6 Things We Can Do To Save A Water Damaged iPhone

“Hey there! I accidentally spilled water on my iPhone 14 Pro yesterday and it won`t turn on anymore. I was pretty sure I retrieved the phone within 10 seconds, yet it’s not working! Is there a way to save and fix water-damaged iPhone?”

If you’ve ever accidentally dropped your phone in water or drenched it in rain, then you’re not alone. From a split cup of coffee or water to dropping it in pools, bathtubs or toilets, your iPhone can be water-damaged due to various reasons.

With new-generation Apple devices, water exposure isn’t an immediate death sentence for your iPhone as it used to be. But it can still create issues in your iPhone, such as:

• Liquid droplets flowing inside the iPhone screen
• Issues in the charging port or the iPhone won’t charge.
• No audio or ruffled audio.
• Blurry images due to moisture in the camera lens.
• The internal part of the device gets corroded.

While the new iPhones have good water resistant capabilities, this doesn’t mean they are totally immune to water. Being electronic devices, water can seriously damage them.

This article shares several best practices that can help you save a water-damaged iPhone. But first, let’s understand how water resistant your iPhone is.

Is my iPhone water resistant?

The water resistance of the smartphones is rated by the “ingress protection” code, also called IP rating.

This rating includes two number: the first number indicates protection against solids, such as dust, whereas the second demonstrate resistance to liquid, mainly water. For example, the iPhone 12 has a rating of IP68, which means it provides six levels of protection from solid and eight levels of protection from liquid.

There are multiple types of IP ratings, but IP67 and IP68 are mainly applied to iPhones.

• IP67  – A device with this rating can withstand being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for a maximum of 30 minutes
• IP68 – iPhone with an IP68 rating can survive submersion in water up to 2 meters for a maximum of 30 minutes

Here’s the list of last few generation iPhone with their IP rating

• iPhone 15/15 Plus/ 15 Pro/ 15 Pro Max – IP68
• iPhone 14/14 Plus/ 14 Pro/ 14 Pro Max – IP68
• iPhone13/ 13 Mini/ 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max – IP68
• iPhone12/ 12 Mini/ 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max – IP68
• iPhone 11/ 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max – IP68
• iPhone XS/ XS Max – IP68
• iPhone X/XR /8/8 Plus /7 /7 Plus/ SE (2^nd generation) – IP67

What Not to Do?

Most iPhones offer certain level of water resistance, but it doesn’t mean an iPhone dropped in swimming pool or a bucket full of water is immune to any damage. Moreover, not every repair step will help you fix water-damaged iPhone; and some can complicate things further. Before, we start on potential steps to save your water-damaged iPhone, let’s first look at some absolute things that worsen the cause and should be avoided at all costs.

1. Don’t turn on your iPhone

Your iPhone will turn off automatically after being dropped in water. However, you should manually turn it off if it doesn’t turn off. Turn your phone on only if you are sure water or moisture content from the exterior and interior is completely dry. Turning on the water-damaged iPhone might cause water to reach inside the device, causing it to malfunction.

2. Plug it in or Use the Charging Port in Any Way

Moreover, don’t charge your iPhone battery as it can result in an electrical short circuit or even combustion, resulting in a fire. No matter how water resistant the iPhone is, it’s better to not plug it in when wet or water-damaged.

3. Don’t use hot air to blow dry your iPhone

Blow-drying your iPhone with hot air can damage your device further. Hot air may heat your iPhone to an unbearable degree, making it unsuitable for device hardware. Also, avoid using a space heater or furnace sidewall exhaust to dry your iPhone.

Steps You Can Take to Potentially Save Your Water-Damaged iPhone

If you drop your iPhone in water, the following methods can save your iPhone from potential damage.

1. Take it out and turn it off immediately

Remove your iPhone from the water right away. Once retrieved, turn it off immediately. If there is any iPhone cover and screen guard to protect your phone, remove them as they might hold moisture. Use a paper towel or cotton cloth to wipe the iPhone’s exterior.

2. Evacuate the SIM card

After drying the iPhone’s exterior, remove the SIM card tray, if not using an e-SIM. Although SIM cards have a watertight seal, getting them out helps. Use a paper towel to dry the SIM card and the tray.

3. Dry your iPhone

While Apple recommends simply wiping the iPhone dry or tapping excess water out of the ports, we recommend the below-mentioned ways to ensure your iPhone is as dry as possible.

• Place it in a dry place

You need to place the iPhone in a warm and dry place so the water inside the phone can evaporate. Place it in a nearby window with proper sunlight, but do not expose the device to harsh sunlight.

• Place it in uncooked rice

The uncooked rice trick used to be the go-to method to dry any visible liquid in iPhone, as rice absorbs moisture quickly. Place the iPhone in a bag or bowl of rice for a day or two to ensure the water traces inside the phone are absorbed entirely. However, this method is slightly risky, as uncooked rice can push grains and dust in the charging port of your device.

• Dry it with silica gel packets

If the water has seeped into the internal parts of the iPhone, try burying it in a heap of silica gel bags in an airtight container. This helps in absorbing the moisture from the inside of your iPhone. Using silica gel packets is a safer alternative to the uncooked rice method for drying a wet iPhone, as nothing will get clogged in the ports.

• Use a hairdryer (if it has a cool wind setting)

If your hair dryer has a cool wind setting, you can use it to dry wet iPhone. While drying the iPhone, keep the hair dryer in low mode and keep your iPhone at a distance so that air blowing doesn’t cause any damage.

Or, you can keep your iPhone under a cool air fan to dry it.

4. Disassemble the phone and let it air dry

If drying the iPhone via uncooked rice method or silica gel packet doesn’t work, consider dismantling it as your last resort. You can use DIY repair tips to open the device to dry it out or go to any trusted tech expert.

Caution: We wouldn’t recommend dismantling the iPhone using DIY tips as it may worsen the problem.

Dismantle your iPhone carefully, air dry its interior, and assemble it back after a few hours. Also, if the Liquid Contact Indicators inside the iPhone have already detected water damage, opening the phone invalidates your warranty coverage.

5. Check if your warranty is still valid

If all the above efforts fail to fix the iPhone from water damage, you must check if the device’s warranty is still valid. If it is, call your manufacturer and request a repair or replacement. If it is invalid, visit an Apple Genius bar to repair your cell phone.

6. Take the phone to an approved repair shop

The longer you wait to take your iPhone to an Apple Genius bar, the more damage it incurs. If you cannot dry the wet iPhone by following the manual methods mentioned above, rush to an Apple Genius bar to get it repaired and minimize the chances of further damage.

How To Find Out If Your iPhone Has Water Damage?

Liquid Contact Indicator, or LCI, is the new way to determine whether or not your iPhone is exposed to water damage. An LCI is generally of white or silver color; however, when it comes in contact with water or other liquid, it turns red.

See the table to learn where the indicators are planted in your respective iPhone, depending upon its model.

How To Recover Data From Water-Damaged iPhone?

Once you have powered on your water-damaged iPhone after drying, it is possible to recover data from it. There are two ways to recover lost data from water-damaged iPhones: backup services or professional iPhone data recovery software .

Let’s see various scenarios where you can recover data from a water-damaged iPhone:

iPhone won’t turn on

If your iPhone won’t turn on even after drying the wet iPhone using the tips mentioned above, it has short-circuited or water has eroded some of its internal components. In such a situation, use any backup service to recover your iPhone data.

If you have enabled iCloud backup on your iPhone, you can easily restore your data. You can visit the official iCloud website and log into your account to save the lost data on your computer. Or, set up your new iPhone using the existing iCloud credentials to restore the data of your previous iPhone.

iPhone starts but data is lost

If you turn your iPhone back on again, but its data is lost, try setting up your phone with existing iCloud account to recover the data. However, if you haven’t enabled iCloud backup, it is recommended that you use reliable iPhone data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. This software recovers deleted/lost photos, videos, audio, messages, voice memos, calendars etc. from iPhone, iPad, iTunes, and iCloud backup files.

The software supports recovery in all data loss scenarios like water-damaged devices, accidental deletion, failed iOS updates, iPhone stuck in recovery mode, etc. This iPhone recovery software is compatible with all variants of iPad and iPhone, including the series of iPhone 15/14/13/12/11 and below.

Conclusion

We hope you fix the water-damaged iPhone after following the above suggestion. However, it would be best if you were extra careful to protect your iPhone from any type of water damage. Here are some best practices you must follow:

• Use a waterproof case to provide an additional layer of protection to your iPhone against water.
• Keep your iPhone away from sinks, bathrooms, toilets, etc.
• Be mindful in rainy conditions, and put your phone in a waterproof bag or safe pocket.
• Refrain from touching your iPhone with wet hands.
• Take regular data backups, as it is handy in data loss situations.

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FAQs

What do I do if my iPhone speaker doesn’t work after falling into water?

If there is water in your iPhone speaker, it may not work. In such a situation, try drying your iPhone and turning it on to take a backup of your data before testing the speaker. You can even visit Apple Genius Bar to get the help of a tech expert to fix your iPhone.

How to Activate Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone

If you want to recover and save the missing or deleted iPhone data, activate Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone on your computer.

The demo version of the software is only for evaluation purposes. To use its full functionality, purchase the software and then activate it.

The software can be activated using the Activation Key, which you receive via email after purchasing the software. It would help if you had an active Internet connection to activate Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone .

Steps to activate Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone

1. Run the demo version of Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone software
2. On the main interface, click the Activation icon

1. The Activation window appears. Enter the Activation Key you received in your email after purchasing the software.

1. Click Activate
2. The software verifies the entered key. After successful verification, a message appears saying ‘Activation Completed Successfully’. Click OK.

If you don’t have the Activation Key of Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone, here’s how to get it…

In case you don’t have an Activation Key, follow the below steps:

• Free download and install the software on your computer
• Click on the Activation icon on the home screen of the software
• Click Get it now

• The software directs you to the buy page. Next, click on Windows or Mac tab, as per your system.
• Click on Buy Now button to purchase the software
• Fill in your details as asked
• After purchasing the software within a few minutes, you will receive an Activation Key and the link to download the product on your email. Use that link and key to activate Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone as given in steps (1-6)

Note: If you didn’t receive the Activation Key at your registered email within a few minutes of purchasing the software, contact our customer support via mail, chat, or call.

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone® Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone® is the best DIY software to recover missing or accidentally deleted Contacts, Messages, Calendar, Photos, Videos, Call History etc directly from iPhone or iPad.

Top iPhone Message Recovery Software

iPhone is a valuable digital device, and so are the messages you store in it. Nonetheless, many users may accidentally delete them at once while deleting some unnecessary apps or data from their iPhones. If you are a victim of such an incident and looking for quick options to recover iPhone messages, this article is your ultimate saviour.

Do iPhone recovery programs work?

Yes! iPhone’s built-in recovery options can restore temporarily deleted or lost messages hidden in the operating system. Moreover, many iPhone-friendly tools and applications guarantee retrieval of lost messages without using backup options. Simply download and install the tool and play along to scan your iOS device.

What is the best message recovery software?

With a wide range of data recovery software available online, finding an ideal solution to recover lost messages would be challenging. Here’s some criteria for selecting the right tool:

• The software or tool can recover deleted messages even without backup.
• It can recover deleted messages on iPhone from iCloud or iTunes without affecting the existing data.
• The tool is virus-free, reliable, and safe to use.
• It is compatible with all iOS models, including iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, or XS.
• It can recover various iOS files like messages, photos, videos, contacts, WhatsApp, or FaceTime messages.
• The tool must offer professional technical support to address your queries while using the software.

Pro Tip: Stop using your iPhone as soon as you realize that a significant amount of data, including files, messages, photos, etc., are lost. Any operation on the device may overwrite the hidden or lost data, making it irretrievable.

Best 5 iPhone Message Recovery Software to Try

1. Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone

One of the most esteemed iPhone data recovery tools, Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone , is known for its incredibly intuitive GUI. It meets all the above-mentioned criteria that make it proficient at salvaging your lost iPhone messages, WhatsApp chats, FaceTime data, etc. Further, the tool can transfer your important messages from iPhone to personal computer, laptop, or Mac.

Besides data recovery from iPhone, iCloud, and iTunes, Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone gives you the option to selectively browse, preview, and recover data after scan. Moreover, it allows you to permanently erase unwanted data from your iPhone beyond recovery. All such advanced features make it a prestigious iPhone recovery message option. Read this KB to recover deleted data from iPhone via Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone - Advantages

• The tool can recover unlimited file formats on storage media, be it Safari bookmarks, notes, voice memos, and WhatsApp chat history, or general messages.

• You can preview all the data recovered from your iPhone for free.

• It is proficient at recovering deleted data from an encrypted backup.

• The tool is easy-to-use and does deep scanning of an iPhone.

• It can also perform recovery of lost data from iTunes and iCloud backup.

• Disadvantages You cannot save the recovered messages or files without purchasing the software.

2. Dr. Fone for iOS

Dr. Fone for iOS is another famous iPhone message recovery application. It’s a professional tool that guides you on retrieving deleted messages on your iPhone while enabling recovery of diverse iOS files, including contacts, photos, voicemails, and SMS. The app has a preview function to help you view the deleted messages before recovery.

Dr. Fone for iOS - Advantages

• Swiftly recovers data from iTunes, iCloud, and iPhone
• Compatible with all iPhone models.

Disadvantages

• You can’t access advanced data recovery functionalities without using the upgraded version.
• The application is costly to upgrade.

3. EaseUS MobiSaver

EaseUS MobiSaver is an iPhone SMS recovery software that can scan your iOS device, iCloud backup, and iTunes backup to trace the lost message files. It not only recovers lost messages but also helps you retrieve data from your iPhone if your device turns inaccessible. The free version has certain limitations which can be overcome using the paid version.

EaseUS MobiSaver – Advantages

• It is an absolutely free data recovery solution.
• It can recover messages from a water-damaged, broken, lost, or cracked iPhone.
• The app displays all the deleted files.

Disadvantages

• Its data recovery success rate is low compared with other professional software.
• Being a free tool, it can recover only a limited set of data files.

4. Syncios Data Recovery

This tool claims to bring back all deleted or lost data from iPhone, including audio files, SMS, documents, video files, and contacts. Syncios Data Recovery works for all iPhones, iPads, or even iPods. It is recommended to download the free trial version and see if your deleted messages can be recovered or not.

Syncios Data Recovery - Advantages

• The tool is compatible with all versions of the iPhone.
• You can reach out to their quality customer service via email or phone.
• The brand offers free technical support for a lifetime.

Disadvantages

• It takes a long time to retrieve deleted text messages from iPhone or lost data.

5. iMyFone D-Back

This tool enables you to recover the data in all iOS devices whose data have been lost or deleted accidentally. Renowned as iPhone text recovery app, iMyFone D-Back claims to recover all the lost SMS, WhatsApp texts, contacts, notes, call history, and photos. Further, the tool can easily and swiftly bring back iCloud, iTunes, and even iOS backup files. Its smooth preview function enables you to check and recover selective items only.

iMyFone D-Back - Advantages

• It can recover about 20+ varieties of files.
• The tool is free from viruses and malware.
• Besides iPhone, it is also compatible with almost all iPad versions.

Disadvantages

• Data recovery from iCloud remains a challenge.
• It cannot recover all kinds of lost data files.

The Bottom Line

iPhone data recovery tools are available in bulk. All are significantly different from each other in terms of functionality and proficiency. We cherry-picked some reputed tools for you to ease the pain of losing crucial messages from iPhone. There is no one-size-fits-all tool in the iPhone data recovery category. Therefore, we suggest you pick a reliable software, which is trusted and recommended by industry veterans, easy-to-use, and performs multiple functions at a reasonable cost. This article will give you a clear picture of which tool is the most suitable to overcome your iPhone messages recovery needs.

How to Recover Deleted Notes from iPhone?

Summary: Lost Notes from iPhone after iOS upgrade, deletion, factory reset, etc.? This post shares 5 best ways to restore lost Notes on iPhone. Also learn how Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone quickly recovers only the missing Notes from your iPhone.

When Matt opened his iPhone 14 Notes after iOS 16.4 upgrade, he found many of his old Notes had disappeared. He was repenting about the upgrade and now looking for ways to get back his Notes on his iPhone.

Notes are important for those who make optimum use of this app. However, if you have also lost them for some reason, this post shares how to restore the lost Notes on your iPhone.

Often underrated, iPhone Notes app lets you do much more than you can think of  — scribbling thoughts, ideas, checklists, sketching, adding photos, and videos, attaching location links from Maps, etc.

However, Notes may disappear after an iOS update, jailbreak, factory reset, accidental deletion, etc.

How to Recover Notes on iPhone?

Usually, Notes can be recovered from iCloud, iTunes, or your recently deleted Notes App folder.

But, if in a situation when you have deleted Notes and also don’t have a backup in iCloud, an iPhone recovery software is the way to go.

Top 5 methods that can recover lost Notes from iPhone

1. Recover iPhone Notes & Attachments without backup
2. Restore Notes from iCloud backup
3. Restore from iTunes backup
4. Recover Recently Deleted folder
5. Restore Notes from e-mail account on iPhone

1. Recover iPhone Notes & Attachments without Backup

There is a plethora of iPhone recovery software. Carefully pick that supports Notes and attachments recovery. Most importantly, the iPhone recovery software should be 100% secure to download and free from viruses.

Advanced tools such as Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone can recover even permanently deleted Notes and their attachments. It is fast, easy to use, and supports the latest iOS and iPhone versions.

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone restores in situations like,

• In the absence of iCloud backup
• Factory Reset of iPhone
• Unable to retrieve Notes from iCloud/ iTunes
• iPhone is damaged or stolen
• and others

The software lets you recover deleted Notes from iPhone , iPad, iCloud, and iTunes. It thoroughly scans the iOS device and backup to restore every bit of lost data. If you don’t find the required Notes after running the initial quick scan, it offers a second-level Deep Scan for a more comprehensive search.

Unlike Apple backups — iCloud and iTunes, you can select only those Notes and their attachments that you need. Thus, the software protects you from unnecessary data recovery.

You can view the lost and deleted Notes of iPhone in the demo version of the software.

 Step-by-step: Recover deleted/ lost Notes and Attachments on iPhone

• Download Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone on your Mac/PC
• Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch the software
• Choose “Recover from iPhone”, select “Notes & Reminders” and click “Next”

• Select your device and click “Scan.”

• After scanning, select Notes on your left pane to preview in the right pane before saving.

• Click on Save and browse the desired location to save the recovered notes.

Recover Notes from Apple Backups

iCloud and iTunes backup storage protect against data loss. If your Notes are backed up in any of the two, recover the files from there.

Just log in through your Apple ID and restore Notes from backup.

However, one of the major drawbacks of this method is that it will remove and replace all your existing iPhone data, including Camera Roll, apps, messages, music, etc.

2. How to recover iPhone Notes from iCloud backup

• Go to Settings > General > Reset> Erase all Contents and Settings
• On Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup
• Sign in to your iCloud account
• Choose the last backup and Restore

3. How to restore Notes from iTunes

• Connect iPhone to PC/Mac
• Launch iTunes
• Select your iPhone under the Device list and choose the recent backup entry date
• Click Restore Backup

4. Recover iPhone Notes from ‘Recently Deleted.’

Once you delete Notes, they remain in the recently deleted folder on your iPhone for 30 days. After that, Notes are permanently deleted from the device.

Steps to restore from ‘Recently Deleted.’

• In the Notes app, tap Recently Deleted.
• Select the notes you want to restore
• Click Recover in the toolbar. The note moves to the Notes folder

5. Restore Notes from an e-mail account on iPhone

When you delete a Note from your iPhone, it remains in your e-mail account of your iPhone. So, for example, suppose you use Gmail on your iPhone, and all your Notes are saved to the e-mail address.

Steps to restore Notes from e-mail on iPhone

• Go to Setting > Accounts & Passwords

• Click on each email account (Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, etc.) one by one

• Turn on Notes for each account

• Open the Notes app to see if they are back

Byte: Do you know the email accounts on your iPhone can store Contacts, Calendars, and Notes, apart from sending e-mails.

Wrapping Up

Notes are your best companion; you don’t want to part with them. Recover all or specific Notes with the help of iPhone notes recovery software.

However, you can also try to restore deleted Notes from an iCloud, e-mail accounts,s or recently deleted folders on your iPhone. However, Stellar iPhone Recovery software is the best solution for permanently deleted Notes in case of the absence of backup.