How to Fix Water Damaged AirPods: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Here's what to do if your AirPods get wet
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Oh no, your AirPods are soaking wet—is it time to panic? Because AirPods aren't waterproof, it'll be helpful to dry them out as quickly as possible to avoid water damage. If you can remove the water before damage is done, you'll be in the clear! This wikiHow article will show you how to properly dry out your AirPods to prevent water damage.

How to Get Water Out of AirPods

Immediately remove your AirPods from the water and pat them down with a lint-free cloth. Let them sit out to dry fully, then place them into an airtight container with some silica gel packets for 24-48 hours to draw out the moisture. You can also try using a Water Eject shortcut on your iPhone to expel the water.

Section 1 of 2:

Getting Water Out & Preventing Water Damage

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  1. Get your AirPods away from the liquid and place them on a flat, dry surface. AirPods Pro, AirPods 3rd generation, and the MagSafe Charging Case for AirPods 3rd generation can all handle a little bit of water, but are not made to withstand being submerged. [1]
    • Earlier AirPod models are not water resistant at all.
    • If your AirPods charging case is wet, place the charging case upside-down with the lid open to allow residual liquid to drip out. If it's plugged in, unplug it now.
  2. Blot excess liquid away from your AirPods. A microfiber cloth, such as the ones that come with screen cleaning kits or eyeglasses, will work best. [2]
    • You can use a cotton swab to absorb liquid from the speakers, but don't press too hard to avoid damaging them.
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  3. Let the AirPods dry before placing them back into the charging case. If it's a dry, sunny day, place the AirPods in the sun (as long as it's not sweltering outside) to speed up the process. If not, any low-humidity area will do. Wait a few hours for your AirPods to dry completely before trying them again. [3]
    • Extreme heat and cold temperatures can damage your AirPods—don't dry your AirPods out on a heater or radiator, and don't use a blow dryer.
  4. The silica gel packets that come with electronics and vitamins can save your AirPods. If you think there's still moisture inside your AirPods, a desiccant like silica gel can save the day. If you don't have some of these packets, you can purchase them at some hardware stores or electronics stores, or you can buy them online .
    • If silica packets aren't an option, try crystalized cat litter (which is essentially just silica gel) or unfragranced dehumidifying crystals like DampRid.
    • Contrary to popular belief, rice does not work well for drawing liquid out of electronics, and it can actually damage your device if rice particles or dust get inside of it. [4]
  5. A plastic baggie or clean reusable food container works great in this situation. The silica gel will absorb any remaining liquid in your AirPods. Allow the AirPods to stay in the container with the drying agent for 24 to 48 hours before giving them a try.
    • The longer you're willing to let the AirPods sit in the sealed container with a desiccant, the better the chances that you'll fix your AirPods.
  6. Download the Water Eject shortcut from RoutineHub. If your AirPods are paired to your iPhone, Water Eject can force excess liquid out of iPhone /iPad speakers, as well as from AirPods, using a low-frequency bass tone. Head over to RoutineHub on your iPhone, tap Get Shortcut , and then tap + Add Shortcut to add it to your Shortcuts gallery. Then tap over to My Shortcuts , tap Water Eject , and then Begin to run the shortcut.
    • This tool is not an official Apple tool, but it's highly recommended in Apple user forums on Reddit, as well as on other forums on the web. [5]
    • Repeat this process as many times as you need until no more water is ejected from the small speakers. [6]
  7. Try listening to your AirPods once they've fully dried. If the speakers sound distant or warbled, they may need to dry a bit longer. Give the drying process another day or two and try again. If your AirPods are still not working properly, you can have them repaired by an Apple Authorized Service Provider or simply replace them . [7]
    • Visit Apple's Support page to start the repair or replacement process for your damaged AirPods.
    • If you have AppleCare+, you can replace water damaged AirPods for a very small service fee. [8] The repair fee increases if you're out of warranty.
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Section 2 of 2:

FAQ

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  1. 1
    Should I put my wet AirPods in rice? No, you should not put your wet AirPods in rice. Rice can actually damage your AirPods by clogging them up with rice particles. Rice also won't absorb the water from them well–it's much better to use a desiccant like silica gel. [9]
  2. 2
    Are AirPods waterproof? AirPods are not completely waterproof, but most are water and sweat-resistant. AirPods 1 and 2 and AirPods Max are not water resistant, AirPods 3 are splashproof. The most water-resistant AirPods are AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe, AirPods 4 with USB-C, and AirPods with wireless charging, which are rated IP54. [10] This means they're protected against water jets, but not continuous submersion. [11]
  3. 3
    How do I clean my AirPods without getting them wet? The best way to clean your AirPods is with a lint-free cloth. You can use isopropyl alcohol to clean off tough messes, but you should always let your AirPods dry fully (for at least two hours) before putting them in the case or using them again. [12]
    • If you have AirPods 3 or 4, Apple recommends using distilled water and micellar water to clean the mesh on the top of each AirPod, as well as the mesh in the part of the AirPod that goes into your ear. However, you should not use water on other parts of your AirPods for cleaning. [13]
  4. 4
    What do I do if my AirPods went through the washer and/or dryer? Due to the amount of water and/or heat exposure your AirPods have been exposed to, they are likely water damaged. Follow the steps in this article to see if you can revive them, but you will more than likely have to replace them.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about fixing airpods, check out our in-depth interview with James Bell .

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210711
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210711
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210711
      4. ↑ https://apnews.com/article/one-tech-tip-drying-phones-2a173bc38f2f188e35e3487b27f9da32
      5. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/shortcuts/comments/clw5f0/water_eject_officially_now_is_the_first_shortcut/
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcjtfkK72oE
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair
      8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service#damage
      9. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/Do_Not_Put_Your_Device_in_Rice
      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/105046
      2. ↑ https://www.iec.ch/ip-ratings
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102672
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102672

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Remove the AirPods from water.
      2. Pat the AirPods down with a lint-free cloth.
      3. Run the Water Eject shortcut.
      4. Allow the AirPods to dry.
      5. Place the AirPods into a container with silica gel packets for 2 days.

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