Phone dropped in water or had a drink spilled on it?
With liquid damage, time matters. Corrosion keeps forming on the board for days after the phone dries outside, so a phone that seems fine can fail a week later.
Written by Zojari technicians with 12+ years of phone repair experience
Signs you may notice
- Phone switched off or won't turn on after getting wet
- Lines, spots or flicker on the screen
- Muffled speaker or microphone
- Charging warnings, or charging stopped working
- Phone works on and off
Safe checks to try first
- Switch the phone off straight away and don't switch it on again to 'test' it.
- Remove the case, SIM tray and memory card.
- Wipe the outside dry and keep the phone upright.
- Bring it in as soon as you can, ideally the same day.
Stop and bring it in if…
- Don't charge it. Electricity plus liquid speeds up corrosion and can cause short circuits.
- Don't use a hair dryer or put it in the sun or an oven. Heat can damage the screen and battery.
- Rice doesn't remove liquid from inside the phone, and grains can get stuck in the ports. It only wastes time.
What usually causes it
One symptom can have several causes. These are the most common ones.
Corrosion on the board
Minerals in water and sugar in drinks react with metal contacts and components.
Short circuits
Liquid bridging contacts while the phone is powered can damage chips.
Damaged screen or battery
Liquid under the display or around the battery connector.
Worn water seals
Water resistance weakens with age, drops and previous repairs.
What our technicians do
We open the phone, disconnect the battery and inspect the board under a microscope. Corrosion is cleaned from the affected areas, then each function is tested. Some phones recover completely, some need parts replaced, and some can't be saved, but we may still be able to recover the data. You get our assessment before any paid repair.
Request a quotationCommon questions
My phone is water resistant. Why did it get damaged?
Water resistance is tested on new phones in fresh water. It weakens over time, with drops and after repairs, and it doesn't cover salt water, drinks or hot water.
Will my phone be water resistant again after the repair?
We reseal phones after opening them, but we can't guarantee the original water resistance rating once a phone has been opened.
Other repair guides
- Phone not charging or charging very slowly?Phone doesn't respond when plugged in · Cable only works when held at an angleRead the guide
- Phone keeps restarting on its own?Restarts while you are using it, often under load (camera, games, calls) · Gets stuck on the brand logo and restarts again (boot loop)Read the guide
- No network, no service or SIM not detected?'No service' or 'Emergency calls only' · 'No SIM' or 'Invalid SIM'Read the guide
- Screen stays black during calls, or you hang up with your cheek?Screen stays black during a call and you can't hang up · Your cheek mutes or ends callsRead the guide
- Callers can't hear you, or you can't hear them?Callers say you sound far away or can't hear you · You can only hear callers on loudspeakerRead the guide
- Phone won't turn on at all?Nothing happens when you press the power button · No charging sign when plugged inRead the guide
Your Device Deserves Expert Care.
Over 12 years of phone repair experience in Kampala. Tell us what’s wrong and a technician will recommend the right repair. No fix, no fee.