I accidentally splashed water onto my bed and didn't realize some had reached the bottom of my phone until I removed the case. The screen itself was dry, but I had already plugged in my 2024 Moto G Power 5G. After about a minute, I noticed a burning smell and crackling sounds, so I unplugged the charger and powered the phone off. The phone and charger are currently sitting near a fan. How long should I leave them to dry, and is it safe to use them again?
3 Answers
The crackling and burnt smell suggest there may have been a short or damage to the charging equipment, so treat this more seriously than a simple splash. Don’t power the phone back on just to test it. After it dries completely, inspect the port for residue or discoloration, and consider replacing the cable or charger rather than risking another short.
Keep the phone powered off and let it dry somewhere warm and well-ventilated for at least 24 hours, with the charging port facing downward. Don’t use rice, heat, a hair dryer, or compressed air. You can gently check the port with a light and carefully use a small piece of tissue at the opening to see whether it’s still damp. Since there was a burning smell and crackling, don’t reuse the charger until it has also been inspected or replaced.
A normal fan on a low setting is generally fine and is safer than applying direct heat. Just avoid blasting air into the port with compressed air, and don’t try charging the phone again until it has had plenty of time to dry. If it later behaves strangely, overheats, or refuses to charge, have the charging port checked by a repair technician.
Thanks, I’ll leave it powered off and let both the phone and charger dry separately before checking them.