What if your iPhone’s camera got wet from rain, fell into a bucket of water, or wet surface? Your iPhone is made using some of the most advanced technology in the world, and so it is well designed. However, if you do not take proper precautions, then even your iPhone can suffer permanent damage. And one major threat to your iPhone is water. So, in this detailed guide, we will find out all the methods on how to get water out of iPhone camera.
Can water damage your iPhone camera?
If your iPhone’s camera comes in contact with water or any liquid, then there is a big chance it may stop working properly. However, even in the best-case scenario where your iPhone’s camera is still working, you’ll capture blurry photos instead. The main cause for this is that water clogs the lens of your iPhone’s camera. Nonetheless, there is a chance that your iPhone camera may start working properly if the water gets evaporates.
Is your iPhone waterproof?
So, if you are using iPhone 7 or its later models, then there is a good chance that they are waterproof up to a degree. They can survive exposure to some amount of water or similar liquids.
There is a certification process called Ingress Protection or IP rating. It is mainly for smartphones and electronic devices to certify their ability to resist water. So, depending upon the IP rating, you’ll be able to know whether your device can survive exposure to spills or dips in the water.
There are many different types of IP ratings, and the ones that are most important for iPhones are IP67 and IP68. Here is a list of all iPhone models that have an IP rating and are waterproof.
What to do if an iPhone gets wet?
- If your iPhone is plugged in with any device or charger, then plug it immediately but very carefully.
- Immediately switch off your iPhone or leave it in Sleep mode. If it is already switched off, then don’t turn it on until dried completely, or it might cause short-circuit.
- Dissemble your iPhone by removing the SIM card or case (if any). Water can even reach the small nook and crannies.
- Turn your iPhone upside down and give a gentle shake clear very large droplets of water from ports.
Here’s how to get water out of iPhone camera – 6 methods
Method 1: Clean your iPhone with a microfiber cloth
The first thing you should do when your iPhone camera gets wet is to use a microfiber cloth. If your iPhone’s camera has only been exposed to a few drops of water, then wiping it with a microfiber cloth is more than enough to clean water.
However, if your iPhone has been in the water for quite some time, then you should first clean the entirety of your iPhone, including the camera. And if it is still wet, then you could try some of the other methods in this guide. For instance, you can place it in a rice bag or keep it in a dry place.
Method 2: Place your iPhone in a bag of rice
Uncooked rice is known to absorb moisture or water. In fact, you’ll notice that you need to place your uncooked rice in water before cooking it. So, you need to place your iPhone in an air-tight bag filled with rice.
You should keep your iPhone in rice for nearly 24 hours and check periodically for any changes in the wetness or moisture from your iPhone’s camera lens. The uncooked rice should absorb any water from your iPhone’s lens or its other parts.
An impressive thing about this step is that it really works and not just for your iPhone but for another electronic devices as well. However, you should make sure that you use rice grains that are larger on average. If you use rice with smaller rice grains, then there is a chance that they might enter your device, which can create new problems.
Method 3: Use Silica Gel granules as an alternative to rice
Uncooked rice grains may enter your iPhone’s port or other holes. So, an equally effective alternative to rice is Silica gel. You’ll always find small packets of silica gels on your shoe boxes, handbags, clothes, etc. Their main job is to absorb from your shoes, clothes, and bags and leave no humidity that could ruin your belongings.
Even if you don’t have any silica gel packets lying around, you can still purchase them from nearby stores or online stores such as Amazon.
Here’s how to get water out of iPhone camera by using silica gel:
- Place silica gel granules over your iPhone’s camera so that it absorbs water from your lens.
- You should keep your iPhone with silica gel in an air-tight or sealed place.
- Keep it like that for 48 hours to ensure that there is no water.
However, if you have a pet or children, then you should be careful about lying silica gel around. If they ingest it, then it might cause them harm. So, if silica gel is not an option, then try some of the other methods.
Method 4: Try using a hair dryer
Using rice or silica gel to remove water from your iPhone will take several hours, if not days. So, if you are looking for a quick solution, then you could use the hair dryer. However, using a blow dryer on your iPhone must be done with extreme caution.
If you are going to use the blow dryer on your iPhone, then you should set the dryer in the “Cool” settings. If there are no such settings, then you shouldn’t attempt this method at all. You see, heat from the hair dryer can cause permanent damage to various internal parts on your iPhone. Also, your iPhone’s screen is very insensitive to heat.
When applying the dry air from your hair dryer, always make sure to apply it to your iPhone’s camera or any other part on your iPhone at an angle and from a distance of a few inches. This will ensure that the impact of the full force of the dry air spread out across a large area instead of a smaller one. It will reduce the chances of heating and permanent damage.
Method 5: Use air drying your iPhone
If you think using the hair dryer is too risky for your iPhone, then you could try the safer method of air drying. In this method, you would leave your iPhone in a warm place so that it can dry naturally with the air. It is the safest of methods as you’ll have no risk of damage due to excessive heat or chemicals.
However, the main downside of this method is that it takes a very long time to dry fully. Instead of hours, this method may take days instead of hours. Also, you need to have a dry air environment for this method to work.
If the outside air is dry, you can keep your iPhone near your window sill. However, you shouldn’t keep your iPhone under direct sunlight. This may cause your iPhone to heat up and permanently damage it.
If you don’t have any natural air-dry environment, then you could create one. You could use lamps with incandescent bulbs. However, again make sure that you place your iPhone in such a way that there is no excessive heat buildup.
Method 6: Take your iPhone to an Apple repair shop
So, you have tried all or some of the above methods, and still, your iPhone camera doesn’t work. Or you don’t want to try any of the above methods for fear of causing any permanent damage yourself. In that case, you should take your iPhone to your Apple service center or any Apple-certified repair shop.
It will be the most expensive alternative of all the methods, but it is the safest method. As Apple’s engineers are experts, and if anyone can make your iPhone camera work, then it is them.
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Here’s how to get water out of your Phone without rice
So, don’t have rice at home or don’t want to use it, then no problem. First, you need to gently share your iPhone to remove any excess water droplets. Then take a microfiber cloth to wash off any wet surface. Then you could use any of the above methods other than the one that involves rice. An alternative to rice is silica gel packets. Or you could use a hair dryer or place it under a lamp.
How long does it take for an iPhone to dry out?
It depends on the amount of water your iPhone was exposed to. If it was only exposed few drops of water, then you might need a few good wipes with a microfiber cloth and a couple of hours to dry out. However, if you’ve dropped your iPhone in water, then it might take a very long time to dry out. Maybe even days.
How to defog your iPhone camera lens
The best way to defog your camera lens is to place it in a warm room or place. You could place it under a lamp or near your room heater. You could even use the heat from a hair dryer. However, you need to be extra careful when using that. So, if you want to avoid a foggy camera lens, then make sure that your iPhone is kept in a warm place.
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