What to do if water gets on your laptop

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

An overturned bottle of water or a cup of coffee isn't always a verdict for a laptop. Act quickly and you can save your computer.

If the laptop has been in the pool, river, bath or took a shower, it is unlikely that anything will help it. This article can be useful only if there was little liquid, and contact with it was short-lived.

1. If the laptop is plugged in, unplug it immediately

Unplug the charging cable from the outlet and from your computer, and then all other cables connected to the laptop. Water and electricity are not the safest combination for both technology and you.

2. Flip and turn off the laptop

Turn the device over with the keyboard facing downward so that any water that might have gotten in will drain out.

Press and hold the power button at the same time until the screen turns off. This is the fastest way to turn off your device. Now is not the time to worry about unsaved documents. The main thing is to stop the movement of electricity through the interior of the laptop to prevent short circuits.

3. Disconnect all devices

Disconnect all external devices from the laptop. Flash drives, memory cards, USB-modem, even a battery - all down! If the computer comes into contact with water, not only it can be damaged, but also these accessories.

4. Wipe the laptop

Now completely dry your laptop without turning it over. A cotton towel is ideal for this purpose: it perfectly absorbs any liquid. You can also use paper napkins.

If none of this is there, save the device with everything that comes to hand.

Pay special attention to the keyboard: water flows easily under the keys. Remember to wipe down the ports and cooling hole.

5. Build a funny structure

Place the fan on the floor first. Then cover it with a cardboard or plastic box and make large holes in the top and side walls for ventilation. Cover the box with a towel and place the laptop on top of it, keyboard side down. Turn on the fan for two days to let the device dry completely.

To avoid starting a fire, do not leave the fan unattended for a long time. Turn it off at night and when you leave the house.

6. Check device operation after 48 hours

If after two days the laptop can be turned on, copy important data to third-party media. The fact is that damage may not manifest itself immediately. Perhaps the consequences of contact with water will remind of themselves after a few days or even weeks and the computer will fail. Hope for the best, but don't relax.

What to do if coffee, wine or tea gets inside the laptop

Liquids with additives are more dangerous to the innards of a laptop than water. Coffee grounds, sugar, and other impurities in these beverages can clog and oxidize components, causing additional damage. Eventually, laptop keys can become sticky and even refuse to work.

To avoid problems, it is best to clean the inside of the laptop before drying it. You can do this yourself by disassembling the machine and removing all dirt with paper towels or cotton swabs dipped in a little alcohol. Please be aware that disassembling yourself will void your warranty.

Cases of different laptops can be very different in design and order of disassembly. If you have never opened your device, look on the Web for the instruction manual of the same model.

If the dried laptop no longer turns on or you do not want to clean it yourself, you can seek professional assistance from the service center.