Blog · · 6 min read
How to get water out of AirPods and fix muffled sound
Short answer
Take the AirPods out of your ears, wipe them with a soft dry lint-free cloth, and shake each one gently with the speaker mesh facing down. Let them dry in open air — don't put them back in the charging case until they're completely dry, and don't use heat. A water eject tone played through the connected AirPods (held mesh-down, not in your ears) can help shift a droplet from the mesh, but earbuds are small and air drying does most of the work. If sound is still muffled once dry, the mesh probably needs cleaning of earwax, not more drying.
Most recent AirPods and AirPods Pro are rated sweat and water resistant, not waterproof. A splash, rain, or a sweaty workout is within what they're designed for; a trip through the washing machine or a swim isn't. The charging case of many models has less protection than the earbuds, so it needs extra care. Check Apple's specification page for your model's exact rating.
Step by step: drying wet AirPods
- Take them out of your ears and stop playback.
- Wipe each earbud with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.
- Shake gently with the mesh facing down — speaker mesh toward the floor — to let droplets fall out.
- Leave them on a dry cloth in open air. Airflow from a fan on cool helps. Don't use a hair dryer, radiator or oven.
- Keep them out of the case until they're completely dry. Putting wet earbuds on the charging contacts is the main way AirPods get damaged.
- If the case got wet too, wipe it with a lint-free cloth, leave the lid open, and let it dry before charging it or putting the earbuds in.
Does a water eject sound work on AirPods?
Partially. The same principle that clears a phone speaker applies — a low, pulsed tone moves the driver, which nudges water off the mesh — but AirPods drivers are much smaller than a phone's loudspeaker, so there's far less movement. It's worth a try for a single droplet stuck on the mesh:
- Connect the AirPods to your phone as normal, but hold them in your hand with the mesh facing down — never play a cleaning tone while wearing them.
- Open the speaker cleaner and run the Water Ejector cycle at a moderate volume.
- Wipe the mesh afterwards and let them air dry.
The iPhone Water Eject shortcut works the same way through connected AirPods. Either way, air drying does the heavy lifting.
Muffled AirPods that were never wet: it's usually earwax
Gradually muffled or quieter AirPods — often just one side — are far more often clogged with earwax and skin oil than water-damaged. Apple's guidance is to clean the microphone and speaker meshes gently with a dry cotton swab, and to remove debris with a clean, dry, soft-bristled brush. Some users use a small piece of low-tack putty or tape pressed lightly against the mesh and lifted off. Avoid sharp objects, and never run water over the mesh.
For AirPods Pro, you can remove the ear tips and rinse the tips only with fresh water, then dry them completely before reattaching. Don't rinse the earbud itself.
Quick checks if one AirPod is quieter
- Balance: on iPhone, go to Settings → Accessibility → Audio & Visual → Balance and make sure the slider is centered.
- Test left and right with our left/right speaker test to confirm which side is weaker.
- Reset: forget the AirPods in Bluetooth settings and pair again.
When to replace them
If they've dried for a full day, the mesh is clean, and one earbud is still distorted, crackling or silent, water has probably reached the electronics. Apple offers individual earbud replacement, so you don't necessarily need a whole new set.
Frequently asked questions
How long do AirPods take to dry?
Give them at least a few hours in open air, and ideally a full day after heavy exposure, before putting them back in the case or wearing them for long.
Can I put wet AirPods in the charging case?
No. Make sure the earbuds and the case are completely dry first — moisture on the charging contacts is a common cause of damage.
Does rice help dry AirPods?
No. Like with phones, rice doesn't dry better than open air and can leave dust in the mesh. Leave them on a dry cloth with airflow instead. See does rice work?
Are AirPods waterproof?
No. Recent AirPods and AirPods Pro are sweat and water resistant, which covers splashes, rain and workouts, but they're not designed for swimming or submersion.
Why does one AirPod sound muffled?
Most often earwax or debris on the speaker mesh. Clean it gently with a dry cotton swab or soft brush, check that the audio Balance setting is centered, then re-pair the AirPods.