If you’ve ever dropped your cellphone in water, chances are you’re acquainted with the solution of submerging it in a bag of dry rice.
The dry grains were thought to suck up any excess moisture and get you back to texting.
While most modern phones can withstand a dunking better than old school cellys could, the charging port remains an Achilles’ heel: If it gets wet, you will likely be unable to charge your phone.
However, Apple is now warning users against using the rice trick, telling users that it could “allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone.”
Similarly, the company advises against using a heat source, compressed air or a Q-Tip or paper towel to dry out the port.
Instead, Apple suggests tapping your phone gently against your hand, with the charging port facing down to shake out any excess liquid. Users are then advised to leave their iPhone “in a dry area with some airflow” for at least 30 minutes.
If that doesn’t work, leave it in that same dry spot for a day then try connecting to a power source again.
If it’s an emergency, Apple says you can override the moisture warning, but warns, “If you charge your iPhone while the Lightning or USB-C connector is wet, the pins on the connector or cable can corrode and cause permanent damage or stop functioning, causing connectivity issues for your iPhone or accessory.”
Alternatively, you can use a wireless charger to get some juice.
If your phone has dried out but still won’t take a charge, Apple suggests unplugging the phone, unplugging the charger from the wall and then connecting everything back.