WavexHow to get water out of your iPhone speaker
Hold or lay the iPhone with the speaker facing down so gravity helps, then play a low tone (around 165 Hz) at full volume for 10 to 30 seconds; the vibrating speaker pushes droplets out of the grille. Repeat two or three times and let the phone air-dry. Don't use rice, a hair dryer, compressed air or cotton swabs. A water eject app such as Wavex does the tone part for you, but it clears the speaker only, not the charging port.
Why your speaker sounds muffled after water
The speaker at the bottom of your iPhone (and the receiver at the top, which also plays stereo sound) sits behind a fine mesh grille. After a splash, a dunk in the pool or rain, water can stay trapped in that mesh. Sound then has to push through a layer of water, so it comes out muffled, quiet or crackly.
That's usually temporary. Apple notes that if your speaker sounds muffled, water may be in the speaker port and that performance may be reduced until the water evaporates. The goal is to get the water out sooner, without damaging anything.
Method 1: Speaker down and let it drain
Apple's own suggestion is simple: place the iPhone speaker side down on a lint-free cloth so the water can drip out, and leave it somewhere with some airflow. It's gentle and always safe, but it can take a while.
Method 2: Push the water out with sound
A speaker makes sound by moving a thin membrane back and forth. A low tone makes it move further on every cycle, which pushes water through the grille much faster than waiting. Apple Watch does exactly this: when you turn off Water Lock, it plays a series of sounds to clear water from its speaker.
iPhone has no built-in water eject, so you need something that plays the tone. A water eject app like Wavex plays a tone that sweeps around 165, 175 or 185 Hz for 10 to 30 seconds, through both speakers and even in silent mode. It also warns you when the volume is low or headphones are connected, the two reasons a tone can't reach the speaker.
Websites and Shortcuts that play a similar tone work on the same principle. Whatever you use, turn the volume all the way up and keep the speaker pointing down.
What works and what doesn't
| Method | Helps the speaker? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker down on a cloth, air-dry | Yes, slowly | Apple's recommendation; always safe |
| Low tone (water eject), 10–30 s | Yes, quickly | Clears the speaker grille; repeat 2–3 times |
| Fan blowing cool air | Yes, for drying | Apple says cool air into the port may help |
| Bag of rice | No | Apple warns rice particles can damage the iPhone |
| Hair dryer or heater | No | Apple says not to use an external heat source |
| Cotton swab, pin or paper towel | No | Can push water deeper or damage the mesh |
| Compressed air | No | Apple advises against it |
When it's more than the speaker
- "Liquid detected" alert: that's about the Lightning or USB-C port, not the speaker. Unplug the cable and let the port dry before charging. See what to do when iPhone detects liquid.
- No sound at all: check that silent mode and Do Not Disturb are off, remove the case, and test the Ringtone and Alerts slider in Settings › Sounds & Haptics. If the slider plays nothing, the speaker may need service.
- Still muffled after a day: lint or dirt may be blocking the grille. Our muffled speaker guide covers Apple's checks.
Get water out of the speaker in 5 steps
- Dry the outside. Wipe the iPhone with a soft, lint-free cloth and unplug any cable or headphones.
- Turn the volume up. Press the volume-up button until the volume is at maximum.
- Point the speaker down. Lay the iPhone face down on a cloth, or hold it with the bottom edge pointing at the floor.
- Play a low tone. Open a water eject app such as Wavex and start a 10 to 30 second session, or play any tone around 165 Hz.
- Repeat and air-dry. If it still sounds muffled, run it two or three more times, then leave the iPhone in a dry place with some airflow.
Questions and answers
Does water eject really work?
For water trapped in the speaker grille, it often does. The tone makes the speaker membrane move more, pushing droplets out. It won't remove water from inside the phone or the charging port.
How many times should I play the tone?
Start with one 10 to 30 second session. If the sound is still muffled, repeat two or three times, then let the iPhone air-dry. Water that's left evaporates on its own.
Is putting my iPhone in rice a good idea?
No. Apple specifically says not to put an iPhone in a bag of rice, because small rice particles can damage it. Airflow works better.
Can I charge my iPhone right away?
Not with a cable while it's wet. Apple suggests waiting until the iPhone is completely dry, at least 5 hours after liquid exposure, before charging with a cable or connecting accessories.
Is iPhone waterproof?
No, it's water-resistant (IP67 or IP68 depending on the model), and Apple says the resistance can decrease over time. See our guide to iPhone water resistance by model.
Sources
- Apple Support: About splash, water and dust resistance of iPhone
- Apple Support: If you see a liquid-detection alert on your iPhone
- Apple Support: How to use Water Lock and eject water from your Apple Watch