My iPhone 14 may have gotten iced tea in it a few days ago. Since then, it shuts down and restarts every few minutes. How serious does that sound?
I'm trying to move my WhatsApp chats to a new Samsung phone, but the transfer gets stuck at 99% and the iPhone restarts. My iCloud was full, and adding storage hasn't got the backup working. Is there anything else I can try?
The repeated shutdowns after a spill make liquid damage a real possibility, but nobody can give it a reliable severity score without inspecting the phone. Iced tea can leave residue behind even after the liquid dries.
I'd stop repeatedly powering it on or charging it and take it to a reputable repair shop. Tell them the priority is stabilizing the original phone long enough to recover data, not just getting a working replacement. Ask about the cost and chances before approving a repair.
The restart may be interrupting the preparation, so 99% doesn't necessarily mean the chats are almost ready. Waiting longer might help if the phone stays on, but repeated restarts make that a tough test.
Check WhatsApp's current instructions for transferring from iPhone to Samsung before trying again. The transfer process can have setup requirements on the new phone. Getting the iPhone stable is probably the first hurdle, though.
I'd stop deleting chats or reinstalling WhatsApp for now. Deleted data may not be recoverable, and reinstalling can complicate things if there isn't a usable backup.
Check whether an older WhatsApp backup exists and what date it has. Buying more iCloud storage gives you room for a backup, but it doesn't create one by itself. An iCloud backup also isn't the same thing as a direct transfer to the Samsung.
Answers are reviewed before publication.
+probably!not.today:
If the phone gets hot, swells, smells strange, or shows other signs of battery damage, stop handling or charging it and seek repair help promptly.