Apple has issued a stark warning to iPhone users to not put their phone in rice if it gets wet.
We’ve all been there.
That horrifying moment when your phone tumbles out of your hands to land in the bath, the sink, or, worst of all … the toilet.
And many of us believe that the best solution to a damp phone is to place it in rice.
However, Apple has now issued a stark warning against this solution…
iPhone users across the internet have been left shocked by the news.
One Facebook user jokes: “Apple is about to produce iRice. It’ll be more compatible. Buy your iRice from the nearby Apple Store now!!”
Another laughs: “The only place an iPhone should be placed, is in the bin!!!”
While another points out: “I’m pretty sure users can survive without their devices for the few minutes it takes to do their business in the bathroom where most of these accidents occur.”
“Been doing this for many years with great success, so I’ll continue using rice whenever I see fit,” protests a fourth.
If you’ve ever been the unfortunate victim of an iPhone and water-related accident, you’ll be familiar with the warning message about water in the Lightning or USB-C connector.
It encourages users to remove the charger to allow the port adequate time to dry out.
This is to help prevent permanent damage to the device – or worse.
At this point, many of us are tempted to reach for the rice.
It’s a popular urban legend that because rice is so absorbent, it can help to draw the water out of the phone, too.
But according to Apple, this is not a good idea.
In fact, they’ve issued an official warning over putting a wet iPhone in rice…
“Don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice,” Apple warns.
“Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone.”
A Redditor shared a shocking image of a grain of rice stuck fast in their phone’s charging port as a warning to others, too.
The tech giant also warns against inserting a foreign object into your connector in the hopes of drying it, as this can push the water further in.
You should also never use an external heat device which could also make the problem worse.
Instead, Wired offers this advice:
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Tap your iPhone gently against your hand with the connector facing down to remove excess liquid. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow.
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After at least 30 minutes, try charging using a Lightning or USB-C cable or connecting an accessory.
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If you see the alert again, there is still liquid in the connector or under the pins of your cable. Leave your iPhone in a dry place with some airflow for up to a day. You can try again to charge or connect an accessory throughout this period. It may take up to 24 hours to dry fully.
The more you know!