iPad and water

Water and electronics do not make happy bedfellows. Your iPad is not designed to be water resistant. While it may survive being splashed with water if immediately dried, it will almost certainly suffer irreparable damage if submerged, even for a short time. Also consider that your iPad’s screen will not respond to wet hands.

Be aware that water damage is expressly excluded from warranty. In common with other manufacturers, Apple devices contain internal LCIs (Liquid Contact Indicator). If these reveal any sign of liquid contact, your warranty is automatically void.

While using an iPad anywhere near water is not recommended, there are third-party “waterproof” cases within which an iPad can be sealed to reduce to likelihood of accidental water damage. Good places to look for waterproof/water-resistant cases for your electronic devices, such as your iPad, are marine stores. If you live in the United States, try looking at West Marine - or other marine equipment suppliers.

Apple_Discussions-Pro wrote:

I love to use I iPad in the bathtub if I drop it in will it be safe ? I have iPad mint 6 gen

Safe? No. Likely to continue to work? No.

Get and use a water-resistant case. That’ll be water-resistant, but not water-proof, and not entirely proof against damage or corrosion. There are cases meant for marine activities, and some with mounts and related features.

Otherwise, expect to replace the iPad when it ceases to function due to moisture and corrosion, or due to dunking.

Expect bathing “excitement”—device deflagration—if internal battery materials should become damaged and then contact water, too.

Rice isn’t an appropriate desiccant, but is a good choice for getting rice dust wet and then solidified and then rotting and corroding within. This per Apple:

No! Some devices are rated for water resistance, not necessarily being submerged. The iPad mini is not rated at all for water resistance.

No way. If dropped it would likely get waterlogged in seconds. It's doesn't even have a basic adhesive seal like newer iPhones.

Once it gets soaked it's likely not suitable for long term use. It might be possible to get a temporary fix for data recovery. I would never trust an iPad that's suffered water damage.

I've seen other electronics that had some interesting behavior with water. Bought an Amazon Fire HD 8 for my child, which has a USB-C port and liquid-detection sensor that gave a message and stopped all charging until it was dry. And it did eventually dry and start working again, but it was just a little bit of water in the port as a result of being sprayed by water in the bathroom sink. But with an iPad if there's enough liquid in the port I think it would probably result in a liquid contact indicator clearly turning color. There may also be an electronic sensor, but I've never gotten to the point where I saw that.

Some electronics can be interesting though. Had a digital camera that got waterlogged in a tropical rainstorm and then it stopped working. But it dried out and was working again in a few days. Next year I took it when it was snowing and got lots of snow started melting and same thing happened, where it was working again in a few days. But it wasn't anything like an iPad where it's not semi-sealed like an iPad, so there was probably a better escape route for the water to go. But then it failed in a couple of years and I can't really know why it failed for good, although the previous water logging couldn't have helped.

Johnathan Burger wrote:

Considering it’s bath water filled with chemicals, I would not bother with drying it out.

also, whoever recommends rice as part of the drying process is misguided and is just wasting food.

Great minds think alike....

I personally would never trust any electronic device that was exposed to water- especially if it was filled with chemicals or sugars.

As y_p_w noted, you might get lucky but, no, I wouldn't want it to be my only device in an emergency.

I can relate to this completely! I use my phone In the bathtub all the time. Sadly you’re iPad wont work properly after dropping it in the water. I would recommend buying a water proof case to put your phone/iPad in when you take a shower or bath just in case you drop it again. Good luck!

Yep, if you are fortunate enough to get it back up and working immediately back it up and just wait for it to fail in the coming weeks.

Best to replace it as soon as possible.

Considering it’s bath water filled with chemicals, I would not bother with drying it out.

also, whoever recommends rice as part of the drying process is misguided and is just wasting food.

I personally would never trust any electronic device that was exposed to water- especially if it was filled with chemicals or sugars.

No, it will be destroyed.

SergZak wrote:

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Also, I worked for a major cellular carrier for over twenty years. I've never heard of these "machines" of which you speak. Can you tell us more about them?

Vacuum cleaner? ;)

Ha!

I know that there exist machines for drying electronics but, personally, I've never heard of them being something retailers have. But, I'm more than willing to admit I don't know everything!

Sadly, drying electronics after they've gotten wet wouldn't fix any corrosion that's already happened and it can happen pretty quickly.

“I know that there exist machines for drying electronics but, personally, I've never heard of them being something retailers have. But, I'm more than willing to admit I don't know everything!”

It has an excellent reputation in the industry.

“Sadly, drying electronics after they've gotten wet wouldn't fix any corrosion that's already happened and it can happen pretty quickly.”

Typically, those bringing it in are family members with small kids or pets running about the house. Water gets knocked over. You’d have about 15 seconds to get it out of the tub to get it serviced successfully.

Apple_Discussions-Pro Said:

"iPad and water: I love to use I iPad in the bathtub if I drop it in will it be safe ? I have iPad mint 6 gen"

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Extracting Water from an iPad:

Lay this in a plate full rice for a few hours. No Success? Take this to a retailer, asking them if they have a machine for this. Retailers have these machines.

y_p_w Said:

“Once it gets soaked it's likely not suitable for long term use. It might be possible to get a temporary fix for data recovery. I would never trust an iPad that's suffered water damage.[…]”

———-

Based On Personal Experience:

My iPad 2 went for 7 good years, after this occurred twice —would have used it longer, but as proprietary as Apple is, I went about upgrading to keep getting updates.

How is this so hard to believe?

TheLittles wrote:

Extracting Water from an iPad:

Lay this in a plate full rice for a few hours. No Success? Take this to a retailer, asking them if they have a machine for this. Retailers have these machines.

Putting water damaged electronics in rice to dry them out is, sadly, a myth. It does nothing useful and wastes food.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2017/08/28/your-smartphone-got-wet-heres-what-do-first/609145001/

Also, I worked for a major cellular carrier for over twenty years. I've never heard of these "machines" of which you speak. Can you tell us more about them?