CrackMacSpilled water on your MacBook? What to do now, and what screen damage looks like
Turn it off now. Hold the power button until the screen goes dark, unplug the charger and everything else, then let the liquid drain out. Liquid on its own does little harm. Liquid plus electricity is what damages the logic board, so the first minute matters more than anything you do afterwards.
The first ten minutes
- Hold the power button until the Mac shuts off. Don't wait to save your work.
- Unplug the charger and every accessory.
- Blot the outside with a lint-free cloth.
- Open the lid as far as it goes and stand the Mac upside down in a tent shape, keyboard facing down, so liquid drains away from the inside.
- Leave it in a dry, airy room for at least 24 hours, 48 if you can.
What not to do
- Don't turn it on to check whether it still works.
- Don't use rice. It doesn't reach the inside, and grains end up in the ports.
- Don't use a hair dryer or a radiator. Heat damages parts and spreads the liquid.
Coffee, juice, soda and anything sugary leave residue that keeps causing corrosion after the liquid dries. Those spills are worth a professional cleaning even if the Mac seems fine.
What liquid damage looks like on the screen
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Blotchy, cloudy or rainbow patches | Liquid between the panel's layers |
| Dim or dark patches, often near the bottom | Damaged backlight |
| Lines or flicker that appear days later | Corrosion on the display connector |
| Marks that shrink over a few days | Moisture drying out. Sometimes they go completely. |
Repair and coverage
The standard warranty doesn't cover liquid damage, and Apple technicians can check the liquid indicators inside. With AppleCare+, it counts as accidental damage. In the US, that's $99 if only the screen or enclosure needs repair and $299 for anything else. Without coverage, compare quotes in screen replacement cost, and back up as soon as the Mac starts reliably. See getting files off a broken Mac.
If the damage runs along one edge, CrackMac can keep windows, menus and the pointer off it. There's a free 30-minute trial.
Quick answers
What should I do if I spill water on my MacBook?
Hold the power button until it turns off, unplug it, and remove accessories. Blot what you can, then stand it upside down in a tent shape to drain. Let it dry for at least 24 hours, and get it checked if the spill was large or sugary.
Does putting a MacBook in rice help?
No. Rice doesn't draw liquid out of the inside of a laptop, and grains and dust can get into the ports and keyboard. Time, airflow and a professional cleaning do more.
Does AppleCare+ cover liquid damage on a Mac?
Yes, as accidental damage. In the US the fee is $99 if only the screen or enclosure needs repair, and $299 for other accidental damage. The standard warranty doesn't cover liquid damage.
Left with marks along one edge?
Liquid damage often settles into one part of the screen. If yours is a band along an edge and the rest of the Mac works, CrackMac blacks out the damaged part and keeps everything on the clean glass.
- Works on macOS 13 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.
- Free for 30 minutes of use, then a one-time price. No subscription.
- A refund within 7 days, no questions asked.