How To Fix Galaxy S24 Water Damage Or Moisture Alert (2026)
Your Galaxy S24, S24+ or S24 Ultra got wet, and you need to know what to do in the next few minutes.
Most of the time the phone survives, because the S24 series carries an IP68 rating.
This guide covers the first steps, how to read the liquid damage indicator, what to do about a moisture alert, and when to go to Samsung.
Quick answer: what to do first
| Situation | Do this | Do not |
|---|---|---|
| Dropped in fresh water, phone works | Unplug anything attached, wipe it, and let it air-dry | Do not make a call right away |
| Saltwater or other liquid | Rinse with fresh water, then dry thoroughly | Do not leave salt to dry on the speaker or mic |
| Moisture detected pop-up | Unplug the charger and let the port dry | Do not force charging |
| Phone will not respond at all | Keep it off and dry, then contact Samsung | Do not use a hairdryer or oven |
Is the Galaxy S24 waterproof?
Samsung lists the whole S24 series, including the S24 FE, as IP68 on its water and dust resistance page.
Samsung’s S24 support page ties that rating to freshwater immersion of about 1.5 m for roughly 30 minutes under controlled test conditions.
The rating is a lab result, not a promise, and Samsung says protection can decline with wear and physical damage.
| Exposure | Covered by the IP68 rating? |
|---|---|
| Fresh water, about 1.5 m, about 30 minutes | Yes, in test conditions |
| Saltwater or seawater | Not recommended by Samsung |
| Chlorinated pool water and drinks | Can cause damage |
| Jets, waterfalls, heavy pressure | Can break through |
| Cracked screen or damaged frame | Protection can be reduced |
Step 1: unplug everything and power down
Disconnect any charger, cable or accessory the moment the phone comes out of the water.
Samsung’s safety advice is not to charge a wet device or handle chargers and cables with wet hands.
If the phone is still responding, turning it off is the safe choice until you have dried the ports.
Step 2: dry the outside and the openings
Dry the phone with a clean, soft cloth and pat dry the earpiece, microphone, speaker and USB-C port.
- Remove the case and any screen protector if it is holding water against the phone.
- Wipe the whole body with a soft cloth.
- Shake the phone gently with the USB-C port facing down so water can drain.
- Leave it on a dry cloth in a well-ventilated spot, or in front of a fan.
What if it was saltwater or another liquid?
Samsung recommends rinsing the phone with fresh water first, then drying it thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Salt can build up and block the microphone, earpiece or speaker, so do not let it dry in place.
Drinks, pool water and seawater are not covered by the freshwater rating, so treat those as higher risk.
S24 Ultra: what about the S Pen?
If the S Pen gets wet, wipe it with a dry cloth.
If water gets into the S Pen slot, gently shake the phone to drain it.
Make sure both the pen and slot are fully dry before reinserting it, because moisture can make the pen stick.
How long should you wait before charging?
Samsung says water in the charging port usually evaporates in about 1 to 2 hours.
If a moisture alert appears, Samsung’s regional guidance is to leave the phone powered off in a cool, dry place for at least 24 hours when the icon keeps coming back.
If you must add power sooner, a wireless charger is an option, because moisture in the port does not affect wireless charging.
How to check the liquid damage indicator (LDI)
Samsung’s S24, S25 and S26 are listed as having a liquid damage indicator inside the SIM or microSD card tray area.
- Power the phone off.
- Open the SIM tray with the ejector tool.
- Shine a flashlight into the slot and look at the indicator.
| Indicator color | What it means |
|---|---|
| White or light marks | No liquid exposure detected |
| Pink, purple or red | Liquid exposure, and the phone may need service |
The exact tray position can differ by model, and Samsung suggests visiting a support center if you cannot read it.
Why does my S24 say moisture detected?
The S24 has a moisture sensor, and Samsung says it blocks charging while moisture is detected to prevent corrosion.
The warning can also appear after humidity or a small splash, without any submersion.
For the full walkthrough, see our guide on fixing the Samsung Galaxy moisture detected issue.
- Unplug the charger as soon as the alert appears.
- Wipe the port and shake the phone gently, port facing down.
- Wait for the port to dry, then try again.
- Try a different cable and charger to rule out the accessory.
- If the alert stays, power off and let the phone dry for 24 hours.
Never push a tool or any object into the charging port, which Samsung warns against.
If the alert will not clear: wipe the cache partition
Samsung’s regional page lists clearing the cache partition from recovery mode as the next step.
- Power the phone off.
- Boot into recovery mode using the key combination on Samsung’s moisture page.
- Use the volume keys to select Wipe cache partition and press the power button.
- Select Reboot system now.
Symptom-to-fix table
| What you see | Try this |
|---|---|
| Water drop icon or moisture pop-up | Unplug, dry the port, wait, then retry |
| Muffled speaker or low call volume | Wipe the phone and air-dry before calling |
| Touch screen not responding while wet | Dry the screen, since Samsung says touch may not work when wet |
| Will not charge by cable | Try wireless charging after drying the phone |
| Pink, purple or red LDI | Book a Samsung repair |
| Alert returns after 24 hours dry | Contact Samsung Support |
Is water damage covered, and when should you go to Samsung?
Samsung states that liquid damage is not covered by the Samsung Limited Warranty.
If the LDI is triggered, plan on a paid repair rather than a warranty claim.
If you bought a protection plan such as Samsung Care+, read its terms to see what liquid damage it covers.
If the moisture alert persists, or the phone will not power on after drying, contact Samsung Support or ask about a repair through Samsung Support.
If the phone refuses to start, our guide on a Galaxy S24 that will not turn on covers the next checks.