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How to Save Your Laptop After a Spill

Spilled water or another liquid? Don't panic: There's hope

By Catherine Roseberry Catherine Roseberry Writer Catherine Roseberry is a former writer for Lifewire who has experience in technology consulting focused on mobile productivity. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 12, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide

What to Know

A speedy response to a spill increases your chances of a successful recovery.The quickest way to save your laptop: turn it off > remove any cables > blot up excess liquid > get it dry with air.You should also dry out, blot up liquid from removable media, turn laptop upside down or tilt side to side to drain liquid. This article explains how to save your laptop after a spill. Instructions apply to all brands of laptops.

10 Steps to Saving Your Laptop After a Spill

First and foremost, turn it off. Time is of the essence here, so if need be, go ahead and do a hard shutdown. If you can, remove the battery because if liquid reaches the battery, it will short out. Next, remove any cables, external drives, removable bays, and external network cards. You don’t want your laptop to be connected to anything. Then quickly, but carefully, blot up excess liquid with a soft cloth — preferably a lint-free absorbent fabric. Be sure not to use a wiping motion as that just pushes the liquid around. Blot up the liquid that may have gotten on the removable media. Tilt the laptop from side to side to allow the liquid to drain out. Do this gently — do not shake the laptop. Place upside down so that any excess liquid that you couldn't reach will drain out. If you have access to one, use a blow dryer on the coolest setting or a can of compressed air to get into those nooks and crannies. Carefully dry the laptop with the cool air while still upside down to let the liquid drain. Pay special attention to the keyboard and the parts you removed. Keep the blow dryer or compressed air moving. The minimum recommended drying time is one hour, but leaving the laptop to dry for 24 hours is preferred. Once your laptop has had time to dry, reattach the removable components and start up the laptop. If it starts up with no problems, then run some programs and try using the external media to ensure that everything is working properly.
If the laptop does not start up or there are other problems, it is time to take your laptop to a certified repair service. If your laptop is still under warranty, you should follow those procedures first.

Other Tips for Saving Your Laptop

Unless you’re a computer professional, do not take apart the casing. This can void your warranty and you could damage internal components.Water is the easiest liquid to clean up on a laptop. It is generally a case of moving quickly to ensure water doesn’t get into the internal casing.Other liquids, especially those that are sugar-based, will make things sticky and harder to clean up. They also tend to pose a greater threat of erosion to delicate parts of the laptop than water. Use a slightly damp warm cloth to clean up sugar-based liquids and fight the stickiness. How to Put a Key Back on a Laptop Keyboard Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Physically Clean Your Laptop How to Clean Headphones and Earbuds How to Save Your Wet iPad How to Put a Key Back on a Laptop Keyboard How to Clean a Wireless Mouse How to Fix 'No Battery Is Detected' on Your Laptop How to Fix a Chromebook Touchscreen That's Not Working How to Clean a PS4 How to Clean a Magic Keyboard How to Fix iPhone Stuck in Headphone Mode How to Clean a Mechanical Keyboard How to Make Your Cellphone Battery Last Longer How to Clean a Laptop Fan 8 Tips for Traveling and Flying With Your Laptop How to Remove or Replace a Phone's Glass Screen Protector How to Make a Projector Screen Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies