 certification level, meaning it is dust-proof and can remain underwater for up to 30 minutes at a maximum depth of six meters. The charging ports are obviously not waterproof and must first be dried if the mobile phone goes underwater.
