Water in Your AirPods or Earbuds? Here's What to Do
A splash of rain, a sweaty run, or an accidental trip through the wash - wet AirPods or earbuds are more common than you'd think, and in most cases they come back just fine. The key is what you do in the first few minutes: a little patience now saves you from a much bigger problem later.
This guide walks through the safe way to dry your earbuds and their case, how a gentle sound cycle can help push out water hiding in the speaker mesh, and which popular "fixes" you should skip entirely. None of this involves anything drastic - just calm, careful steps.
Why wet earbuds need a gentler approach than a wet phone
Most AirPods and wireless earbuds carry only an IPX4-style splash resistance rating, meaning they can handle light sweat or a bit of rain, but they are not built to survive a swim or a wash cycle. None of them are fully waterproof, so it pays to treat any real soaking seriously rather than assuming they'll shrug it off.
They also sit right up against your ears, and their speakers and microphones are tiny compared to a phone's. That combination means anything you do to clear out water - including sound - has to stay gentle. This is different advice from drying out a phone, where you can be a bit more aggressive.
The first few minutes matter most
As soon as you notice moisture, take both buds out and set them somewhere dry. Wipe each one down, along with the inside of the case, using a soft cloth that won't leave lint behind in the mesh openings.
- Do not put wet buds straight back into the case - trapped moisture against the charging contacts is how corrosion starts.
- Do not plug in or charge a case that feels damp inside, even if the buds themselves seem dry.
- Avoid pressing or poking at the speaker mesh, which can push water deeper rather than out.
Letting them dry properly
Once wiped down, leave the buds and the open case in a well-ventilated spot at room temperature. A dry countertop or shelf works well - the goal is steady airflow, not intense heat.
Silica gel packets, the kind that come in shoeboxes or vitamin bottles, can speed things along nicely if you have some on hand. Give the whole process at least a day, and longer if the soaking was more than a light splash.
Using gentle sound to clear the speaker mesh
Water can linger in the fine mesh over an earbud's speaker even after the outside feels bone dry, which is often what causes that muffled or quiet sound. A carefully tuned frequency played through the speaker can help vibrate those last droplets loose.
This is exactly what Eject Pro's earbuds mode is designed for - a free, ad-free app that plays a precise frequency built for small earbud speakers. Because the buds sit right at your ear, always run it at a moderate volume, never at maximum. The goal is a gentle nudge, not a blast.
What to avoid completely
A few common instincts do more harm than good here, so it's worth being clear about what to skip.
- Rice - it doesn't pull out moisture effectively and its dust can clog the mesh and charging pins.
- Any kind of heat, including a hair dryer, oven, or radiator - heat can warp seals and damage the internal battery.
- Charging a case or bud that still feels even slightly damp.
- Vigorous shaking, which can drive water further into the speaker rather than out.
When it's time to get help instead
If you've given your earbuds a couple of days to dry and run a gentle sound cycle, but one side still sounds muffled, quiet, or cuts out, stop trying home fixes and have them looked at by Apple or an authorized repair provider.
The same goes if they went through a full wash cycle with detergent, or took a dunk in salt water or a chlorinated pool - those situations call for a professional inspection rather than more DIY drying, since residue left behind can cause problems down the line even if the sound seems fine at first.
Before you do anything else, grab Eject Pro free from the App Store and run its earbuds eject cycle at a moderate volume to help clear any trapped water from the mesh.
Download on the App StoreFAQ
Can I put wet AirPods back in the charging case?
Not until they're completely dry. A wet case can let moisture reach the charging contacts inside, which risks corrosion or a short. Dry the buds fully in the open air first, then place them back in.
Is it safe to charge AirPods or earbuds while they're still damp?
No. Charging introduces heat and current to contacts that may still have moisture on them, which is exactly when corrosion and shorts happen. Wait until they're fully dry and you've confirmed both buds sound normal before charging.
Does rice actually help dry out wet earbuds?
No, that's a myth. Rice barely draws out moisture and its dust can work its way into the speaker mesh and charging pins, making things worse. Open air or silica gel packets do a far better job.
One AirPod sounds muffled after it got wet, what should I do?
Give it a full day or two to air dry, then try a gentle, moderate-volume sound cycle to help nudge trapped water out of the mesh. If it's still muffled or quiet after that, have it looked at by Apple or an authorized repair shop rather than pushing more moisture-clearing attempts.
My earbuds went through the wash, are they ruined?
Not necessarily, but a full wash cycle is more serious than a splash, especially if detergent or fabric softener was involved. Let them dry thoroughly for a couple of days, test each side carefully at low volume, and if anything sounds off or a case light won't come on, get them checked professionally, particularly if the water wasn't plain and fresh.