My Samsung Galaxy A10 was working normally until it was exposed to rain. Since then, I can't hear anything through the earpiece, videos have no sound, and during calls I can only hear the other person when speakerphone is enabled. The microphone also seems to work only with speakerphone on. On top of that, the volume-down and power buttons sometimes activate by themselves. I used a hot hair dryer on it, but I haven't yet left it powered off to dry for 48 hours. Does this sound like water damage, and is there anything safe I can try at home?
2 Answers
Yes, those symptoms are consistent with liquid getting into the phone. Turn it off completely and avoid pressing the buttons or charging it while it may still be damp. Place it somewhere warm—not hot—with good airflow and let it dry naturally. A hair dryer can push moisture farther inside or damage components, so don’t use more heat. It may recover after drying, but there’s no guarantee.
If it still has audio, microphone, or button problems after it has thoroughly dried, the internal components may already be damaged. At that point, a repair may cost close to—or more than—the value of the phone, so replacing it could be the more practical option.
How long should I leave it powered off before trying it again?