No, users should not put their iPhone in rice after it's been submerged in water

ATLANTA — We've all done it before, right? You accidentally drop your iPhone in the pool -- a full sink -- or maybe even jump in the ocean without realizing your device is in your pocket.

Then, you rush to find a bag of rice to try to soak out all of the water within your phone.

It's a "hack" that's been around for almost over a decade, but should you do it? 

Question

Does rice help iPhones that are suffering from water damage

Sources

• Apple Support

Answer

No, you shouldn't put your iPhone in rice to fix it after being submerged in water.

Here's why

Although it's just being noticed, in January, Apple posted an update about what to do if users see a "liquid-detection alert" on their iPhone. The latest version of the iPhone, including the XR and XS, will show the alert. 

The alert means that some water was detected in the charging port of the iPhone. 

Here are the steps to dry out your phone the proper way, according to Apple Support. 

• Users should tap their phones against their hands to remove any excess liquid.
• You should then try charging with the appropriate cable after leaving your phone to dry out for about 30 minutes.
• If you continue to see the alert, you should leave your phone out to airdry for the entire day and try to charge it again 24 hours later.

The warning also shows what not to do, which includes putting your phone in rice. 

• Users should not dry their phones with a hairdryer or any other external heat source.
• You shouldn't insert a paper towel or cotton swab into the connector because it could damage the device even further.
• Apple Support also advises against putting your iPhone in rice because it could trap the small particles in the charging port.

For Android users, it is unclear if the rice trick actually works for those phones. Users should check with the manufacturers of their phones for next steps if their phone drops in water. 

Samsung does not mention putting your phone in rice for their devices. To learn next steps for Samsung phone models that are damaged or submerged in water click here.