How to Get Water Out of AirPods: 3 Useful Ideas
Damaging your AirPods can be a real nightmare, especially considering how expensive they are. Water damage is the most common occurrence that users report, with most of them dropping the pods in their sinks and toilets or damaging them during swims.
Fortunately, water damage doesn’t have to mean that your AirPods are ruined forever. If you’re wondering how to get water out of AirPods, here are 3 inexpensive ways you can try out.
How to Get Water Out of AirPods: 3 Solutions
1. Siri Shortcuts
Although many people don’t know about it, AirPods have water expelling feature that you can activate using the Siri Shortcuts Gallery. Firstly, you need to install the app on your iPhone. It’s free, and it shouldn’t take you more than a minute.
When you open the app, make sure that your AirPods are paired with your phone. Once they are, you will see an option called Water Eject on your screen. Press it, and wait a few seconds.
Soon enough, you will notice tiny beads of water coming out of your pods. It is of utmost importance that you wipe the water with a dry microfiber cloth only. Don’t shake the AirPods or put them in a container with rice. In this case, just wiping them will suffice.
As soon as the AirPods are dry, you should press the Water Eject button once again. In fact, you should repeat the action for as long as water keeps coming out, no matter how small the amount. After wiping all the water and drying your pods thoroughly, they should be as good as new.
While this app does indeed work, you should keep in mind that it is fully dependent on timing. That is, you need to install and use the app as soon as the damage occurs. If you do so, the chances of saving your pods are quite good. On the other hand, if you use this app a few days after the water has seeped inside, it will probably be too late.
2. Leave Them to Dry In the Sun
Another safe way to get water out of your AirPods is to leave them to dry in the sun. This process will probably take a few days. However, it is as thorough as it is slow, so your AirPods will most likely work flawlessly afterward.
For this method, you will once again need a soft microfiber cloth. Put it in direct sunlight, preferably by a window or even outside on the balcony. Then, take out your AirPods and lay them on the cloth so that they are facing down.
In addition, open the charging case and place it next to the pods as well. The chances are that there is some water in the case as well, so it is better to be safe than sorry. Let everything sit in the sun for about two days, and it should dry nicely.
You should remember to bring the AirPods back inside during the night and keep them protected and dry during that time. Be extra careful not to let the pods get wet from rain or damaged by any other outside conditions.
3. Cotton Swabs and a Blow Dryer
If you just got a few drops of water on your AirPods while doing the dishes or running some errands, this option is for you. It is quite simple, as all you need are some cotton swabs and your blow dryer.
First off, you should get any moisture off the pods using the swabs. Make sure that you wipe the surface thoroughly and pay extra attention to the part of the AirPods that goes directly in your ear.
Once the pods are dry, discard the cotton swabs and turn on your blow dryer. The temperature is really important, as heat may damage the pods. So, only use the cold setting for this drying technique. Dry them for about two minutes, and they should be good to go.
Again, this idea only works if the AirPods are just slightly wet. It will not do much if your AirPods were submerged in water for any amount of time. In fact, it might make matters worse by preventing the water from seeping out.
Does Rice Really Work?
Anyone who has ever dropped their phone, tablet, earphones, or any other gadget in water has heard that putting them in a rice container can get all the water out. However, this method doesn’t actually yield any results.
Although rice does have absorbing properties, it can only absorb the water that is on the surface of electronics. Thus, it won’t be able to get any of the water lodged inside the AirPods out.
If you leave the pods in a rice container for days or even a week, you’ll waste precious time you could have used to try one of the ideas mentioned above. By the time you get them out, it will be too late to do anything else, and you will have to buy a new pair.
In addition, rice has the ability to speed up corrosion, which can actually damage your pods even further. It can cause rust to form on both the AirPods and the charging case, making their shelf life shorter.
So, do not attempt to solve water damage with rice, no matter how desperate you are. Besides not helping at all, it could only make matters worse, which is what you want to avoid.
And If Nothing Works…
Sadly, not all AirPods can be saved, especially if the water damage is extensive. If none of the ideas work, you will most likely have to get a replacement.
In the case a single pod isn’t working anymore, you can just buy a single one, saving some money. But if they are both broken or if the charging case isn’t working, you will have to buy a new pair.
How to Prevent Water Damage in the Future
Whether you manage to fix your AirPods or you have to purchase new ones, it is essential to learn how to better protect them in the future. Here are some prevention steps you can take to keep them dry.
1. Buy a Protective Case
Apple offers a wide range of waterproof casings for the AirPod charging box. If you buy one of those, both your pods and the charger will remain safe even when submerged in deep water.
2. Buy Ear Hooks
Ear hooks are an excellent invention that every AirPod user should invest in for a multitude of reasons. For one, the hooks keep the pods securely inside your ears at all times, no matter what you are doing.
That means you can run, do the dishes, work out, walk around the city, or do anything else you like without fearing the pods will fall out. Thus, your AirPods won’t fall into the water on the street or in your bathroom or kitchen, as the hooks will keep them steady and safe.
3. Avoid Using AirPods Near Water
If you plan on going to the pool or beach, or if it is raining outside, it might be best not to bring your pods at all. Keep them safe in the waterproof charging case until you get somewhere dry, and then take them out.
The truth is, no matter how careful you are or how hard you try, you probably won’t be able to keep them safe otherwise. Accidents happen all the time, so it is better to be mindful of the dangers and protect the pods as much as possible.
4. Get AppleCare+
Having the regular Apple warranty coverage for your AirPods will not cover any problems due to water damage. However, you can get such coverage if you invest in AppleCare+.
AppleCare+ gives your device protection for two years from the initial purchase for around $35 a year. Two incidences of water damage protection are also included in this plan, which means you can get a replacement if you have an accident.
