Earbuds Water Eject (AirPods & others)

Why water makes earbuds sound muffled

Earbuds have a tiny speaker behind a fine mesh. When water or sweat sits across that mesh, surface tension holds a thin film in place that blocks and dampens the sound. Music loses its clarity, voices sound distant and one bud may sound quieter than the other.

This tool uses the same tone engine as our phone Speaker Cleaner, but plays it through whatever Bluetooth earbuds are connected. The pulsing 165 Hz Water Eject tone moves the earbud's speaker back and forth, which can help break up droplets near the mesh. Deep Clean sweeps from 100 Hz to 1,000 Hz, and Dust Clean alternates low and high bursts.

Water resistant is not waterproof

AirPods, Pixel Buds, Galaxy Buds and most other earbuds are at best water resistant, and the protection varies a lot by model. Check your exact model's IP rating on the manufacturer's site. An IPX4 rating, for example, covers splashes and sweat, not dunking.

Apple's own support article lists the ratings for each AirPods model: some are IPX4, some IP54, and the newest models IP57. It says AirPods aren't waterproof or sweatproof, that the resistance isn't permanent and can decrease over time, and that they shouldn't be used for swimming, in the shower or under running water. Some older AirPods and charging cases have no water resistance at all.

AirPods fell in water: what to do

• Take them out of the water straight away and stop using them.
• Wipe them with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, as Apple recommends.
• Apple says to let wet AirPods dry completely, for at least two hours, before using them or putting them back in the charging case.
• Don't use heat or compressed air to dry them; Apple advises against both.
• If the charging case got wet, wipe it and leave it open to dry. Don't get liquid into the charging port and don't put anything into it.
• Once they're dry, you can run this tool with the buds out of your ears to help clear any water left in the mesh.

Never charge a wet case

Water and electricity don't mix. Don't plug in or wirelessly charge a charging case that is still wet, and don't put damp earbuds into it. Wait until both the case and the buds are completely dry. If the case gets warm, smells odd or behaves strangely, stop using it and contact the manufacturer.

Why you must take the earbuds out first

To move water, the tone has to make the speaker move a lot, and that means loud, low sound. That's fine on a cloth, but not inside your ear canal. Always remove the earbuds before you tap Start, and keep them out until the tone has stopped.

What this tool can't do

It can help with a little water sitting in or near the mesh after a splash, rain or sweat. It can't repair water that got inside the electronics, corrosion, a failed battery or a dead earbud. If one bud won't connect, won't charge or still sounds muffled after drying for a day, contact the manufacturer or an authorised service provider.

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