How to get water out of AirPods without damaging them

Apple’s AirPods Pro and basic AirPods (4th generation) are water-resistant. An IPX4 rating ensures they can withstand sweat and light sprays, but the catch is that it doesn’t guarantee protection from submersion. Dropping your AirPods in a sink or a pool can trap water in them — but this doesn’t have to mean the end. Here’s how to save your favorite earbuds from water damage.

Step 1: Dry the outside of your AirPods

If your AirPods are soaked, dry the outside of them off as immediately and thoroughly as you can. The longer you wait, the higher the chance of damage.

Ideally, you’ll want to use an absorbent microfiber cloth. After you’ve gotten rid of surface water, turn the earbuds upside down and gently shake them to dislodge anything trapped in the housing. If more water comes out, you’ll need to re-dry the outside of the AirPods.

Step 2: Get the water out of your AirPods’ interior

If you’re worried that shaking your AirPods won’t be enough, Apple’s Shortcuts app can be used to play a tone that may eject more water. This is risky because it requires you to turn your AirPods on — if they’re still too damp inside, you may damage circuitry. Be sure you’ve shaken as much water out of the buds as possible before continuing. If you don’t want to take a risk, skip to step 3.

Once you’re ready, connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad and follow these steps to install the Water Eject Siri Shortcut:

1. On your iOS device, open a web browser to the Shortcuts Gallery page for Water Eject.
2. Tap Get Shortcut.
3. Select Add Shortcut on the next page.
4. In the iOS/iPadOS Shortcuts app, select Water Eject > Start and choose the preferred intensity.
5. Repeat the eject process until water stops emerging from your AirPods.

When you’re done, disconnect your AirPods from your phone so they turn back off. Then, move on to the next step.

Step 3: Use silica gel packets to dry your AirPods

Back in the day when I dropped my LG Env3 in the sink, my brother immediately told me to dry it with rice. Well, there’s some truth to that: rice is a desiccant and something that readily absorbs water. While I was lucky then, I don’t recommend using rice anymore, since the starch can introduce new problems. Instead, use silica gel packets to absorb the remaining moisture in your AirPods. These can be purchased from most major retailers including Amazon or if you are lucky, you may have some lying around from product packaging. Heck, my last pair of shoes came with gel packets in the box.

Use gel packets after completing steps 1 and 2. They aren’t meant to absorb the bulk of the water, just the remaining bits. Place your AirPods in a little container with a few gel packets surrounding the buds. Leave them alone for 24 hours and cross your fingers. With a bit of luck and good timing, your AirPods should survive.

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