Spilled water on a MacBook: what to do, and how to prevent it

If you have just spilled something on a MacBook, shut it down right away, unplug the charger and everything else, and turn it upside down with the lid open, like a tent, on a towel so the liquid can drain out. Blot what you can reach, leave it switched off, and get it checked by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, especially if the drink had sugar or milk in it. Don't put it in rice, don't use a hair dryer, and don't turn it on to see if it still works.

If nothing has spilled yet, the prevention is simple: a bottle with a lid, kept off to one side, never behind the screen. The rest of this post covers both in detail.

If you just spilled: do this now

Speed matters more than anything else here. Liquid on its own does less harm than liquid plus electricity, so the first job is to cut the power.

1. Shut it down. Don't stop to save your work. Press and hold the power button until the screen goes black. On recent MacBooks, the power button is the Touch ID key at the top right of the keyboard.
2. Unplug everything. The charger first, then every cable, drive, dongle and accessory.
3. Tip it to drain. Open the lid as far as it goes, then turn the Mac over so it stands like an upside-down V on a towel, with the keyboard facing down. Liquid then runs out of the keyboard instead of further in.
4. Blot, don't wipe. Use a soft cloth that doesn't shed, or a paper towel, on the keyboard, the trackpad and the outside of the case. Don't shake it hard; that spreads liquid around inside.
5. Leave it off. Recent MacBooks can start up on their own when you open the lid or connect power, so keep the charger away. If it does start, shut it down again.
6. Book a check. Tell the technician what was spilled, roughly how much and when.

What not to do

• Don't use rice. It doesn't pull water out of a closed laptop, and it can leave dust and starch in the ports and under the keys. Apple has advised against rice for wet iPhones, and the same logic applies here.
• Don't use heat. A hair dryer, a heater or an oven can damage parts, and blowing air can push liquid deeper.
• Don't test it. Turning it on while it is still wet inside is how a spill turns into a repair. Even if it seems to work, power running through damp parts can make things worse.
• Don't take it apart yourself. Modern MacBooks aren't built for that, and opening one can complicate any repair or coverage later.

Water, coffee or something sweet

What you spilled changes how worried to be.

Size matters too. A few drops on the lid or the palm rest, wiped away at once, are usually nothing. Anything that went into the keyboard, the speaker grilles or the vents deserves the full steps above.

One thing catches people out: a Mac that seems fine after drying can still develop problems later, because corrosion inside takes time. That's why getting it checked is worth it even when everything appears to work.

Getting it checked

You can take it to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or start a repair through Apple's support website or the Apple Support app on an iPhone.

• Be specific. What the drink was, when it happened and what you did afterwards all help the technician.
• Check your coverage. Apple's standard warranty doesn't cover accidental damage such as spills. AppleCare+ does cover accidental damage, usually for a service fee each time, so check whether your Mac has it before you book.
• Think about your data. A spill is a hard reminder that a laptop can fail without warning. If the Mac works again, make a backup before anything else. If it doesn't, you'll be glad of the one you already had, which is a good reason to set up Time Machine now, before anything happens.

Make spills less likely

Most desk spills come from the same few things: an open glass, a reach across the keyboard, a cable that catches a hand. Fix those and you can keep water on your desk without thinking about it.

Choose a container made for a desk

• A bottle with a screw or locking lid that you close between sips is the safest choice.
• A tumbler with a straw lid spills much less than an open glass if it tips, though it can still leak.
• A heavy mug or a wide, low glass is the next best thing if you prefer an open cup. Tall, narrow glasses tip easily.
• Avoid takeaway cups with loose lids, and cups balanced on a pile of papers or a notebook.

Put it in the right place

• To the side, out of the path of your hands. Beyond the mouse or trackpad, or on the other side of the desk. Never between you and the Mac.
• Never behind the screen. Every time you reach for it, your arm passes over the keyboard.
• Away from cables. A charger cable or a headphone cable is easy to snag, and the glass goes with it.
• Lower than the Mac, if you can. A laptop stand lifts the MacBook above the desk, so a spill runs underneath instead of into it. With an external keyboard in front, that keyboard takes the hit instead of the laptop.

Keep the habits simple

• Put the lid back on every time, even if you will drink again in a minute.
• Lift the drink away from the Mac before you drink, not over it.
• On the couch or in bed, lidded bottles only. A laptop on your knees is right in the splash zone.
• If a pet or a small child shares your workspace, keep drinks on a different surface altogether.

None of this means you should keep water away from your desk. A glass in sight is one of the best ways to make drinking water a habit at your desk. The goal is a drink you can reach without thinking, in a place where reaching for it can't go wrong.

More sips, fewer spills

If you're trying to drink more during the day, you'll be reaching for that glass more often, which makes placement worth getting right. Notchpals helps with the drinking part. With Puddle or Melo in your crew, a water reminder slides down from the notch a few times between 9 AM and 8 PM, with one extra visit for the first glass in the morning and another in the afternoon.

PuddleWater! Splash! Drink some and I'll clap!

Ideally not on the keyboard. A visit is a good moment to practice the safe version of the habit: lift the bottle away from the Mac, drink, and close the lid before you press Done. If your hands are full or the bottle is empty and you can't get up yet, press Later and it will ask once more in 20 minutes.

One last tip. Save the six steps at the top of this post somewhere you can read them without the Mac, such as a note on your phone. The moment you need them is the moment the Mac has to stay off.