The AirPods are Apple’s wireless earbuds that offer great sound quality, easy pairing, and smart features. However, they are not waterproof or water-resistant, which means that they can be damaged by exposure to water or other liquids. If your AirPods get wet, you may be able to fix them and restore their functionality by following some steps. In this content, we will explain what to do if your AirPods get wet and how to troubleshoot, prevent, or repair any issues caused by water damage.
Fixing Wet AirPods: Steps to Restore Functionality
| Step | Action | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remove from water immediately | To minimize exposure and damage |
| 2 | Wipe with dry lint-free cloth | To absorb excess liquid |
| 3 | Run Water Eject shortcut | To force liquid out of speakers |
| 4 | Allow to dry completely | To prevent corrosion and short circuits |
| 5 | Place in container with desiccant | To absorb moisture from inside |
| 6 | Do not put back in case | To avoid spreading liquid to case |
| 7 | Test after drying for a day or two | To check for functionality and sound quality |
| 8 | Contact Apple for repair or replacement | If still not working or damaged |
Drying and Cleaning Wet AirPods
The first thing you should do if your AirPods get wet is to dry and clean them properly to minimize the damage. Here are some steps you should take:
- Wipe off any excess water. Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, to gently wipe off any visible water or moisture from your AirPods and their charging case. You can also use a cotton swab to dry the small ports or openings on your AirPods or their case.
- Leave them out in the open. Place your AirPods and their case in a cool and dry place with good airflow and let them air dry for at least two hours. Do not put them back in the case or use them until they are completely dry.
- Do not use heat sources or chemicals. Avoid using any heat sources, such as hair dryers, microwaves, ovens, etc., or any chemicals, such as alcohol, soap, etc., to dry or clean your AirPods or their case. These can cause more harm to your devices or battery.
Troubleshooting Wet AirPods
After drying and cleaning your AirPods, you may want to troubleshoot them to see if they are still working properly or if they have any issues caused by water damage. Here are some methods or techniques you can try:
- Reset your AirPods. Sometimes, resetting your AirPods can help fix any minor glitches or errors that may affect their performance or functionality. To reset your AirPods, put them in their case and close the lid for 30 seconds. Then open the lid and press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the status light flashes amber and then white. Then reconnect your AirPods to your device.
- Reconnect your AirPods. Sometimes, reconnecting your AirPods can help restore their connection or sound quality that may be affected by water damage. To reconnect your AirPods, go to Settings > Bluetooth on your device and tap on the “i” icon next to your AirPods name. Then tap on Forget This Device and confirm. Then put your AirPods in their case and open the lid. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white. Then hold your AirPods close to your device and follow the instructions on the screen to pair them again.
- Test your AirPods. Sometimes, testing your AirPods can help identify any issues or problems that may be caused by water damage, such as distortion, crackling, popping, muffling, etc., of the sound output or input. To test your AirPods, play some music or make a phone call using them and listen for any abnormalities or differences in sound quality. You can also use the Ear Tip Fit Test on your device to check if the ear tips are creating a good seal in your ears.
Risks and Consequences of Wet AirPods
Using wet AirPods can pose some risks and consequences for your devices or yourself. Some of them are:
- Loss of warranty. Water damage can void the warranty of your AirPods and prevent you from getting free repair or replacement from Apple if they are damaged by water or other liquids.
- Loss of functionality. Water damage can affect the components, circuits, sensors, batteries, etc., of your AirPods and cause failure, error, delay, or inconsistency of their features or functions, such as pairing, noise cancellation, transparency mode, ear detection, charging, etc.
- Loss of safety. Water damage can cause corrosion, short-circuiting, overheating, swelling, leaking, or exploding of your AirPods or their battery and pose a risk of fire, shock, injury, or harm to yourself or others.
Some of the signs or symptoms of water damage that you should look out for are:
- No sound or distorted sound. If your AirPods do not produce any sound or produce distorted, crackling, popping, or muffling sound, it may indicate that the drivers, speakers, microphones, or ear tips are damaged by water.
- No connection or poor connection. If your AirPods do not connect to your device or have poor connection quality, it may indicate that the Bluetooth chip, antenna, or sensors are damaged by water.
- No charging or poor charging. If your AirPods do not charge or have poor battery life, it may indicate that the connectors, ports, or battery are damaged by water.
Repairing or Replacing Wet AirPods
If the troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to repair or replace your wet AirPods. Here are some options and factors you should consider:
- Contact Apple support. You can contact Apple support online, by phone, or by visiting an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. They can diagnose your AirPods and offer you a repair or replacement option depending on the extent of the damage and the warranty status of your devices. However, this option may be costly or unavailable if your AirPods are out of warranty or have water damage.
- Buy a new pair of AirPods. You can buy a new pair of AirPods from Apple or other retailers. This option may be more convenient or affordable than repairing or replacing your wet AirPods, especially if they are severely damaged or out of warranty. However, this option may also be wasteful or unnecessary if your wet AirPods can be fixed or salvaged.
- Buy a different pair of earbuds. You can buy a different pair of earbuds from other brands or manufacturers. This option may be more suitable or preferable if you want to try a different style, design, feature, or performance of earbuds than the AirPods. However, this option may also be incompatible or unsatisfactory if you want to use the same ecosystem, integration, or functionality of the AirPods.
These are some of the steps and tips to fix wet AirPods and restore their functionality. Wet AirPods can be damaged by water or other liquids and lose their performance, functionality, warranty, or safety. Users who have wet AirPods should dry and clean them properly, troubleshoot them effectively, prevent and identify any issues caused by water damage, and repair or replace them accordingly.
I hope this content was helpful and informative for you. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!