Fix iPhone Thinks Headphones Are Plugged In Water Damage
By Robert Jones · 2021-08-24
If your iPhone has fallen into the water, it may get stuck
Right, so your iPhone's been for a swim, eh? And now it thinks it's got headphones plugged in when it clearly hasn't. We've all been there, or at least I have with some piece of kit that decided to take an unexpected dunk. It's a right pain when your phone goes quiet and you can't hear calls unless you put it on speaker. Let's sort this out. First off, don't panic. And for goodness sake, if it's still on, turn it off *immediately*. Don't try to plug it in to charge, don't try to make a call, just power it down. Every second it's on with water inside could be doing more damage. Trust me, I've seen enough water-damaged electronics over the years to know that swift action is key. ## The Rice Myth (and what to do instead) Now, you've probably heard about putting your phone in a bowl of rice. Forget it. Seriously, just don't. It doesn't work as well as people think, and frankly, you're more likely to get rice dust stuck in the ports. What you need is something that actively absorbs moisture, or better yet, a good old-fashioned airing out. My preferred method, after turning it off, is to gently shake any obvious water out of the ports. Don't go wild, just a few gentle flicks. Then, leave it to air dry in a warm, dry place. Not direct sunlight, not on a radiator – just somewhere with good airflow. A fan blowing cool air over it can work wonders. Give it at least 24-48 hours. I even use a small desiccant pack if I happen to have one lying around from some electronics packaging. Those silica gel packets? They're actually useful. Stick a few around the phone, in a sealed container if you like, and let them get to work. ### If it's still playing up after drying... Okay, so you've dried it out properly, and your iPhone's still convinced it's got a set of cans attached. This usually points to some residual moisture or even a bit of corrosion in the headphone jack or lightning port itself. That's where the phone detects the headphone connection. #### Cleaning the Port This next bit needs a light touch. Get yourself a cotton bud – the really fine ones if you can find them – or even a straightened paperclip with a tiny bit of cotton pushed onto the end. *Gently* clean inside the lightning port. Don't use anything metallic that could short something out if it's not completely dry. You