How to know if your iPhone has water damage?

How to know if your iPhone has water damage?
I recently dropped my iPhone in a puddle and now I’m worried it might be water damaged. I want to learn how to know if my iPhone has water damage. It’s crucial for me to find out because I use my iPhone for everything from work to staying connected with my family. I need detailed signs to look for, like any visible indications on the device or unusual behaviors in its functionality. It’s quite concerning not knowing whether the water exposure has affected my iPhone internally. Just thinking about potential issues like hardware failure or short circuits makes me anxious. I need to make sure I identify any damage quickly to address it before it gets worse.
4 Answers

Identifying water damage in an iPhone involves a few steps:
1. Inspect the screen and camera for fogging or water droplets.
2. Check the phone’s performance—look for any signs of malfunction, like apps crashing or the phone heating up excessively.
3. Listen for crackling in the speaker or distortion in the microphone during calls, which can suggest water intrusion.

I encountered a similar issue with my iPhone after accidentally dropping it in water. Here’s how I figured out it was damaged:
1. I immediately turned off the device to prevent further short-circuiting.
2. After drying it out, I observed if the touchscreen was responsive or if there were any visible watermarks inside the camera lens.
3. I also carefully checked the external port areas and listened for audio clarity during calls. Muffled or distorted sounds can definitely indicate moisture damage.

To determine if your iPhone has water damage, you should first check the Liquid Contact Indicators (LCIs). Every iPhone model has LCIs located differently, but they typically change color when they come in direct contact with water. Here’s how to locate them:
1. Remove the SIM tray.
2. Use a flashlight to peer inside the SIM card slot.
3. If the indicator is red, your iPhone most likely has water damage. If it’s white or silver, it’s still dry.

Signs of water damage on an iPhone can be subtle or obvious. Here’s what I look for when diagnosing water damage:
1. Visible signs of moisture under the screen or camera lens.
2. Unusual behavior like unresponsive touchscreen, random reboots, or problems with charging.
3. Check the speaker and microphones for muffled sound or no sound at all, as water often affects these components.