Key Points:
- There are four main methods to get water out of a charging port: gravity, evaporation, airflow, and silica gel, which should all be used in a step-by-step process.
- You should never put your phone in a bag of uncooked/raw rice, as this can permanently damage the port, introducing hard sludge over time.
- Android phones can glitch on the moisture problem, and may need to be reset via a setting.
- Always inspect the port afterwards for signs of corrosion or physical damage as a consequence of the water.
There's nothing worse than dropping your smartphone in the sink or (even worse) the toilet. Maybe you went fishing, and the handset slipped from your hand and fell into a lake. That's why you need to know how to get water out of a charging port. Whether using a newer iPhone or any modern Android phone, USB-C ports can be fragile. You may have seen a warning to unplug your charger, or the phone may not be charging at all; we're here to go through all the methods to fix it, why they work, and everything else you need to be aware of in 2026. Let's get into it.
How to get water out of a charging port - Methods in brief
| Method | How to Do It | Why It Works |
| Gravity & Impact | Tap the phone against your hand gently with the port facing downwards. | It uses gravity to break the surface tension of the water droplets, which will get them out of the USB-C port. |
|---|---|---|
| Evaporation | Leave the smartphone in a well-ventilated, warm, and dry room for a minimum of two hours, but longer if you can. | Low humidity turns water into vapour, meaning it can safely leave the USB-C port of the phone. |
| Airflow | Put the smartphone near a desk fan or an air conditioning unit if you have one. | Constant low-moving air pressure accelerates natural evaporation, pushing out the water outside of the port. |
| Silicia gel | Put the phone in a pocket or a clear bag with silica gel packets. | Silica is incredibly porous and will pull moisture out of the air, making a dry environment to dry the port out at record speed. Do not use raw rice as an alternative. |
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Step-by-step guide of how to get water out of a charging port
While we've outlined all four working methods that can be used in isolation here, the best way to get water out of a charging point the fastest and most consistently is to do all the main steps in sequence. By working in tandem, you guarantee a much higher level of success than trying one or a couple of ideas. Here's what we recommend you follow:
- Power down and unplug the smartphone
- Gently tap the smartphone against your hand with the port facing down to push the water droplets out
- Place your phone near a fan or a source of constant cooling, low-pressure air, to dry the port out
- If you're still having issues, seal the phone in a pouch of silica gel to create a dry environment to purge the excess water vapour out
Aleksha's advice
Don't put your phone into a pouch of raw/uncooked rice in an attempt to fix a waterlogged port. It introduces starch dust and small grains, which can become paste-like in the port and cause more permanent damage, completely ruining the charging pins (or the entire port) for good.
What to avoid when trying to get water out of a charging port
While I've advocated that you shouldn't use rice to try to dry out a port, you also should avoid hair dryers, heat guns, compressed air, cotton buds, and kitchen roll. Anything harsh and artificial like this can cause damage, whether that's melting the adhesive seals on the phone, blasting water droplets deeper into the port, or shoving anything in to bend the pins, it's all a bad idea, and should be avoided at all costs.
What to try after clearing water out of your phone's charging port
If it's been more than a day or so, and you've taken all of these four steps to dry out and clean the USB-C port, and it's still not working, then there are a couple of steps you should try next. In brief, these are:
- Bypassing with a wireless charger (such as MagSafe or Qi)
- Physically cleaning out the trapped debris
- Clearing the system cache on Android
- Inspecting the phone's hardware further
Using a wireless charger
If your USB-C port still isn't working after a day or so, then you should use a MagSafe or Qi charger instead. This will mean you can still fully charge and use your phone without the risk of doing further damage to the port. They bypass any wet circuitry completely, but charge the phone's battery via magnetic induction coils on the rear glass instead.
Clear out any trapped debris
Occasionally, there could be something lodged within the port that will need to be removed before regular charging functionality can be resumed. Take a toothpick or a wooden splinter (something without fibres which could become hazardous) and sweep out the port gently. Avoid using metal, such as a needle or a paperclip, as these can scratch the gold pins and cause damage.
Clearing the System Cache on Android
Some Android phones can detect moisture, which has a dedicated warning that can occasionally glitch out and become stuck even when the port is clean, dry, and otherwise intact. To check if you can purge this issue, go to Settings > Apps > Show System Apps > USB Settings > Storage > Clear Data and Clear Cache, then restart your smartphone. Once it's booted up again, the error should be gone. If it isn't, then there's one more thing to check through.
Physically check the port for signs of damage or wear
If everything else has failed, then it's time to evaluate the port itself. Check the pins for any level of corrosion and look into the moisture sensor, which could have failed, too. If you're unsure of what to look for, take the phone to a licensed repair technician.
