This has got to be i of the most heartbreaking moments for a tech or music lover – dropping a pair of AirPods in water. But, unless your AirPods are still in the water, there is a good chance you can get them working again!

If you lot've dropped your AirPods in water, Apple tree recommends drying the earbuds and charging case with a microfiber cloth. And then place both the earbuds and the charging case upside downwardly on the material. The charging example should exist face downwardly and open up. Wait at least 4 hours before testing them.

This cursory guide will teach you exactly what to do when yous've dropped AirPods in water, as well as provide tips on preventing h2o damage from occurring over again!

Are Airpods Waterproof?

Apple Airpods are water and sweat-resistant, only not waterproof. This ways that they won't suffer whatever damage from light water contact, simply they may not survive a ride through your washing machine.

Low-cal Water Contact

If you article of clothing your AirPods on a rainy walk, you don't accept to panic – they'll be just fine. The same is true for people who piece of work out while wearing AirPods and are heavy sweaters.

Apple tree AirPods and AirPods Pro are designed to go moisture, and get wet often. Yous habiliment them on your caput, exposed to the elements, and they're built in large role with exercise in mind.

Then, naturally, they can stand upwardly to more than than a little bit of moisture without existence catastrophically damaged.

Fully Submerged in H2o

If, on the other hand, your AirPods have been fully submerged in water for more a few seconds, they're likely in trouble.

airpods fully submerged in water

Unlike iPhones, AirPods are not designed to go underwater and can be severely (and sometimes permanently) damaged if they do.

If water gets inside the charging case or into one of the earbuds, it might exist game over. Drying tin only exercise so much – often, fully submerged AirPods volition short circuit and lose some or all functionality.

If you drop your AirPods in h2o, get them out equally soon as possible – time is of the essence. The faster you lot go them out of the water, the better your chances are that you can save them.

If AirPods are simply in h2o for a few seconds, they should be fine. Any length of time longer than x-15 seconds tin can be disastrous.

So, while information technology goes without maxim, I'll say information technology once again just to brand it actress clear: don't ever let your AirPods go into the washing machine!

(Notation: my AirPods accept really gone through the wash twice, and all the same piece of work! Just the headphones, non the case. They definitely do not sound as good as they did the twenty-four hour period I bought them only not terrible! So at that place is some hope…)

How to Dry AirPods that Accept Been Dropped in H2o

If you've dropped your AirPods in water, your new life'due south mission is a very uncomplicated 1: dry out them out.

Drying AirPods isn't too unlike from drying out a phone, although that bowl of rice you utilise when your phone gets wet might non exist the best thing for your AirPods.

Rice tin can still dry AirPods, but the small grains may go into the AirPods and harm them even more. So, leave that rice for another time.

If you want to dry out out a set of AirPods, here'south what to do:

  1. Get a dry microfiber cloth.
  2. Wipe the earbuds completely.
  3. Wipe the charging case completely.
  4. Place both the earbuds and the charging case upside downward on the cloth. This means that the earbuds are "confront down", and the charging example is open.
dry out wet airpods on microfiber cloth

With fourth dimension, your AirPods should dry out. I recommend waiting at least four hours earlier testing them – longer if your AirPods were submerged for more fifteen seconds.

You tin also place a bamboo charcoal packet or two next to your AirPods equally they dry. These tiny packets are great at soaking up moisture, and they tin make a small (simply even so of import) bear on on your AirPods every bit they dry.

They're designed to soak upwardly odors, merely they do a peachy chore at sucking up moisture, too!

Use Air Waves to Eject Water From Inside Your AirPods

Another possible choice here is to utilize air waves to assist eject whatsoever h2o that got inside your AirPods. This is very similar to the feature the Apple Watch uses to eject water.

Get-go, make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone and turn the volume all the way up (don't put them in your ears!)

Next, download the Siri Shortcuts app to your iPhone. While covering the sensors on each AirPod and and so activate the Water Squirt shortcut.

You should experience your AirPods vibrate and water should starting time to slowly come out. You tin repeat this procedure every bit many times every bit you lot need to.

This works for AirPods Pros too!

If your AirPods don't work later on they've stale out and you've tried the Water Squirt shortcut, the simply selection you'll have left is replacement.

Unless, of course, you lot tin can convince Apple to give you a new set of AirPods for gratuitous…

Does AppleCare+ for AirPods Cover Water Damage?

AppleCare+ is the name Apple gave to its extended warranty, and information technology covers a whole lot more than than the standard ane-year warranty. It's available when yous first purchase your AirPods, for an added fee.

Among other things, AppleCare+ covers "adventitious damage" which includes things like drops, water impairment, and heat damage.

This coverage is only good once per year, and then if y'all soak your AirPods twice in 12 months, you lot'll exist out of luck.

If you take AppleCare+ for your AirPods, you tin can take them replaced. Yous will have to pay a $29 service fee, but that's much better than paying $200+ for a brand new gear up!

Does the Apple Warranty for AirPods Encompass Water Damage?

The standard warranty for Apple tree AirPods does not cover water damage or any other accidents that might damage your AirPods.

If yous have the standard warranty only, you lot are only covered confronting problems that are the fault of Apple or the retailer you bought information technology from, such as a charging example that is broken out of the box.

If you want your AirPods and other Apple devices to exist fully covered in case of accidents, you need AppleCare+.

The cost of the extended warranty for AirPods is $29, which is a great deal if you've got the money!

Get a New Pair of AirPods

Ultimately, if you lot don't have AppleCare+ and your AirPods are ruined from water damage,consider treating yourself with a new pair! Apple came out with the 3rd generation AirPods in October 2021 and they audio pretty amazing.

The AirPod 3rd gens have up to 6 hours of simultaneous listening time, and up to 30 hours when using a fully charged example. That's a big improvement over the AirPod Pros.

If you're interested, yous tin can check Amazon for the latest price of the 3rd generation AirPods here.

airpod 3rd generation

How to Protect AirPods from H2o Damage

What's better than fixing AirPods with water damage? Making certain they never get water damage in the first place!

These 3 tips will help y'all extend the life of your AirPods and make them *virtually* impossible to impairment by dropping in water:

1. Always Check Your Pockets Before Doing Laundry

This should exist part of your laundry routine, no matter what.

Yous never know what's in the pockets of those jeans you lot haven't worn since terminal week. It could be your telephone, your wallet, a random $20 neb – or it could be your AirPods.

Dorsum in the day when we all used Apple tree EarPods, it wasn't that big a bargain to run them through the washer. At present, with AirPods, though – information technology can be devastating.

And then, make sure yous check your pockets every unmarried time!

2. Get a Water-Resistant AirPods Example

If you live in an expanse with an peculiarly wet or humid climate, this tip is peculiarly pertinent to you.

A overnice, h2o-resistant AirPods case will keep moisture away from the sensitive electronics and go along your AirPods in great shape for a long, long time.

AirPods cases are inexpensive, come in lots of styles, and take the added do good of protecting your AirPods from physical damage.

If you're worried about what might happen to your expensive Bluetooth earbuds if you lot dropped them in water or on a hard surface, grab a instance and breathe easy!

3. Always Clean Your AirPods After Workouts

This is, perhaps, the best way to brand sure your AirPods enjoy a long and happy life.

When you work out, you sweat – and that leaves water and salt in your AirPods.

The longer you lot look to clean them or dry them out subsequently a heavy workout, the more you lot risk h2o getting inside them and damaging the electronics.

Later you work out, take your AirPods out and wipe downwards both earbuds and the charging case with a dry cloth or paper towel.

You don't accept to be extremely thorough, considering this is a preventative measure – just make sure they're pretty dry before you put them abroad!

(By the mode, yous should also exercise this every time you use your AirPods outside in the rain)

The Bottom Line: Water and Apple AirPods

Water can crusade a smashing deal of damage to your AirPods if yous let it.

Practise your best to avoid dropping them in water, and dry out them out as apace as you can if you do.

Don't forget to clean them regularly, and if you're worried virtually damaging them, consider getting AppleCare+ to guarantee yourself a (mostly) complimentary replacement!

Take you been able to salve your water-damaged AirPods, or were yous forced to buy new ones? Exit your thoughts, questions, and advice for other readers in the comments department below!