Almost everyone these days owns a pair of Airpods as they come in very handy whether you want to take a call or listen to music while doing other things. Without any wire to come in your way, they make working very easy. But what if they fall in the water? What should you do when you accidentally drop Airpods in water?
As easy as it would be to say that you should throw the Airpods out, there are a few things you can try first to try and save your beloved earbuds. After all, they cost you your hard-earned money. If you have an Apple store nearby, they might have the solution for you and even fix your earbuds if possible. Otherwise, in this guide, we will try to help you and tell you ways so that you know what you should do if you drop Airpods in water in order to save them.Â
Is Airpods waterproof?
Some people have this misconception that Airpods are waterproof since the company markets them as water and sweat resistance. However, there is a difference in both. A waterproof device comes with an IPX rating which tells you how deep and for how long you can leave a device in water without causing any damage.
However, in AirPods’ case, since they are only sweat resistant, this means they can survive light splashes of water. Or you can even them outside while it is drizzling, but if you are considering wearing them in the pool, they will not survive. You can’t submerge the Airpods in the water and expect them to work perfectly. However, if you drop Airpods in water by mistake, there are some things you should try before throwing them aside. Â
Read: 5 things you must know about Apple Airpods
What if Airpods fell in salt water?
If you drop Airpods in water, you should first test their functionality. Dry them off and keep on rocking. If they’re still working, great. If they don’t work, it’s time to move on to more drastic measures.Â
But what if you’ve dropped your Airpods in seawater? You should first check the case—if it fell into saltwater, don’t even try to salvage it. That is because even if the water evaporates from them, leaving them dry, it will leave the salt behind. It will make your device rust more quickly, and there is a great chance that the Airpods will not work at all. However, you might still give it a try by following some of the ways are given below.
What to do if you drop your Airpods in the water?
If you want to know hold to deal with the saltwater situation, we should say that first, you should try to rinse your Airpods off with fresh water as soon as possible. However, don’t use too much of the water, spray fresh water on the Airpods so that the salt water can leave the device. Then dry them off with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Now, no matter how long your Airpods were in the water, the first thing you should do is, clean them off very quickly using a clean towel or cloth. Then try using a hairdryer in the relaxed setting to blow-dry your Airpods for about 30 seconds. Don’t use the hairdryer for too long, as the heat can damage the device even further. Plus, never blow directly on the drivers of the device; instead, create some distance and blow dry the AirPods from afar.
Putting the headphones in the water is also a tried-and-tested solution. Since rise absorbs water, burying your Airpods in rice can help. After you have done that, put your AirPods back in their case and leave them out to dry overnight. Try taking them out to see if they are working or not, if not charge your Airpods and case the next day, but before placing the Airpods in the case, make sure they are properly dried off.
However, if any of that doesn’t work (and the phone says Connected), force restart the Airpods. Chances are if the water is completely evaporated, your Airpods will start working; nevertheless, it will take a day or two to dry completely. Have some patience, and maybe your device will start working perfectly; if not, try consulting for professional help or replacing them.
How to dry your Airpods?
If you’ve dropped your Airpods in water, the first thing you should do is try to dry them off as quickly as possible. Take the earbuds out of the water, and don’t place them in the charging case until you have dried them completely. Try using a tissue, piece of clean and absorbent cloth, or towel to wire off the water on your Airpods.
However, if you have dropped the charging case with the Airpods, the first thing you need to do is take the Airpods out of the case. Then use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe down the outside of each earbud and the charging port on the case. If you have compressed air, you can use it to blow out any water that’s inside the charging port.
Using a hairdryer is also a great option; if it comes with the cold air setting use that while gently blowing the air in your Airpods and charging case from a distance. You can also use the hot air setting, but it can damage the device even further, so do it quickly and only for a little amount of time. You can also leave both of the pieces to air dry in front of the window, as in some cases, that work as well.
Read: How far Airpods can be from your Phone and still work?
Can you use rice to dry out the Airpods?
The best way to do this is to use rice. Rice will absorb the moisture and help your Airpods dry out quickly. Just put your Airpods in a bowl of rice and leave them overnight. In the morning, your Airpods should be good as new if the water has not already caused damage. If they are still wet, repeat the process until they are completely dry.
Make sure you don’t try to power on your Airpods while they’re wet or plugged into an electrical outlet. When drying them out, don’t leave them connected to your device if they were working in the first place.
After you’ve dried out and reset your Airpods with airplane mode, place each one back in its charging case individually and wait for at least 30 minutes before trying to use them again.
Should I rinse my Airpods with fresh water if I dropped them in saltwater?
Airpods are not waterproof; thus, washing them with fresh water will only further damage them and reduce the little chance you have to salvage them in the first place. Instead, wrap your device or accessory in a towel and place them somewhere warm.
Apple suggests placing them near a heating source for about half an hour. You can also place your item on top of a container with uncooked rice or silica gel packets inside it to draw out any moisture from inside your Airpods case.
Once you’ve allowed at least 12 hours for your Airpods to dry out, put them back into their charging case. Then plug that case into its charging cord and plug that cord into an outlet to give them another complete charge cycle before using them again.
You can get an Apple Store to replace your AirPod if necessary
If you have an AppleCare+ plan, you can get your Airpods replaced for a $29 fee. If you don’t have AppleCare+, a new set of Airpods will cost you $159. So, if you drop Airpods in water, you should first assess the damage.Â
If they’re covered in water or the liquid has gotten inside the charging case, it’s time to take them to your local Apple Store. The Genius Bar can tell you whether your Airpods are still covered under warranty or not. If they are, great! You’ll have to pay that $29 fee. But if they’re not, then you’ll be shelling out $159 for a new pair.
How to get water out of Airpods?
If you’ve dropped your Airpods in water but not too deep or only for a mere second, there are a few things you can do to try and salvage them. First, take the earbuds out of the case and shake them off as much as possible. Then, use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe them down. If you’re lucky, that will be enough to get rid of the water, or you can use an air dryer for that extra assurance.
How long will they last if I drop them in water?
Like most people, you’ve probably had your fair share of close calls with your Airpods. Maybe you’ve dropped them on the ground or even in water. Regardless of where they ended up, it’s natural to be concerned about their survival.
To give you some peace of mind, we decided to test how long they’ll last if you drop them in water for five minutes. It turns out that after five minutes submerged under fresh water at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit (around 16 degrees Celsius), our sample AirPod showed only minor signs of corrosion from the salt and chlorine found in tap water.
This is a relief because just one minute underwater can cause corrosion, and damage to an Apple product can lead to short-circuiting and a ruined device. The battery compartment was wet but otherwise seemed fine and ready for use.
Is it possible to remove the silicon case or battery (if still working)?
The short answer is no. If you’re lucky, the water may have only hit the case and not seeped through to the internals. In this case, you can try using a can of compressed air to remove any water from the charging port and hope that it works.
However, if the water has reached the internals, there’s a good chance that your Airpods are toast. The key issue here is that water exposure causes corrosion. That corrosion will cause electric shorts, which could result in fire. The longer you wait to dry out the Airpods, the worse it will be for them, so do not wait.
Do Airpods run out of battery quicker if you keep the battery charged all the time?
No, you don’t need to worry about that. It’s a common myth that if you keep your phone, laptop, or any device with a battery plugged in all the time, it will degrade the battery over time and run out of juice quicker.
However, this is not true! You can leave your devices plugged in as much as you want without harming the battery. Keeping them charged prevents power surges and lets the battery charge faster when needed. However, make sure that your device is not heating up; if that’s the case only charge your device when it is needed.
What do I do if there’s no moisture left inside my AirPod case, but it still doesn’t work?
If your AirPods case is no longer working even after you’ve dried it out, there are a few things you can try. First, make sure that the charging port is clear of any debris. If that doesn’t work, try resetting your Airpods.
To do this, go to the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone and find the Airpods in the devices list. Tap the I next to your Airpods and then select Forget This Device. Once you’ve done that, pair your Airpods with your iPhone again. If resetting your Airpods doesn’t work, you may need to replace the battery or the entire Airpods.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you by any chance drop your Airpods in water, the best thing to do is to turn them off immediately, remove the ear tips, and dry them with a soft, lint-free cloth. If possible, blow dry them with compressed air. But if they were in salt water, rinse them off with fresh water as soon as possible. If your AirPods seem to be working again after drying them out, congratulations! You may have just saved yourself a trip to the Apple Store or else you will have to pay some money to get a new pair of Airpods.
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