Turn it off immediately by holding the power button, unplug it, and disconnect everything. Turn it upside down in a tent shape so liquid can drain away from the board. Don't turn it back on to check it, and don't use a hair dryer or rice. Get it to a technician as soon as you can, because corrosion keeps spreading even after it's dry.
Do this right away
- Hold the power button until the Mac turns off. Don't wait to save your work.
- Unplug the charger and disconnect every accessory.
- Open it fully and place it upside down in a tent shape, so liquid drains out of the keyboard instead of further in.
- Gently blot what you can see with a lint-free cloth.
- Leave it off and get it to a technician as soon as possible.
What not to do
- Don't turn it back on to see if it works. Liquid plus power is what does the damage.
- Don't charge it.
- Don't use a hair dryer or heat. Heat can damage the battery and components and spread liquid further.
- Don't put it in rice. It doesn't remove liquid from inside, and it doesn't stop corrosion.
- Don't shake it hard. That can push liquid onto the logic board.
Why the drink matters
Plain water is the least harmful. Coffee, tea, soda, juice, wine and beer leave sugars, acids and minerals behind that keep corroding the board and make keys sticky. Salt water is especially damaging. All of them need cleaning, but sugary and salty drinks make speed even more important.
Why it can work now and fail later
A MacBook that seems fine after a spill can fail days or weeks later. Residue left on the logic board slowly corrodes components and connections. Typical delayed symptoms are sticky or dead keys, a trackpad that stops clicking, charging problems, no backlight, random shutdowns, and eventually a Mac that won't turn on.
How liquid damage is repaired
- The Mac is opened and the extent of the damage is checked.
- The logic board is cleaned to remove residue and corrosion.
- Damaged components are repaired or replaced at the board level.
- The keyboard, trackpad and other parts are cleaned or replaced as needed.
- Everything is tested before it's returned.
Our liquid damage diagnosis is free. If a Mac won't turn on after a spill, board-level repair can often save it, and your files.
Keyboard damage vs logic board damage
Spills usually land on the keyboard, so sticky, repeating or dead keys are often the first sign. On many MacBooks the keyboard is built into the top case, which makes replacing it a bigger job than swapping a desktop keyboard.
The more serious risk is liquid reaching the logic board underneath. That's where it causes charging failures and no power, and, left long enough, damage that spreads to more components. The sooner the board is cleaned, the more likely it is that only a small area needs repair.
A technician will check both. If only the keyboard is affected, that's what you'll be quoted for. If the board is involved, cleaning it promptly comes first.
Get help fast
Pick your model on our booking page and choose a store near you or mail it in. See all MacBook repairs.
Frequently asked questions
My MacBook still works after a spill. Do I need a repair?
It's worth a cleaning. Residue can keep corroding the board and cause failures days or weeks later.
Can you save files from a MacBook that died after a spill?
Often, yes. Repairing the board is usually the best way to get a Mac running again with its files intact.
Does AppleCare+ cover liquid damage on a Mac?
Coverage depends on your plan and its terms. Check Apple's current details for your Mac.
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