Apple issues warning to never put iPhone in rice for dangerous reaason – and what you should do instead
APPLE has warned that you must never place your iPhone in a bowl of rice.
Millions of people around the world are (wrongly) convinced that rice is the perfect way to dry out a wet iPhone.
But an Apple notice quietly published in 2022 confirms this as a myth.
The note reveals what to do if your iPhone gets wet and ends up with water in the Lightning port.
It lists three things you must never do, and placing it in rice is featured.
“Don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice,” Apple warns.
“Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone.”
It’s very possible that these minute rice particles could make their way into your iPhone’s nooks and crannies.
They could get lodged in your charging port, or cause wear on your device.
And what’s worse: rice won’t do anything to dry your iPhone out faster.
Rice can’t absorb water from the air effectively enough to dry your iPhone out.
Maybe you’ve tried it in the past and it worked. The fact is that it would’ve worked even without the rice – and likely just benefitted from being left alone with the chance to dry.
So what should you really do when your iPhone is wet?
First look out for an iPhone notification that warns you if there’s water in your Lightning port.
That means you’re at risk of corrosion permanently damaging your phone.
Apple offers up three tips to dry out your iPhone.
“Tap your iPhone gently against your hand with the Lightning connector facing down to remove excess liquid,” Apple says.
“Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow.”
After at least 30 minutes, Apple recommends trying to charge your phone again.
If you still see a water warning, you’ll need to leave your iPhone in a dry place with some airflow for up to a day.
Apple says it might take up to 24 hours for it to fully dry.
The iPhone maker recommends against drying it using an external heat source or compressed air.
You should also avoid inserting a foreign object like a cotton swap or paper towel into the Lightning connector.
Featured Image Credit: Apple / Unsplash / Emojipedia / The U.S. Sun