220-1101 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A user's smartphone was accidentally dropped into a puddle of water. The user immediately removed the phone from the water and wiped it dry. They are now attempting to power it on, but the phone does not respond. Which of the following should the user do FIRST to maximize the chance of recovery?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume immediate power-on or forced resets are harmless troubleshooting steps, but CompTIA tests the understanding that applying power to wet electronics is the primary cause of irreversible damage, not the water itself.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Place the phone in a bag of uncooked rice for 24-48 hours before trying to power it on
Uncooked rice acts as a desiccant, absorbing residual moisture from the phone's internal components over 24-48 hours. This passive drying process minimizes the risk of short circuits or corrosion when power is applied, which is critical since water can cause conductive paths between circuits even after external wiping.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Place the phone in a bag of uncooked rice for 24-48 hours before trying to power it on
Why this is correct
Placing the phone in a sealed bag of uncooked rice creates a low-humidity microclimate that gradually draws moisture out of the device through absorption. The 24-48 hour wait allows water to evaporate from the logic board, battery contacts, and display cables without applying power, which is critical because even residual dampness can cause a short circuit the moment the device is energized. This method is slow but safe, minimizing the risk of corrosion and electrical damage while you wait for internal components to fully dry.
- ✗
Immediately plug the phone into a charger to see if it still works
Why it's wrong here
Immediately plugging the phone into a charger is dangerous because water on the circuit board provides conductive paths that can short-circuit the battery or charging circuitry. Applying external voltage to a wet motherboard can cause rapid electrochemical reactions, burning out traces, damaging the power management IC, and potentially leading to a battery failure or fire. This action bypasses the safe shutdown state and directly energizes components that are not designed to operate with water bridging their contacts.
- ✗
Use a hair dryer on high heat to dry the phone quickly
Why it's wrong here
Using a hair dryer on high heat is counterproductive because the intense heat can warp plastic housings, melt internal adhesive, and compromise the battery's separator, creating a fire risk. Additionally, forced hot air accelerates evaporation only on the surface, while driving moisture deeper into sealed areas like the camera assembly, SIM tray, and display panel, where it can spread across sensitive flex cables and worsen the corrosion that starts immediately after liquid ingress.
- ✗
Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a reset
Why it's wrong here
Pressing and holding the power button to force a reset essentially instructs the device's, power management unit to apply full battery voltage to the logic board, which is the worst action you can take while water is present. As the device tries to boot, current cascades through moist connectors and microchip pins, causing shorts that can instantly fry the application processor or other expensive components. Even if the screen doesn't turn on, the attempt itself can permanently damage the board through electrolysis, which corrodes traces and solder joints in a matter of minutes.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.