Apple: “Don’t put a wet iPhone in rice”

Saving a wet iPhone by placing it in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice has been a popular rescue method for years, with the logic that rice absorbs excess moisture from the phone. However, the iPhone god recently appeared to warn the poor that relying on rice in such situations could make matters worse.

in Recent support documents, Apple says that if you place a wet device inside a rice bag, “small rice grains can cause damage to your iPhone,” but doesn’t go into further detail. The company also recommended against using other well-known hacks, such as using an external heat source to dry the phone or inserting a cotton swab into the connector. I discovered Apple’s recent advice: mac world.

The company’s warnings about the rice echo those of other repair experts. Rice hack is slow It’s easier than leaving your iPhone on the counter to dry. Time is of the essence in these situations. Most importantly, it prevents water from reaching and damaging the electronics inside your phone.

Rather than relying on rice, Apple provides alternative solutions to users. If your iPhone or charging connector gets wet (in the latter case, you’ll receive an alert and charging will be disabled), Apple recommends the following:

• Unplug the cable from your iPhone and then disconnect the other end of the cable from your power adapter or accessory. Don’t reconnect the cable until your iPhone and cable are completely dry.
• With the connector facing down, tap your iPhone in your hand to remove any excess liquid. Place your iPhone in a dry area with airflow.
• After at least 30 minutes, try charging with a Lightning or USB-C cable or connecting an accessory.
• If the alert appears again, there is still liquid in the connector or under the cable pins. Leave your iPhone in a dry, well-ventilated area for up to 1 day. During this period, you can retry charging or connecting the accessory. It may take up to 24 hours to completely dry.
• If your phone is dry but still won’t charge, unplug the cable from the adapter, disconnect the adapter from the wall (if possible), and plug it back in.

If Apple’s advice doesn’t work, you’ll probably need the help of a professional repair specialist, and you might even need to prepare to buy a new iPhone. But whatever you do, resist the temptation to reach for the rice.

This article was originally published on Gizmodo.