The short answer
If a device has liquid damage or no power after a spill, turn it off immediately if it is still on, unplug the charger, disconnect all accessories and stop trying to power it on. Do not use rice, heat or a hairdryer. Get a technician to inspect the device as soon as possible — faster inspection reduces ongoing corrosion damage.
What this article covers
Stop powering the device on — this is the most important first step
When a device has been exposed to liquid or has lost power suddenly after a spill, the instinct is often to check whether it still works by pressing the power button. This is the most common and most damaging mistake. Applying power to a wet circuit board can cause short circuits that damage components that would otherwise have been recoverable.
If the device is still on when the spill happens, shut it down as quickly and calmly as possible. Do not worry about saving open documents or apps — just turn it off. If the device shuts down on its own, do not try to turn it back on to check whether it is okay.
If the device shows no sign of turning on at all, do not repeatedly press the power button. Each attempt pushes current through wet internal components. Leave it off and get a technician to inspect it.
For no-power situations not caused by liquid — a laptop that stopped turning on overnight, a phone that drained and will not charge, a desktop that clicked off without warning — some of those situations are less urgent than liquid damage but still benefit from prompt attention. For laptops specifically, see the related guide on what details help get a faster repair quote.
Unplug all accessories and remove the battery if safe
Disconnect the charger, USB cable, dock, display adapter, external keyboard, mouse and any other connected accessories. Each connected accessory is a potential path for current to travel through wet circuits.
If the device has a removable battery — some older laptops and some Android phones allow this — remove it if it is safe to do so without tools. A removed battery cannot supply power to wet circuits while the device is being transported to a technician.
Most modern laptops and phones have internal batteries that are not user-removable. In those cases, simply making sure the device is off and all external connections are removed is the safest step available before bringing it in.
If the device was connected to a charger during the spill, check the charging port area for visible moisture before plugging anything back in later. Do not reconnect power until a technician has inspected the device.
Start with Quick Help
Use Quick Help for liquid damage or no-power support. Keep the device powered off and bring it in as soon as possible.
Home drying tricks that can make things worse
Several well-known home remedies for wet electronics can cause more problems than they solve.
Rice: Rice absorbs some surface moisture but does not clean liquid residue from circuit boards. It does not remove the minerals, sugars or salts left behind by liquids other than clean water. Those residues continue to cause corrosion while the device sits in a bag of rice.
Hairdryer or heat: Direct heat can damage components, warp connectors and accelerate corrosion. It does not dry internal components safely.
Compressed air: Compressed air can push liquid deeper into the device and into connectors and ports where it causes more damage.
Oven drying: Even low oven temperatures can cause significant damage to plastics, adhesives, screens and electronic components.
The safest thing to do is leave the device off, keep it at room temperature in a dry environment and get a technician to clean the board professionally using appropriate tools and solutions.
What to tell the technician when you contact us
When submitting a Quick Help request for liquid damage or no-power support, include as much of the following as you can:
- What type of liquid was involved — water, coffee, soft drink, juice or other
- When the incident happened — hours or days ago makes a difference to corrosion risk
- Whether the device was charging when the spill occurred
- Whether the device is completely off, showing any activity or making sounds
- Whether you tried to turn it on after the spill — and what happened
- Whether important data is stored on the device that may need recovery
- The device brand, model and approximate age if you know it
A photo of the device and any visible damage, staining or corrosion on ports or connectors is also helpful. Do not open the device yourself to take internal photos — leave that for the technician.
Questions about this topic
Can I keep charging it?
No. Stop charging and unplug the charger immediately. Continued charging attempts on a wet or shorted device can cause additional damage or safety risks.
Is data recovery possible after liquid damage?
Sometimes, but it depends on the type of liquid, the extent of the damage and how quickly the device was powered off. Avoid resets, recovery attempts or repeated power-on attempts.
Should I book quickly?
Yes. Faster inspection can reduce corrosion damage. Corrosion on circuit boards continues after the initial liquid contact, so time matters.
What if I already tried to turn it on?
Tell the technician. This is useful information and will not affect whether we try to help — it just helps us understand the current state of the device.
Does rice actually work for liquid damage?
No. Rice does not properly clean liquid residue or remove corrosion from electronics. It may absorb some surface moisture but will not address internal damage.
Ready to get help with your device or tech issue?
Use Quick Help to describe your issue in plain English. Smart Assist can help guide the request — then a real technician reviews it and confirms the next step.
You can also check an existing repair job online using your contact detail and any reference number from your booking.