How to Repair a Wet iPod
A common problem that happens to most iPod owners at some point in the lifespan of owning the device is getting it wet. Not just sweat from working out or a light sprinkle from rain, but potentially catastrophic exposure to water to include but not limited to dropping the iPod into the toilet, the pool, or even a glass of water or other liquid. As a result, a common task that arises for consumers is determining how to repair a wet iPod.
Actions to Take Immediately After iPod Exposure to Water
The first and most important thing to do when you get your iPod wet is to minimize damage.
Step 1 – The iPod needs to be turned off immediately (if it is still on). The potential for greater damage to the device increases the longer that the electronic components have power while they are immersed in water. The good news is that with the majority of iPods being fairly thin as compared to other electronic devices, the owner may get lucky and avoid significant damage, but should not assume that water has failed to penetrate the interior of the device.
Step 2 – If liquid has been spilled onto the device, attempt to wipe it off of the iPod as soon as possible. Depending on the specific device and manner of spill, this may prevent most of the liquid from penetrating the device.
Step 3 – Leave the iPod turned off for 24 hours. If the water exposure was from the rain, or a minor spill, this will afford time for any slight water intrusion to dissipate or dry off. If the iPod has been dropped into water or suffered more significant water or liquid exposure, it may fail to turn on after being off for 24 hours. If this has occurred with the iPod, additional repair / troubleshooting steps will be required. These include seeking replacement under an extended warranty (normally has to be purchased with the device), repairing yourself, paying a third party to fix the wet iPod, or in the worst-case, purchasing a new or previously used iPod.
***Note: Do not plug the iPod into the wall or computer charger while turned off due to exposure to water. This will send power through the device and can result in potentially catastrophic damage to the device.
Does the Apple Warranty Cover Water Damage?
According to fans of Apple products, one of the best things about the company is their customer support. All iPods come with a warranty, and many buyers also get one or another kind of extended warranty. Apple’s iPod warranty doesn’t cover water damage; however, so if you bring your iPod into an Apple store, the repair techs will probably refuse to repair a wet iPod or possibly charge the consumer without fixing the device. 
If purchasing an extended warranty, a good question to ask the sales staff is if the coverage will cover water damage. There are also costumers who know that Apple doesn’t service water damage so they just wait it out until the iPod is completely dry and then they take it to the Apple store in hope that they will get an replacement. Although that may work in limited cases, store employees can likely figure out if the iPod was really defective or if it was exposed to water which is not included on the standard device warranty
How to repair a wet iPod with Rice (or Dust Free Kitty Litter)
Anyone who has owned iPods or mobile phones over the past decade is likely familiar with the rice repair method. The basic idea with rice is to use it as a moisture absorbing material (or desiccant). More recently, some consumers have reported better success with using dust free kitty litter since most rice types have some form of dust that can penetrate electronic components.
Step 1 – Open the iPod and remove the battery. Depending on the type of iPod that you have, this may require borrowing or buying a miniature screwdriver to take the device apart. If attempting the repair on a variant of iPod that does not have a user-removable battery such as an iPod Touch, it is still worth attempting the method but may have a lower probability of success.
Step 2 – Carefully wipe all of the iPod’s components with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. The alcohol is important, because it dries almost instantly when placed onto a surface and can dry surrounding water as well. After gently wiping all of the parts off separately, place the components in either a plastic bag with uncooked rice (or substitute such as dust-free kitty litter). An alternative method is to put the uncooked rice in a plastic bowl open to the atmosphere. Based on the hygroscopic properties of rice, it will absorb moisture. So when you put your wet iPod into a bag full of rice the rice will pick up any moisture from the iPod and hopefully prevent any short-circuiting that the water might cause when you try to turn your iPod on. There are of course other materials that might be better suited for this task than rice, but rice is something that most people have at home or at least can get easily while something like silica crystals might be far harder to get.
Step 3 – To maximize the chances of successful repair of a wet iPod with rice, the device should be left in the rice for 24 to 38 hours. The bag should also be stored in a dry and warm environment. After the 48 hours are up you can take a look at your iPod, check if there is any visible water and if not put it back together and try to turn it on. If it turns on and works without problems for a few hours, the repair has been successful.
*Note: Although the rice/kitty litter method has been successful for consumers who have dropped their iPods in water spilled liquid onto the device, it is not guaranteed to work. If the device remains on, is plugged into a charger, or remains submersed in liquid for a prolonged timeframe, it is very possible that no repair method will work in fixing the device.
Sending the iPod to a Repair Service
Last and probably the least favorite way for most people to repair a wet iPod is by sending it to someone who specializes in fixing wet gadgets or even iPods specifically. This of course is unpopular because it requires spending who knows how much extra money on fixing your already expensive gadget. While this solution probably is the least popular sometimes you don’t have a choice, it is probably better to spend $50-100 in repair costs than to lose your iPod altogether. Some considerations to help determine if it is worth paying for an iPod repair service:
1 – Age of the device. If your iPod is several years old and repair costs are going to exceed $50, it may be more cost effective to purchase a new or slightly-used iPod.
2 – Repair guarantee. Does the service provider being considered offer a money-back guarantee on the repair? Many reputable repair companies will not offer such a guarantee for water damaged iPods. Some will even add additional charges if the device is damaged beyond basic repair. Additionally, if the device was left turned on (or even was plugged in) after exposure to water, the repair company may not be able to accomplish the repair despite their guarantee.
3 – Time you can do without the iPod. Unless you are planning on using a brick-and-mortar iPod repair shop, you will be without the device for more than a few days. Although not a significant detail for the older consumer, many now use iPods to surf the Internet, store contact information, email, and listen to music.
Difference Between Water Resistant and Water Proof iPod Cases
Most consumers will wait until losing an iPod to severe water damage before making the decision to purchase a water resistant or water proof case for the player. One of the primary facts to remember about water resistant cases is that although they will resist the entry of water into the case, they are not completely resistant to the entry of water. Water proof cases; however, can be fully submerged in water without worrying about getting the product wet. The resistant cases are more common for iPods and will typically cost less money than a fully water proof case. A note of caution; however, is each of the case varieties will typically have latches or hinged accesses to plug the iPod into a power source, connect headphones, etc. If this latch or hinge section is left open or not fully secured, the device will still be susceptible to water damage when immersed or exposed to water. When selecting a new case for an iPod, if the manufacturer does not state that the case is water proof or water resistant, then it likely does not provide significant protection against water damage.
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okay, so about three months ago i dropped my iPod in a pool. it’s third generation..and I am just now putting it in rice. I’m going to leave it there for a week but I seriously doubt that it’ll work. does anyone think it’ll work??
The “Rice Method” worked perfectly for me, and I didn’t even take apart my iPod Touch at all. It’s a 3rd generation, I had it in the washing machine for about 20-30 minutes before my dad heard something clunking around in the washer. I took it out immediately, stuck it in a bag of rice, and placed it in a dry place (in my attic, for me). I left it there for a day or two, then moved it down into my living, where it received partial sunlight. After letting it sit for 2-3 weeks, I plugged it into my computer to charge and it now works perfectly. My only advice would be to be patient and not mess around with any buttons on the iPod while it’s still wet. Good luck!
i just found my ipod covered in lotion and i managed to get most of it out ( i sucked it out ) it worked fine and took a charge but now its switching itself off and only part of the clicker is working is there anything that i can do???
How do you take the ipod apart to put it in the rice?
I dropped my ipod in the toilet only to find that it was shut down. Is there any other method to try other then the rice method? Or is my ipod toast, it is a ipod touch i think 4th gen
About 3 or 4 weeks ago a baby got a hold of it and broke me screen.Then about a week later I spilt a huge jug of water all over be and I had my I pod on my chest.At first I couldn’t listen to music then I shut it off, and I could here my music. But I couldn’t take pictures and Im a photographer. And nothings worked! What should I do?
how bout when its fully dry and it says error?
My son left his ipod in his shorts and they went through the washing machine. I taped the ipod to the back of a dehumidifier and let it run for 2 days – works fine now!!!
I went to the river and I fell in the water and my iPod was in my bag. My iPod is working good, but now when I use my earphones, the volume isn’t as loud as it used to be. Any ideas on what to do???
my son just laid a soaking wet dishwashing sponge on top of my iPod now the screen is white. I tried drying it out with a dryer. What do I do? Is my iPod destroyed. I just now read to turn it off. But I’ve already had it on. What do I do.
my i pod got left out in the rain about a month or two ago and i used the rice method right after it happend and it didnt work. i left it to air dry for about a month and it still wont work. what should i do now?
Okay last night I was taking a bath and I was listening to my ipod while i was in it and I axidently droped it my my bathtub. I didnt notice because i paused the music before it fell in. So when i finished i drained the water and my ipod was in the tub!!!!! It was about 8 or 9 and its in rice right now and its 1:13 pm and its not working. Do I leave it in longer or is it fried?
Put it back in the tub for another two days, then try the rice method. Worked fine for me…
I was texting someone on my 3rd generation Ipod Touch and I was in the bathroom washing my hands. The sink was full of water and I took the case off My Ipod and it fell in the sink with all the water. At first the Ipod the brightness got really low and it said it was on high bright. Them it flickered on and off the light. And then it officially turned off. Will letting the Ipod Touch sit for 24 hours still work???
F.Y.I. the Ipod was in the sink for about 2-4 seconds
PLEASE RESPOND ASAP
thank you
ok my ipod nano (second gen (the small square one) was left in my pants pocket and washed in the washer for the full cycle. how should i go about fixing it? idk the warrenty on it cause it used to be my uncles and he didnt mention anything. idk how to take it apart. nor do i have the money for a speaialist right now. what should i do?
Sooo i washed my ipod today without thinking :/ so should i just blow dry it and wait a day for it to work?!?!
I dropped my ipod in the bath tub by accident and i called my friend and she told me to put it in a bowl of rice for 48 hours and it still doesnt work What do i do?!?!?!?!?!?!
My ipod had water splashed on it when it was left by a sink and I didn’t realise till the next day (By which point it had already shut down) Now it’s unresponsive, wont turn on, charge etc. This was about a month ago so is it to late to try the rice method?
i’m trying a dehydrating toaster oven.
DONT IT WILL FAIL EPICLY IT WILL EXPLODE DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPATURES
i had my ipod in my pocket and i went to take a shower and i put my clothes in the washer and i looked for my ipod GONE i then saw it in the washer yelling for me (not really) i stop the washer i grabbed it it turned on then turned off so i took a blow dryer and trind to dry it it didnt work (i almost criend i cant live with out my ipod) i put it in a bag of rice for about a day then i pluged it in and it made a sound and turned on but the screen wouldnt work it couldnt read my finger so i let it sit for awhile and then it finally worked YAY!! everyonce in a while it wouldnt do what i want it to do but other then that it is fine.
I got my second gen. Ipod touch outside and it was tipping it down i didnt realize till after 2-3 hours i am drying it now but i am doing it on a warm heat-mat will it work ;0 HELP ME PLZ WHAT DO I DO!!!!!!
Be patient, it will take a week or more to dry. If you turn it on to see if it is working then you will short circuit the device. Don’t turn it on until it is completely dried.