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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mi padre a metido mi ipod en la lavadora lo primero que izo fue intentar encenderlo, despues le dio con el secador del pelo , y mas tarde lo conecte al ordenador pero nada aora estoy intentando con el truco del arroz, POR FAVOR QUE ALGUIEN ME DIGA K PUEDO HACER POR FAVOR POR FAVOR POR FAVOR
Hello,
I dropped my Ipod touch in the toilet and tried turning it on directly afterward. It did not work and I plugged it into the charger and still didnt work I did each of these things several times trying to see if it would work. Is it bad if I tried charging and turning it on several times and if it is what do I do and what will happen to the ipod?
I did the exact same thing but in the swimming pool. I turned it on as soon as I realized I was swimming with it in my pocket. The screen lit up but when I touched the unlucky thing it wouldn’t work. So I put it in the sun to dry. It felt extremely hot so I bring it inside and started charging it. After a while it came up with it was too hot on the screen so I un-plugged it and started charging it again. After a while I un-plugged it and asked my techno mate what to do. He tried pulling it apart to no avail and then went on about how much he hates apple
I have no idea what to do now. He says I probably fried the circuits by plugging the charger in. And my iPod is probably long gone, I have not yet tried the rice method but I don’t think it will work. 
No no no no!!!!!!!
Never ever turn your iPod on or charge it that’s never what you should do
I left my iPod out side in the pouring rain on Saturday and how it’s sitting in a bag of rice do you need anymore help
Dont ever try turning it on
right my sister was listening to her ipod and dropped it in the sink! we had it in a pot of rice for 3 months now and i was wondering how to actually open it up? (apple said it might help) x
hey guys.
my ipod went through the washer, and had water trapped in the screen and when shaken it would start dropping out of the pñugs for both charger and earphones.
what i did was leave it for almost 24 hours, screen down under a regular desklamp, about 2 cm from the bulb.
it got pretty warm and i removed it every once in a while so it wouldnt fry the circuits, but after 12 hours the water started disappearing from the screen and also when shaken, no water came out.
after a day, when i pressed center button, all it did was ask for power. but i suggest you leave it until all the water is gone before connecting it to the charger.
the ipod went to the washer completely soak into the water for more than 5 min. when we took it out. i left it on upright position so the most of the water could came out. i read about to shake the ipod so you can help the water to came out and i did. also, i read about the rice which i also did and leave it there in a warm dry place away from the direct sunlight or any light for about 4 days, submerge into the a bowl of rice. after that, we tried and after plug it it turns on and IT WORKED!!!!! we tried the music and internet and everything was fine, only a mark appeared on the screen and i better turned off again and left it on the rice again for the rest of the week, about 3 more days. we tried again and now it’s completely fine, no mark on the screen, and everything is working perfectly, no issues so far. i still not believe it. i was sure it was dead but we didn’t have nothing to lose doing the rice thing. my son is sooooo happy again!!!! IT’S WORKING!!!!
hi i dropped mine in the turtle tank lol its of trade me and the charger hasnt arived yet i put it on the lamp for an hour case it got to hot what shold i do ?
ps it has no water in it
take it out of the light for a couple of minuets
then put i back in. you dont wana keep it in to long or you might fry the circuits
I was lucky I spilled milk on it and I just wiped it off and it still work I sent this message from it so I really do think that I just got lucky
my ipod touch 4th Gen went though a 60 min washing cycle when my mom was putting the clothes in the dryer she found my ipod my ipod would not turn on i am trying the rice thing hopping that it will work. can anyone give me more ideas if the rice thing fails? ;(
so did the rice work? the same thing happened to my daughter’s ipod this morning! have it in rice now!
mine was put in the wash.do not! throw it away! do not plug it in anything(you will fry the circuits)put it rice for at least a week.then try to charge it.if it still does not work put back in rice.sooner or later it will dry. my ipod took 6mos to dry. i almost thru it out. good thing i did not. it works fine now:0
Hello, today at school I dropped my brother’s (2nd generation) ipod in the toilet and i took it out as fast as I could. I gave it to my friend so she could try fixing it but she couldn’t do anything. When she gave it back the screen had water, but it turned on to charge it but real deam. Like two hours later I found out about the rice method so when I got home, which was like 4 hourse later, that was the first thing i did. After three hours I checked it and saw that the screen was dry, so i went and charged it. It said to connect it to itunes and when i tried turning it off the screen didnt work. Can i fix this or it doesn’t function anymore? Please help me or ill get in grounded! >:(
today ir was pouring down rain where i live and where i was at it does not have a basement…(i was with my friend)they were getting ready to take me home and i had my ipod and my phone in my bag that i took over there.. i took my phone out of my bag and left the pocketet open.(my ipod and phone were in the same pocket) the sirens went off so we ran to the neighbors house and they werent home so we ran back to my friends house and got in the car and went to her grandparents house…thats when i relized i didnt have my ipod and we went back to her house after like 20-25 min. and found it in the pouring rain… it was on but then it wont work now.. i dont even know how to explain really what is happening.. i turned it off and i can see water in the camera and i dont have rice so we r trying to see if we can get rice at a neighbors house or something… i just got it April 25th and today is May 6th sooo yeah if i have to replace it again it will b my third ipod this year!! so if it doesnt work im screwweedd… any adviced
My mam put my iPod touch in the washing machine, It was in my pants and she didn’t check. I tried leaving it in dry places and everything the only thing is it did dry but their is still marks on the screen and when I push the middle button the screen lights up for about a second for me to slide the touch part but goes blank again sometimes I don’t even get that far before it goes black any advice?
mine did that, dont try and turn it on, get rice and put it in a chinese or indian box and fill up to the top wit rice w=then put your ipod in it and wait for afew days. and put it in a boiling cupboard or somewhere warm
I just found my iPod in the washer, it went through the entire cycle. I have it in rice now. I’ve fixed several phones that have been wet with rice, but never one that has been in the washer. Hoping it works.
i just found my iPod in the pool i think it has been there since two days ago it has been soaking in rice for water for twenty four hours and it is still not working what should i do
my iPod is a shuffle i think it is really tiny and is touch screen and after 24 hours it will not even turn on or show anything it just stays black
I put my ipod against my chest and carried it around on a hot day, guess my sweat got in it,i tried to blow dry and waited a couple of days it turned on but can’t sense the heat off my fingers so it doesn’t move, what can i do?
Hi yesterday I went swimming and judd in the pool with my iPod in my pocket I was swimming for about 5 mins and then realized it was in my pocket I went straight to my house and put it in a bowl of rice for about 24 hrs then took it out but it still had just a black screen oh and the iPod was on when I went in to the pool