AirPods are precious little things. Nobody wants to drop them in water, that’s for sure. But suppose you have dropped your AirPods in water accidentally. Now, what do you do? Is AirPods water resistant? What can you do with the wet AirPods?
You will get all of these questions answered in this article. By the end of this piece, you will know what to do with wet AirPods and how to take care of your AirPods.
How to protect AirPods from water damage?
Your heart sinks the moment you drop your AirPods in water. We know how it feels. So, what can you do when your AirPods have taken an unwanted dip? Here are some methods you can follow.
When you have drenched your earbuds with water, you need to dry them before attempting to connect to your Apple device. You can use Apple’s recommended solution for fixing this issue.
Just take a piece of microfiber cloth to dry up your AirPods. Now, let them sit upside down for a while to dry. If you have drenched your charging case instead, the process is the same. You need to dry out the case with a soft, lint-free cloth.
When your AirPods seem to have dried up after a while, you can try plugging them in if there is no response from the AirPods, no need to be worried. There is still hope. You need to follow some advanced methods which we will cover now.
When your AirPods are wet, do not put them in the charging case. The closed space in the case will keep the earbuds from drying properly. Additionally, the wet earbuds may damage the charging case as well. So, put the AirPods in the charging case when they are totally dry.
Method 2: Desiccant packs
If the previous method didn’t work for you, it’s because there may be some moisture lingering on the AirPods. You can use some desiccant packs to get rid of that moisture. Grab a container and a handful of desiccant packs. The desiccant packs are the ones that are found inside medical supplement containers.
You can also buy desiccant packs. They don’t cost much. Just get an airtight container, put the AirPods inside, and throw in some desiccant packets. Leave it like that for a couple of hours. The lingering moisture inside the AirPods should be dried up in this method.
Desiccant packs
After connecting the AirPods, check out the sound quality- chances are the audio quality has been distorted for good. In that case, replacement becomes the only choice if you prefer a better experience.
Some people will suggest you try the dry-rice technique. You need to leave the AirPods in a sealed container filled with dry uncooked rice. In a couple of hours, the moisture should be dried. But we don’t recommend this method. It’s because rice particles may get stuck. Thus, you will end up doing more harm than good.
Method 3: replace the AirPods
If the previous two methods fail, it’s better to get a replacement pair of AirPods. We don’t think you should spend any more time, effort, and resources fixing this issue. Unfortunately, if your AirPod gets permanently damaged, you cannot restore the AirPods back to their original state.
If you have AppleCare insurance, covering the accidental damages becomes easier. If the pair of AirPods have a warranty, the replacement cost is really low. If they are out-of-warranty, you can still get them replaced by paying a slightly higher amount. But you get a better deal than buying a new pair of AirPods.
Is AirPods water resistant?
So, are AirPods actually water-resistant? How do they do when they are drenched in water? Let’s learn.
First, you need to know which generation of Apple AirPods you are using. The water-resistance capability of the AirPods differ across different models and generations.
1st and 2nd gen AirPods, AirPods Max, have no water-resistance technology. These AirPods models are dust resistant at best. When you are working out, sweat may damage these models. So, you need to keep them away from water. Any sort of moisture may damage the AirPods permanently.
The newer models of AirPods have water and dust-resistance technology. You can get away with sweat, dust, and splashes of water. However, we don’t recommend you submerge your AirPods in water. AirPods Pro and AirPods 3rd gen have water-resistance technology as per laboratory tests.
Can you wear AirPods in the shower?
Absolutely not. If you are using the 1st gen/2nd gen/ AirPods Max, it’s a big no. It’s because these AirPods don’t have water resistance at all. Actually, no generation of AirPods is suitable for use during showers. You cannot put them under running water.
If you can cover the AirPods with waterproof cases, you can take them to the shower. But we doubt it will be of any use because you won’t be able to use the AirPods.
If it’s drizzling outside, you can wear AirPods (3rd gen, AirPods Pro). However, you cannot do it with other models. However, if it rains hard, we don’t recommend using your AirPods. The latest AirPods have water resistance technology that will protect you in light rain. The resistance is futile in heavy rain.
Like we said earlier, if you own older generation AirPods, you should protect them from water at all costs. A little bit of water may damage the older generation earbuds permanently.
What to do if I washed my AirPods?
If you have washed your AirPods deliberately, it is as good as dead. No model of AirPods fares well against running water. But if you have washed the AirPods slightly for brief seconds, there may still be hope. The newer models should be fine, and the older models will need to be dried following the processes we have mentioned in this article.
You can also check our article, what to do if your dogs chewed your Airpods / Airpods Pro.
Conclusion
No matter which model of AirPods you are using, we advise you to keep your AirPods away from water to be safe. But if you accidentally soak your AirPods in water, chances are the earbuds will become permanently damaged instead of temporary connection problems. You can try out the methods we suggested here. But if they don’t work, the best solution, in this case, is to replace them.
Hopefully, you have found this article helpful. Let us know if you have any questions.