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Hi So I dropped my iPhone Xs in water and it died a few minutes after. I followed the guidelines and let it air dry for a few days under a semi-warm lamp and low humidity room with a dehumidifier. I then put it on charge, but to no avail, the phone was fully dead. BUT then I took it off charge, and suddenly the screen turned on (with lots of funky colors) for a few seconds, and then it went black again. So when it’s charging, it’s completely dead, but when it’s not charging, the screen turns on. Is there any chance this phone might still work well enough to get a data backup of my photos somehow? I am not trying to get the phone to work fully, I just want it to turn on for long enough to back up the photos.
Hi Even though the iPhone XS has an IP68 waterproof rating this doesn’t mean that it is as waterproof now as it was when it left the factory. Normal handling over time could have reduced the waterproof integrity of the case for example, so maybe some water has penetrated into the phone. The impurities in the water causes corrosion and provides circuit paths for the electricity which were not in the phone’s operating design and could damage the components. The corrosion starts immediately and is ongoing until it is completely cleaned away First do not try to charge or to turn on your phone and then remove the battery as soon as possible from the phone to minimize any further damage. Then you need to dis-assemble the rest of the phone and clean all the affected parts using Isopropyl Alcohol 99%+ (available at electronics parts stores) to remove all traces of corrosion and water. If possible do not use “rubbing alcohol” as in some cases this is only 70% IPA or less, can contain additives and is not as effective. If you do have to use it check the label to verify the amount of IPA. The higher the percentage of IPA the better Here is a link that describes the process. Electronics Water Damage As always with electronics, especially surface mounted pcb be gentle when handling and especially when brushing away the corrosion. You do not want to remove any components from the board. Remove the shields that may be covering some components as the water may have got in under there. The ends of any flex cables and their connectors need to be cleaned as well Hopefully after you have done all this the phone might possibly work correctly again. Here is a link to the ifixit iPhone XS Repair guide that may help. If this process seems too daunting, take your phone to a reputable, professional phone repair service, experienced in liquid damage repair and ask for a quote for a repair. If you decide to do this, do it sooner than later.
It sounds like you need a replacement screen (which you can get here for $90).
