If you have spilled water or any other liquid on your beloved MacBook, it is not necessarily the death sentence for your MacBook. In rare cases, the hard drive is affected by water damage, so your data is probably not lost. It is important that you keep a cool head now and follow the first aid steps.
We know it’s tempting to see if your MacBook might still be working, but don’t turn it back on. Attempting to start the engine can make the damage worse. Immediately switch off the device and disconnect it from the power supply to avoid further damage.
Next, we need to remove as much of the liquid from the MacBook as possible. To do this, place the device so that the liquid flows out of the openings through which it entered. If you have tipped a glass of wine over the keyboard, first place the MacBook with the keyboard on a towel. Make sure that no liquid can flow into the display. Proceed similarly if the water has entered through the side openings, in which case place the MacBook on its corresponding side. Allow the MacBook to dry for 48 hours. If you put the MacBook on the heater, the drying time will be shortened to 24 hours.
Note: Please do not use a hair dryer for drying, it may damage the keyboard and other plastic parts. Additionally, the airflow pushes the liquid back into the MacBook.
The following video explains the important steps again in detail:
While your MacBook dries, you can figure out how you want to deal with the water damage. You basically have 3 options: Drying, repair by an Apple dealer and smart rescue by the notebook nerds.
We cannot recommend this solution in principle. After drying, residues often remain that cause further corrosion. Devices that work again after drying often break down in the long term due to corrosion. As can be seen in the picture, corrosion grows much like a fungus. This growth often causes a short circuit sooner or later and the device can be damaged. We do not recommend this solution because we have seen too many devices that could be easily saved, but which have become irreparable due to further use. However, if you have a very old device where a spontaneous failure is justifiable. Think about regular backups of the data!
We recommend this emergency solution only if the device is very old (< 2010) and a spontaneous failure is justifiable. Please remember to back up your data regularly.
We explain why drying alone isn’t enough
A repair by an Apple dealer can be relatively expensive. The cost of repair can quickly exceed the value of the MacBook. We would only recommend this form of repair if the MacBook is very new and the costs incurred can be well borne. You can find an Apple reseller near you via Apple Support.
We recommend this solution only if the high costs can be well borne.
If a repair by an Apple dealer is too expensive, the smart rescue from the notebook nerds offers a good, cost-effective alternative. After liquid damage, Apple dealers always replace all components that have come into contact with liquid. We clean your device and check which components have been damaged. Affected components are repaired or replaced. These small parts are much cheaper than whole components, so we can offer you a competitive price. Our works are guaranteed for 12 months. This solution is useful when the repair price of an Apple dealer exceeds the value of the MacBook or the money for the repair is not available.
Recommendation: If a good, inexpensive rescue of the MacBook is desired.
Water damage usually does not make a MacBook a total loss. For each MacBook, you can now decide which is the best solution for your case depending on the age and importance of the device, as well as your wallet.
| Solution | Type of Solution | Risk | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drying | Dry the device and hope it works | High | Free at first, but potentially high follow-up costs |
| Repair by an Apple Authorized Reseller | Replacement of all components that have come into contact with liquid | Low | Usually €800–1,200 |
| A Smart Rescue by the notebooknerds | Cleaning and replacement/repair of defective components | Low | Starting at €209 fixed price if successful, otherwise free of charge |
90% success rate for liquid damage. We only replace the components on the motherboard that are actually defective. This saves you money and usually saves your data, too.
