Dropped Your Phone in the Pool? Chlorine vs Fresh Water

Why pool water is harder on phones

All water can damage a phone that isn't sealed, but what's in the water matters too. When water evaporates, anything dissolved in it stays behind. Inside a phone, that residue settles on connectors, speaker grilles and circuit boards, where it can cause corrosion over time.

Some backyard pools use salt water systems, so a dunk in a "fresh" pool can actually be a dunk in salt water. If you're not sure, ask the pool owner.

What phone makers advise

Apple's guidance for water-resistant iPhones is that if the phone is exposed to a liquid other than water, you should rinse the affected area with tap water, then wipe it off and dry it. Samsung gives similar advice for its water-resistant Galaxy phones after exposure to salt water or pool water. Both also make clear that water resistance isn't designed for swimming, so a pool dip is never a test you want your phone to take.

The key word is water-resistant. Rinsing only makes sense on a phone whose seals are intact.

Step by step: what to do right now

1. Get it out of the water as quickly as you safely can.
2. Take off the case. Water and chemicals get trapped between the case and the phone.
3. Decide whether to rinse. If the phone is a recent water-resistant model with no cracks in the screen or back, give it a brief, gentle rinse under low-flowing tap water to wash off chlorine or salt. If it's cracked, older or not water-resistant, skip the rinse, power it off and go straight to drying.
4. Dry the outside with a soft, lint-free cloth.
5. Tap out the water. Hold the phone with the charging port facing down and tap it gently against your palm.
6. Air-dry it in a dry spot with some airflow, like in front of a fan. Don't use a hair dryer, put it in the sun or bury it in rice. Our post on the wet phone rice myth explains why.
7. Don't charge it until it's completely dry. If your iPhone warns that liquid has been detected in the port, or your Samsung shows a moisture warning, unplug it and wait. Only override the warning in a genuine emergency.
8. Don't poke anything into the ports, including cotton swabs and paper towel.

Check it once it's dry

• Do the speakers sound clear, or muffled and crackly?
• Can people hear you on a call?
• Are the cameras clear, or is there fog behind the lens?
• Does it charge normally with a cable?
• Does Face ID or the fingerprint sensor work?
• Does the touchscreen respond everywhere?

A muffled speaker often clears as the last of the water evaporates. If it doesn't, or anything else on the list is off, the phone needs a closer look.

Signs you need a technician

Corrosion doesn't always show up right away. A phone can seem fine after a pool dip and start acting up days or weeks later. Watch for:

• fog or spots under the camera glass that don't clear
• charging that stops working or only works sometimes
• liquid warnings that keep coming back once the phone is dry
• random restarts, a battery that drains fast or a phone that feels warm doing nothing
• spots, lines or patches on the screen

Our water damage guide covers these warning signs in more detail, including what happens during a professional clean and repair.

Poolside habits that help

• Keep phones on a table away from the edge and the splash zone.
• Use a sealed waterproof pouch if you want photos in or near the water.
• Wipe sunscreen off your hands before picking up your phone.
• Keep phones out of direct sun on hot deck chairs.
• At kids' pool parties, set up a phone spot well back from the action.

Need a hand?

If your phone isn't quite right after a swim, turn it off and don't charge it. Our water damage repair service sends a certified woman technician to your home, workplace or parked car across our service area. She'll check the phone, give you a free quote before any work starts and test it with you after the repair. Call or WhatsApp (365) 351-4247, any time of day, or request a visit online.

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading