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How to tell if your iPhone has water damage — even if it's water-resistant

Written by Steven John
iPhone 7 water resistance
There's a simple method to tell if your iPhone has water damage. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
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With its brand new iPhone 11 Pro, Apple has increased water resistance from previous models. 

An iPhone 11 Pro is now supposedly resistant in up to four meters of water for 30 minutes, compared to two meters for 30 minutes with an iPhone XS. But that doesn't mean you should go around submerging your iPhone in every liquid you find. 

Just because your iPhone might be water resistant under certain conditions doesn't mean it won't affect your device — continued exposure to water can still lead to damage over time, and other liquids like coffee or soda can also damage your phone. 

And if your iPhone does experience water damage, you're going to be left holding the bag. Apple's warranty does not cover water damage, so that one little drop that manages to find its way in may lead to hundreds of dollars less in your bank account.

If you think it's already too late and your phone has been damaged by water, here's how to check.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 Pro (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

iPhone Xs (From $899.99 at Best Buy)

How to tell if your iPhone has water damage

1. Remove your iPhone case and locate the SIM card tray, which will be on the right side of the phone, an inch or so below the side button.

IMG_0518
The SIM tray has a small hole and is located under the side button.  Steven John/Business Insider

2. Using a SIM tray removal tool or a straightened paper clip, press into the small hole at the bottom of the SIM tray and gently remove the tray.

IMG_0519
Insert the paper clip into the small hole.  Steven John/Business Insider

3. Shine a light into the empty SIM slot and look for a red color (you may need a magnifying glass). 

If you see red … that's bad. That means the phone's Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) has been activated and that water or another liquid (looking at you, coffee) did get into the phone, likely damaging it. Otherwise, you should see white or silver, and your phone is likely not damaged. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

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Steven John
Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.