The story of my phone *Touch screen not responding after water damage*

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HowDoYouAndroid.com
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Dec 9, 2013, 4:25:27 PM via Website

Let me tell you a story, my friends. More because I must vent than because of your intense curiosity. (But really, guys... calm down a little, ok? I'll tell you!)

It all began the fateful day that I made the mistake of waking up. I brushed my teeth, then immediately began curling my hair, since I'd showered the night before. It took too long. I had to leave the house at 6:45, but I only finished curling at 6:41. I dove into my red and white striped candy cane tights and black skirt and green sweater and grabbed a handful of jewelry and my makeup bag. The reason my hair had to be curled that day (yesterday, btw... 12/8/2013) is because the long-awaited Christmas concert was that evening, and I feel more Christmasy with curled hair. We were excited. We were going to be good. ("We" being the church choir.) We arrived at church and found the rehearsal hall overflowing with adorable children and not quite as adorable adult choir members. Such festivity. We settled down. We warmed up. We rehearsed. We marched in and sang. We sang very well, starting at verse 2. In verse 1, the children's choir (which rarely sings with us) was not following the conductor's timing. (Our conductor is world-renowned, literally -- he is aymayzeeng.) We marched out. We scattered into the sanctuary, like little mice. Good sermon... learned from it, which is my favorite kind. :) But back to my saga! Pay attention, now; we're nearing the devastating event itself. After the sermon, we went back to the rehearsal hall, organized, marched out again, sang again (I love the music just as much the second time through). We dispersed. Some people told us there was a 20 somethings lunch at church, but it wasn't in the announcements. A friend texted to ask if I would meet her there, because she had confirmed it was occurring. Well, I was already at the mall by then -- the scene of the crime. Most of my jeans have flap pockets, not just slip pockets, so I keep my phone in my hand, my purse, or ,rarely, my hip pocket (cuz it really doesn't fit). But YESTERDAY I was wearing a different pair of jeans, that DO have slip pockets. Therefor my phone was in my back pocket. I had forgotten. And then I visited the restroom. Yes, it happened. My gorgeous phone, sitting in the toilet. Now don't worry... the order of events wasn't horrifyingly gross. But still shockingly gross, ya know? Not to mention MY PHONE WAS IMMERSED IN WATER!! Well, step 1 I cleaned it VERY THOR.OUGH.LY. Step 2, I held each piece under the hand drier until water stopped surfacing (it wasn't a really hot one... just blasty). I did that for several minutes. At this point, I was supposed to be heading back to the church to go to the lunch, which I DID want to go to, but I did NOT want to be committed, as I was, to spending it with certain people. But there it is. They have the lunches regularly, so no big. So my phone is in pieces, blasted dry, and I have to go. I KNOW you're not supposed to turn a phone on until you've dried it in rice for a while and all that jazz, but I needed it that day. Like NEEDED it. I decided to try. It turned on. It worked. Hallelujah!! But I know it's too early to say long-term. When I arrived at the church, the colors had started diluting. It's still working, though. Lunch bores me, but the turkey wrap from Jason's Deli is tasty. After lunch, colors are good, but touch screen isn't responding. Ugh. I head back to the mall, where I'm with 3 other people. We decide we aren't feeling the mall, and head back to the church, which is absolutely gorgeous and cosy and has tons of awesome sitting areas. We FINALLY find a door that isn't locked (and yes, it's raining... and yes, I should have known to try that one first), and we sit down and chat. After a little while it's nearing call time. I head to the rehearsal hall, and we run through that one song a final time. We sang it well. I'm pleased, and so is our director (rather a rarity). We run through some reminders, and then it's time. The (really large) church is PACKED, and I have fun picking out faces I know, as I'm sitting there waiting for our queue to begin. Not going to give play by play of the concert, but it was a rush -- all round successful, though of course glitches throughout. Nobody noticed them. Our director is good. :) Touch screen still not responding. :( I listened to rap all the way home. At arrival, I put my phone in a bag of rice. This morning, touch screen still not responding, back in the bag. And that is where we stand.

In conclusion, merry Christmas, and my coffee needs refilling!

— modified on Dec 9, 2013, 5:38:00 PM by moderator

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Mary Mod
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Dec 9, 2013, 4:48:43 PM via Website

Oh No! I am so sorry to hear about your phone. Good thing is... it still turns on so there is some hope ;)

I would try putting the battery (and any cards from the phone) in a bag of uncooked rice for 24-48 hours to draw any remaining moisture from the phone. If you are still having the issue you might have to replace the screen.

Let us know how it works out!

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HowDoYouAndroid.com
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Dec 9, 2013, 5:06:21 PM via Website

Thanks, Mary! Everything is in rice, currently.

So, would it be dumb to try it without waiting a solid 24 hours or so? I mean, am I risking shorting anything, or am I kind of past that point, since it is responding to some degree, not to mention I already turned it on yesterday? Basically, I'm very impatient, so I'd like to check it again!! Bad idea?

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Mary Mod
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Dec 9, 2013, 5:15:03 PM via Website

I would personally just let it sit in the rice for a whole 48 hours. I would be impatient too but it won't help anything really. :P It could be that there is some water inside the phone, so let's see if the rice will help dry it all up. I don't think anything less than 24 hrs will help.

— modified on Dec 9, 2013, 5:15:29 PM

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HowDoYouAndroid.com
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Dec 9, 2013, 5:16:13 PM via Website

Okay FINE. I'll try. Detoxing. Ugh. Now I'll be very irritable.

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HowDoYouAndroid.com
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Dec 9, 2013, 5:20:39 PM via Website

So a ziploc full of rice is good, right? Some said bowl, but I figured air tight?

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Mary Mod
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Dec 9, 2013, 5:28:57 PM via Website

I think it is best to put it in a Ziploc bag (closed) surrounded by the rice. Store it in a warm, dry place for 24-48 hours and hope for the best!

Rice, any generic type, ideally not “enriched”, as it leaves a lot of white powder.

— modified on Dec 9, 2013, 5:30:48 PM

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HowDoYouAndroid.com
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Dec 10, 2013, 4:56:14 PM via Website

*shamefaced* Ok, so I tried it after BARELY 24 hours because I couldn't wait any longer.........

...........BUT it's working!! :D The touch screen was responding when I tried it last night, but the soft menu and back buttons, on either side of the home button, were not. Decided to just give it time, not put it back in rice. This morning they were working also. Everything functioning perfectly, including camera! Actually, haven't tried speakers or headphone jack.... but I'll get around to that. I'm so pleased!

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Kris Carlon
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Dec 11, 2013, 2:50:01 PM via Website

That's good news. I had one of those waterproof pouches at a ''liquid'' festival, the ones where you get hammered and sit in a inner tube. Anyways, suffice it to say the waterproof pouch was not so waterproof and at the end of the day I had to empty the puddle out of the bottom of it. My phone (HTC Desire) was off (not sure if it was off when I put it in the pouch) but I left it to dry for a couple of days and it too came back to life fully. So a shower is not the end of the world. Patience, some rice and a pinch of good luck is all you need.

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Jessica c
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Mar 21, 2014, 8:11:39 PM via Website

I have a droid hd by Motorola the fist time this phone was droped into water it did not mess up at all this is the second time I have actually droped this phone into the water the first itme I never let the phone turn off and it worked fine everything this time I droppe din the tub again it came back on but the phone touch want work everything msic and everything eles charger is working except the touch doe not I canot do anything the phone has not been working for a couple day I don't know what to do can you please help me my droid is a blue and you know they don't really carry them in stock like that can you help me figure this out because it makes the noise when there a message it makes noise when theres a call I calle dit with my sisters phone and it worked fine but its touch will not work

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HowDoYouAndroid.com
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Mar 21, 2014, 8:13:53 PM via Website

Stick it in a bag of rice for a couple days... I bet it'll come out alright. Since some things are working, the whole thing isn't fried.

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Lalit
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Mar 24, 2014, 6:45:07 AM via Website

What about Silica Gel, I have a handful of Silica Gel packets. Some of my friend suggested that putting your device in a air tight bad filled of silica gel works the same way like rice and your device don't even smell like the rice. :wacko::unsure::rolleyes: does that works too for drying the device.

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HowDoYouAndroid.com
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Mar 24, 2014, 12:10:47 PM via Website

Actually silica gel works better than rice... good idea!

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Kris Carlon
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Mar 24, 2014, 5:44:59 PM via Website

Sure, if you have enough silica gel it'll do the same trick. The point of rice is that pretty much everyone has a plentiful supply of it at all times. Not everyone will have a big old bag of silica gel! Good tip though!

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Lalit
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Mar 25, 2014, 6:04:29 AM via Website

@Kris well, I am also not a big fan of silica gel but I get it from my friend electronic shop :P they have like thousands of these !! I don't mind in sharing it with you all... :D

— modified on Mar 25, 2014, 6:04:50 AM

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Mikey Dee
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Jan 14, 2015, 3:11:52 AM via Website

Well for some reason i ended up here, and for another reason i read your whole post.
One of the mistakes was air drying your phone. Never do that. All it does, is force/push the water further into the tiny electrical components.
(for the people who read this and duplicate the steps she took)
Its good to hear it was fine in the end though.

Never air dry
1. Remove from water as soon as possible.
2. Immediately take the battery out to prevent any short circuits. Don't try to turn on, also don't try to plug in.
3. Vacuum the moisture/water out/Wipe dry every thing you can
4. Fill an airtight jar of rice. Place phone in rice and seal the cap (silica works better)
Airtight jar so rice doesn't take moisture from the atmosphere and only from your phone.

On second thought, maybe just try baking your phone in the oven for 8 hours or so at lowest temperature (under 120F) to promote evaporation or try rice and in the oven? (WITHOUT THE BATTERY)

Happy phone reviving.

— modified on Jan 14, 2015, 3:14:27 AM

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Yahayra Soriano
  • Forum posts: 1

May 17, 2016, 4:27:21 AM via Website

Hi! Earlier today I took a shower and when I got out and dressed, my screen turned orange for 5 minutes then shut off. I put it in rice and it still hasn't turned on. The buttons work as if it was on but the screen doesn't. I don't know what to do and I need it to work for this week since I have a major call interview and I am freaking out! What should I do??!!?

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Linda Xia
  • Forum posts: 1

Jun 4, 2016, 5:29:31 AM via Website

Someone spilled pop all over my tablet a few days ago :(. I tried to turn it off and then I put it in rice for 48 hours. After that it turned on after I charged it for a few hours but the touchscreen didn't work so I put it in a bag of silica gel for another 48 hours. I just took it out and the touchscreen still doesn't work. I'm kind of freaking out right now so any help would be appreciated.

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Neil Pillay
  • Forum posts: 1

Jul 10, 2016, 8:51:41 AM via Website

Hey, I have a Note 4(Clone)...i dropped it in water yesterday! I tried to get the water out by using a vacum and after that i put it in a bag of rice......after 24 hours i got it out and the phone did power on but the touch on it isnt working, any suggestions?

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damponting44
  • Forum posts: 70

Oct 7, 2016, 11:35:00 AM via Website

That is uplifting news. I had one of those waterproof pockets at a ""fluid"" celebration, the ones where you get pounded and sit in an internal tube. At any rate, suffice it to say the waterproof pocket was not all that waterproof and toward the day's end I needed to discharge the puddle out of the base of it. My telephone (HTC Desire) was off (not certain on the off chance that it was off when I place it in the pocket) however I exited it to dry for a few days and it too returned to life completely. So a shower is not the apocalypse. Persistence, some rice and a squeeze of good fortunes is all you require.

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Deactivated Account
  • Forum posts: 19

Apr 24, 2017, 2:25:18 PM via Website

While your touch panel is damage, but the screen can still display, you can use an OTG cable to connect a Mouse to your phone. Once detected, you will get a notification on your Android device. After the mouse is connected, you can see a pointer on the screen and you can use to scroll or click on App or button just like in the computer, so try to log in a google drive or dropbox and backup your phone data.
If you don't want to buy an OTG cable, you may try to use some tool to recover data from your phone after water damage.

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Francis Golden
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Aug 16, 2017, 10:06:34 AM via Website

Try the rice trick, I was able to bring my phone back to life when this kinda same situation happened to me.

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