While AirPods are water-resistant, they are not entirely safe from water damage. So, you must protect them from water sources to ensure their long-term health. However, in certain circumstances, your AirPods may become a victim of water. Getting water out of AirPods is possible, but the damage is mostly irreversible. 

© Ready Made/Pexels

In fact, a professional Apple technician may not be able to restore your AirPods from water damage. In such a situation, you would need to replace your AirPods for a significant price. Nevertheless, there is no wrong with trying your luck and following different methods to get water out of your AirPods. 

Remember, early intervention may prevent your AirPod from getting permanently damaged. This guide includes all the best ways to get water out of AirPods and save them in the long run. We will also discuss some preventive measures to remember when extracting water out of AirPods. 

Step 1: Use a Cloth To Dry the Moisture 

First, remove the excess moisture from your AirPods with a dry lint-free cloth. Start from the exterior and then move towards the inside area. This way, you can absorb the water escaping from the AirPods later on and prevent further damage to their interior.

Use a clean piece of cloth to protect the AirPods from foreign bodies. If you have AirPods Pro, remove their ear tips to dry the entire exterior of the earbuds completely. Keep these things in mind when drying the moisture from your AirPods:

  • Always use a cloth gently on the AirPods’ surface and absorb all the water. Wipe the earbuds’ speaker area in a gentle blotting motion. This way, the cloth will absorb all the water present beneath the grill.Check the charging case of your AirPods. If it is wet, use a cloth to dry it as well. Make sure to wipe all the nooks and crannies of the charging case, including the charging ports and holes.

Step 2: Use the Water Eject Shortcut

Apple designed its AirPods with a “Water Eject Shortcut” feature that prevents the earbuds from water danger. This feature causes vibration in the speakers at a speed that causes the water to get out of the AirPods.

To use this feature on your iOS device, follow these steps:

  • First, you need to enable untrusted shortcuts on your iPad or iPhone. For that, navigate to “Settings” and tap on “Shortcuts.” There, you will find a “Private Sharing” toggle. Turn it on.

  • The next step is to download the Water Eject Shortcut on your device. You can find the app on Shortcuts Gallery’s official website (click here). Tap on “Get Shortcut” and “Add Shortcut” to get the app on your iOS device.

  • Now, the shortcut must be added to your My Shortcuts section. Tap on it and select Begin Water Ejection, and the water will start to come out of your AirPods. Repeat the process till your earbuds are completely dried.

The Water Eject Shortcut will not work if you are using your AirPods on an Android device. However, you can use a similar sound or vibration to get water out of AirPods. For example, one YouTube video suggests playing audio and keeping its volume turned on to get water out of the AirPods effectively. 

Step 3: Use a Drying Agent

If water remains in your AirPods even after step 2, you can try adding a drying agent or desiccant to your AirPods to dry them out. You may have heard about drying water-damaged electronic devices in a bucket of rice. However, rice may not be the best option for your AirPods.

Instead, you can try silica gel to prevent your earbuds from rice damage-causing starch and tiny pieces. Many users have reported positive results from this desiccant. 

To use silica gel for your wet AirPods, place the AirPods in a container filled with silica gel. First, make sure the desiccant surrounds the AirPods. This way, the compound will work more efficiently in absorbing water. Then, leave the container in a dry area at room temperature for at least a day.

Note: This method may not give you efficient results, as silica gel is usually helpful in absorbing tiny or residual water droplets, not when your entire device is soaked wet. So, only try this method as your last resort.

What Should You Not Do When Extracting Water Out of AirPods?

Some things can destroy your AirPods even more than water does. Here is what you should not do when extracting water out of your earbuds:

  • Don’t Waste Time. As soon as you suspect water getting inside your AirPods, you should act immediately instead of wasting time. The faster you act, the more likely you will prevent the water from entering the hard-to-reach areas. Avoid Using Rice as the Desiccant. It is better not to use rice or any other starch form when removing water from your AirPods. It contains tiny particles that may build up inside your earbuds. Regardless, rice is usually considered a less effective option for absorbing moisture from electronic devices. Don’t Use a Hair Dryer. It makes sense to use a hair dryer to speed up the drying. However, the heat from a hair dryer is usually so harsh that it can even melt some parts of the AirPods. The same applies to using direct sunlight and microwaves.Avoid Shaking the AirPods. Shaking your AirPods excessively can allow the water droplets to go deeper into the earbuds. This will make the water removal process from the AirPods even more difficult.

Are AirPods Waterproof or Water-Resistant?

There is a difference between being waterproof and water-resistant. Unfortunately, AirPods are only water resistant and not waterproof. Although used interchangeably, both terms represent different levels of protection an electronic device offers. 

For instance, a waterproof watch will stay untouched when fully submerged in water. However, a water-resistant watch will likely break from the water pressure when fully submerged. This means the watch from the latter category can efficiently withstand moderate water splashes or mild rainfall but not high water pressure.

Unfortunately, AirPods come into the water-resistant category. They can tolerate occasional water splashes but will stop working when submerged in water.

Does Apple Offer Water Damage Coverage for AirPods?

Sadly, Apple does not provide coverage for any liquid or moisture damage to your AirPods. So, you won’t have the one-year limited warranty if water damages your AirPods. That is mainly because it is hard to identify whether water damaged the earbuds or any other mistake. 

However, buying an AppleCare+ plan may reduce the service free for your AirPods repair per incident. 

If you fail to get water out of AirPods from the above steps, you should immediately contact Apple Support before buying a new replacement. For that, you may have to visit the nearest Apple Store to get your earbuds inspected by a professional technician.

Summary

Despite being sturdy, AirPods are likely to get damaged by water. That is because they are water resistant, meaning the earbuds can tolerate occasional water splashes but may break down when exposed to high water pressure. 

Unfortunately, there is no way you can reverse the water damage. However, you can still try to get water out of AirPods in the above steps and see if it works for you. As your last resort, contact Apple Support to get the replacement.

Up Next

  • How to Find AirPodsHow to Clean AirPodsHow to Reset AirPods