I accidentally dropped my roughly one-year-old iPhone 15 into a flushed toilet. It was underwater for only a few seconds, and I dried the outside immediately with a towel. I also wiped the exterior with screen-cleaning wipes. The phone initially displayed the moisture warning when I connected a charger, so I held it with the charging port facing cool air from an air conditioner for about 10 minutes. The warning disappeared and it began charging normally. The speakers also sound fine, although the screen protector cracked. Is there anything else I should do or watch for, and could briefly checking the charger have damaged the battery?
4 Answers
The iPhone 15 has an IP68 water-resistance rating, so a brief dunk may not cause any problems, especially since it’s working normally now. However, that rating is based on laboratory testing on a new phone; seals can weaken with age, repairs, or previous drops, and dirty water is still best treated cautiously. Keep an eye out for charging problems, muffled speakers, camera fogging, random restarts, or corrosion over the next few days.
A two-second check of the cable would not normally harm the battery. The warning is mainly intended to prevent electrical damage at the connector, and iPhones generally stop wired charging when moisture is detected. The bigger concern is repeatedly forcing the cable in while the port is damp, so let it dry naturally and use a different dry cable once you resume charging.
The moisture warning is there to protect the charging port, so avoid plugging in a cable again until you’re confident it’s completely dry. Power it down if possible, leave it in a dry, well-ventilated place with the port facing downward, and give it several more hours—overnight is safer. Don’t use heat, compressed air, or rice, and don’t put cleaners or liquids into the port. Wireless charging is a safer temporary option if the back of the phone is dry.
Since the phone was exposed to toilet water, cleaning the outside was sensible, but avoid getting disinfectant or screen cleaner into any openings. If problems appear later, have Apple or a reputable repair shop inspect it rather than spraying contact cleaner into the port. Internal liquid damage can sometimes develop gradually even when the phone seems fine at first.
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