Quick answer: remove your AirPods, wipe them with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, and leave them to dry completely for at least two hours before using them or putting them in their charging case. Do not charge while moisture is present. Apple's water-resistance guidance gives these drying steps for the AirPods models it lists; identify your model before following model-specific cleaning instructions.
Dry wet AirPods safely
- Take the AirPods out of your ears and away from the liquid.
- Wipe them with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.
- Keep liquid out of the charging ports and do not place wet AirPods in the case.
- Let them dry completely for at least two hours before use or charging, following Apple's current support guidance.
Does a water-eject sound work on AirPods?
Apple's water-resistance guidance tells owners of the listed AirPods models to wipe them with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth and let them dry completely for at least two hours before use or placement in the case. The current search results we inspected instead surfaced a ten-minute YouTube tone, Reddit anecdotes and a third-party App Store tool. Those listings do not establish a tested frequency, safe duration or reliable recovery rate for every AirPods model.
A tone may make a small driver move, but sound alone cannot show where liquid is, whether an acoustic mesh or battery area is affected, or whether the earbud is dry enough to wear or charge. Do not treat a temporary sound change as proof of recovery. See our review of the evidence behind water-eject frequency claims for why a tone cannot substitute for drying. Follow Apple's drying sequence first and use service when the problem persists.
Check the exact AirPods and charging-case rating
Apple's current resistance page groups models and cases differently. The rating is a laboratory classification, not permission to swim, shower or deliberately submerge the product.
| Model group | Apple's current listing | Case boundary |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 1 | IPX4 for non-water sports and exercise | The MagSafe and Wireless Charging Cases for Pro 1 are not sweat or water resistant. |
| AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning) and AirPods 3 | IPX4 for the listed AirPods and charging cases | Applies to the named Lightning or MagSafe case variants on Apple's page. |
| AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) and AirPods 4 | IP54 dust, sweat and water resistance for the listed AirPods and cases | Check whether the case is the exact USB-C or wireless variant Apple lists. |
| AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 5 | IP57 for the listed AirPods and cases; laboratory rating up to 1 metre for 30 minutes | Apple still says they are not waterproof and are not designed for water sports. |
| Another or uncertain model | Do not borrow a rating from a newer generation | Identify the AirPods and case before relying on any resistance claim. |
Apple says resistance is not permanent, can diminish over time, and cannot be rechecked or resealed. Even a listed resistant model should be wiped and allowed to dry completely for at least two hours before use or placement in its case after liquid exposure.
Water-resistant does not mean waterproof
Resistance varies by AirPods model and charging case. Apple says sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and can diminish over time. Apple says not to submerge AirPods Pro 1, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 3 or AirPods 4, not to wear AirPods in a sauna or steam room or under running water such as a shower or tap, and not to expose them to high-velocity water. Apple also says the resistant AirPods and charging cases are not waterproof or sweatproof.
Check your exact model in Apple's water-resistance article rather than assuming guidance for one generation applies to another.
If the liquid was not clean water
Apple lists soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, perfume, solvents, detergent, acids, sunscreen, oil and hair dye among substances that can affect seals or acoustic membranes. Follow the cleaning page for the exact model: Apple documents a fresh-water-dampened cloth for the AirPods body and separate mesh procedures for AirPods 3, 4 and 5. Do not put AirPods under running water, use compressed air, or insert sharp objects or abrasive materials.
If the case also got wet
Disconnect the charging cable, wipe the outside with a dry lint-free cloth, and keep liquid away from the charging port. Do not put wet AirPods into the case. Apple warns that charging when moisture is present can cause fire, electric shock, injury or damage, so allow both parts to dry completely before wired or wireless charging.
When to seek service
If cleaning and drying do not resolve the problem, Apple links to AirPods service from its cleaning guide. Stop using the AirPods or case sooner if either is damaged, becomes unusually hot, or charging behaves unexpectedly. AirPods contain batteries and sensitive electronics; a tone cannot diagnose or repair internal liquid damage.
Related SpeakerEject guides
If the phone's built-in speaker was also exposed, follow the wet-phone drying sequence before testing it, or read what to do if your iPhone speaker got wet too. If you wear a Watch, the Apple Watch water eject guide covers the tones Apple does document. For a dry pair of headphones or a headset, use the headphone and earphone test, and if dry earbuds sound late against video over Bluetooth, the audio and video sync test; for the limits of water-eject frequencies, read the evidence review.