Putting an iPhone in a bowl of rice is the solution to remove liquid from your iPhone, according to the internet. Apple explains why this advice is wrong.

Did your iPhone fall into the sink or toilet? We’ve most likely experienced it before. The latest iPhones are more water resistant, but we still have to be careful with them. The latest iPhones notify you when liquid is detected in the Lightning or USB-C port. Apple explains what to do with a wet iPhone on its updated support page, and it has nothing to do with rice.

Frying rice doesn’t help

One of the most common pieces of advice for a wet iPhone is to put it in a container of rice. This statement has now been explicitly refuted, as can be read on Apple’s recently updated support page. According to Apple, the rice grains would only harm the iPhone even more.

What you should do

iPhone XS (Max), iPhone XR or later notifies you when liquid is detected in the Lightning or USB-C port. Connecting your iPhone and accessories together can be harmful. Apple offers some tips on its support page:

• First, dry your iPhone as best as possible with a cloth and a vacuum cleaner.
• Gently tap your iPhone with the connector facing down against your hand to remove any liquid and leave your iPhone in a dry place.
• After 30 minutes, you can try charging your iPhone again with a Lightning or USB-C cable.
• If the warning appears again, leave your iPhone in a dry, air-circulating place for up to a day. It may take up to 24 hours to dry completely.
• Still can’t charge your iPhone? Then disconnect the cable from the adapter, unplug the adapter from the power outlet, and then reconnect it.

Patience is a virtue, that’s the right rule of thumb when dealing with a wet iPhone. Does the warning message still appear after 24 hours? Then your iPhone or accessories could be damaged. In this case, please contact the manufacturer.