MacBook liquid spill: what to do straight away (and what not to)

A glass that tips over above your MacBook is one of the quickest ways to lose a laptop. The good news is that the first minutes decide a lot: what you do and do not do straight away makes the difference between a repair that works and a logic board that corrodes. Below you can read what to do, what to avoid and what we can do afterwards.

Blue Apple repairs MacBooks with liquid damage at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam. On the MacBook water damage repair page you can read more about how we approach it.

Do this straight away

1. Turn it off. Hold the power button until the screen is off. Do not wait to see whether it still works.
2. Unplug the charger and everything connected. USB sticks, hubs and cables too.
3. Wipe the liquid off the outside. With a dry, lint-free cloth. Do not press and do not wipe into the keys.
4. Leave it alone. Do not switch it on, do not charge it, do not 'just test it'. Every time power reaches the board, a short can do more damage.
5. Take it quickly to someone who can open it. The shorter the liquid stays in the laptop, the smaller the chance of lasting damage.

Better not to

• Do not switch it on to see whether it still works. This is the most common mistake. A laptop that looks dry can still be wet inside.
• Do not put it in rice. It does not dry faster and bits can end up in the ports.
• No hair dryer or radiator. Heat damages the battery and can push liquid deeper into the device.
• No cleaning products or alcohol from the outside. That spreads the dirt instead of removing it.
• Do not open the device yourself if you are not used to it. The battery is connected to the logic board and keeps supplying power even when the laptop is off.

Why this has to be quick

Water itself is often the smallest problem. It goes wrong because of what is in the liquid and because of time. A MacBook is live inside as long as the battery is connected, so liquid can cause a short even when it is off. Sweet or salty drinks such as cola, coffee with sugar, juice, beer and sea water are the worst: they leave a sticky or conductive residue and cause corrosion. That corrosion carries on after the liquid has dried, sometimes for weeks.

What a technician does

• Open it and disconnect the battery, so there is no more power on the board.
• Look at where the liquid has been. Traces of corrosion show how far it got.
• Clean the logic board, remove or replace parts that have been attacked and check that everything holds power again.
• Replace the keyboard, trackpad or battery if they have been affected. With a spilled drink the keyboard is often in the middle of it; also read MacBook keyboard not working.
• Test that the Mac not only switches on but also stays stable.

There is no guarantee it works. Repair at logic board level can save a lot, but not everything, and with heavy corrosion a repair is sometimes no longer worthwhile. What we can do is tell you honestly what the chances are before you invest.

Your data

The data on a MacBook is not in the liquid but on the storage, and that often survives an accident better than the rest of the device. On newer models the storage sits on the logic board, which makes rescuing files harder than on older models. If something on it matters to you, say so straight away. More on that in data recovery from a dead iPhone or MacBook.

If it works again

If the MacBook works again after a while, it is not safe yet. Corrosion can cause problems weeks after the accident: a key that drops out, a port that no longer charges, a screen that flickers or a Mac that shuts down for no reason. Have it checked and make a backup in the meantime.

Frequently asked questions

My MacBook only got a little wet. Do I really have to do something?

Yes: switch it off, do not charge it and have it opened. A small amount of liquid in the wrong place is enough for corrosion.

Is liquid damage covered by the warranty?

Apple's standard warranty does not cover liquid damage. With insurance, or an AppleCare plan with cover for accidental damage, it is different; see AppleCare or an independent repairer.

Can I send my MacBook in?

Yes, by post, or we can collect it. Pack it firmly and do not send it charged or plugged in. See pickup and delivery.

How long can I wait?

As little as possible. Have it checked within a day or two; every extra day gives corrosion more of a chance.