So why did the rice trick myth persist? It’s likely some people did have success with the method, but not because of the rice. Turning the phone off and leaving it overnight was the thing that did the trick; sticking it in rice merely put the device out of their reach so they weren’t tempted to turn it on early.

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These days of course most phones are water-resistant, and iPhones have been since 2016, so the odd dunk in the pool isn’t as scary as it once was. But as Apple’s advice indicates, the old myth is still prominent enough that some people may be tempted if they get a warning about a wet connector.

If your phone gets submerged in water, you’ll probably be fine just wiping it or drying it with a towel, and waiting until the connector is completely dry before putting a charging cable in.

If you’re worried your phone isn’t water-resistant, either because it’s old or broken, turn it off immediately and wait until it’s fully dry before you turn it back on. Put it somewhere dry, ventilated and rice free.