The myth that placing a wet electronic device into a bag of rice for a few hours will return it to a dry and functioning state is both persistent and highly inaccurate.
This method doesn’t work. If you’re skeptical of my word, or the experiences of countless others who have tried it, perhaps you’ll listen to a multibillion-dollar corporation.
Earlier this year, Apple updated its support documentation to point this out and explain the reason why. This change was recently spotted and first reported by MacWorld.
“Don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice,” warns the tech giant. “Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone.”
The issue isn’t that rice will infiltrate the iPhone – since the iPhone 12, all iPhones are IP68 rated, making them waterproof up to a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes, as well as dustproof.
The real problem lies in the rice congealing in the ports and speakers, where it can become difficult, or even impossible, to remove.