Liquid-damaged MacBook? Time matters.

A moment of inattention during a break and your favourite coffee ended up on your MacBook’s keyboard? What should you do? Below is a short “first aid” guide for a liquid-damaged MacBook. Follow it and your computer’s chances improve considerably.

I spilled something on my MacBook — what now?

1. Soak up what’s left of the liquid – the sooner you remove the excess from the keyboard, the less of it gets inside and causes serious damage to the board.
2. Disconnect the MacBook from power – arguably one of the most important steps, which can make a big difference to the extent of the damage and therefore the cost of the repair. Water and other liquids cause short circuits when they come into contact with electronics. So as soon as it happens, cut the power to your MacBook, even if it seems the computer came out unscathed. And don’t try to switch it back on.
3. Turn the MacBook upside down – this gives the liquid that got inside, and that you couldn’t soak up, a way out. This kind of “drying” will certainly reduce the risk of more extensive damage. Drying the computer with a hairdryer is not recommended, though, as it can easily spread the droplets and overheat some components on the board.
4. Get the MacBook to a repair shop as soon as possible – with liquid damage, time matters. The sooner you take the steps above and bring the computer in for repair, the less damage develops, the better the chances of saving it and the lower the repair cost.

The type of liquid matters too. The worst logic board damage is seen after spills of sweetened, alcoholic or fizzy drinks. Plain water is somewhat better, though that doesn’t mean it’s harmless.

What the liquid damage repair looks like

Watch the video on YouTube

With liquid damage every hour counts, so once your computer arrives at the shop in Kraków, the repair starts as soon as possible. A MacBook liquid damage repair includes ultrasonic cleaning of the logic board, repair under a microscope (removing the damage — short circuits, replacing components on the board) and keyboard cleaning (or replacement). Because the damage is never the same twice, the cost of a liquid damage repair depends on how extensive it is. Don’t worry — you’re always told about any unforeseen costs in advance.

Describe your case in the form — you’ll get a preliminary quote.

Why bring your liquid-damaged MacBook to iHelp in Kraków?

✔ Over 8 years of experience repairing Apple devices,

✔ High-end equipment for complex repairs too,

✔ A warranty on every repair,

✔ You can bring the device in person or send it to us.

Need a different MacBook, iMac, iPhone or iPad repair?

Not only liquid damage: MacBook battery, screen or keyboard replacement, iPhone glass, display or battery replacement, iMac cooling maintenance or drive replacement — years of experience have made all of these routine 🍏 See all repairs or more about MacBook logic board repair after liquid damage.