Have you ever accidentally dropped your AirPods in water or gotten them wet somehow? You probably panicked at first, fishing them out quickly. And then when you put them back in your ears, you heard an alarming beeping sound.
This repetitive beeping from a wet AirPod can be confusing and concerning. In this blog post, we will explain your question exactly ‘Why is my airpod beeping after getting wet?’ and what you can do about it.
What Does the AirPod Beeping Mean?
The main reason for your question- “Why is my airpod beeping after getting wet?” is because the liquid has been detected in its internal components. AirPods have built-in liquid contact indicators that are activated when moisture seeps into the AirPods housing.
When this sensor detects liquid, it triggers the AirPod to emit a repeating beeping tone. This sound is essentially an audible water damage warning alerting you that liquid has gotten inside your AirPods where it doesn’t belong.
The moisture sensor and alarm system are designed as a safety precaution. The beeping is your AirPods way of telling you to remove them from your ears and investigate the water damage immediately. This gives you a chance to dry them out before permanent internal corrosion can occur.q
How to React When Your Wet AirPods Start Beeping?
First, don’t panic. As annoying as the beeping may be, it likely means your AirPods still have some life left in them. The moisture probably hasn’t completely fried them yet if the circuits are still able to tell the speaker to play a sound.
As soon as you notice the beeping, retrieve your wet AirPods quickly and dry them off. Be very gentle while handling wet AirPods to avoid further water damage. Try to sop up excess moisture on the surface, then place the earbuds on a dry cloth or paper towel.
It’s best not to rub the AirPods while drying, as this can push water further inside. Let them air dry completely before attempting to use them again. This may take at least 24 hours if they are fully submerged. The key is patience – do NOT try using AirPods until all interior moisture has evaporated.
You can also place wet AirPods in dry rice (not cooked rice – raw rice from a bag) overnight to help absorb dampness. Just pour some rice onto a plate or in a bowl and nestle the AirPods inside. The rice will act like a desiccant and pull some moisture from the earbuds.
What Should I Do When My Wet AirPod Starts Beeping?
If you ever hear this distinct beeping tone coming from one or both of your AirPods after they’ve gotten wet or been submerged, here are the steps you should take:
1. Remove both AirPods from your ears right away. Having wet AirPods sitting in your ear canals increases the risk of damage or electric shock.
2. Dry off the Outside of the AirPods. Gently wipe off any excess moisture on the outer plastic housing and speaker meshes.
3. Let the AirPods Sit and Air Dry. Do not attempt to use wet AirPods while they beep. The moisture sensors need time to dry out completely to stop warning you.
4. Place in a sealed bag/container of dry rice. The rice will help absorb residual moisture missed in wiping.
5. Wait at least 24 hours before testing AirPods again. This gives internal components sufficient time to air dry before applying electric current again.
6. Check if the beeping stops before reusing. If they still beep, more drying time is needed or permanent water damage may have already occurred internally.
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What Causes the Wet AirPod Beeping in the First Place?
Now you know the answer to ‘Why is my airpod beeping after getting wet’ and what to do about it when it happens. But what actually triggers this loud beeping that signals liquid damage? Here’s a breakdown of the two main reasons wet AirPods start to beep:
Moisture Sensor Activation
AirPods have built-in liquid contact indicator strips that act as moisture detection sensors. These sensors chemically react when they come into contact with any liquid, triggering an audible beeping alarm. Enough moisture reaching these sensors inside the AirPod housing alerts you with beeping every couple of seconds.
Internal Corrosion Concerns
Moisture sensors in AirPods protect against liquid corrosion by alerting users to remove and dry wet AirPods before internal damage occurs. Liquids can damage intricate circuitry components, causing electrical shorts and corrosion. Ignoring the moisture sensor warning can lead to component corrosion and eventual failure of the AirPods.
Test Your AirPods After Drying
Once your water-damaged AirPods have dried out completely, the next step is to test them to see if they still work. Start by placing them back in the charging case for at least 5 minutes to give the batteries a boost after their ordeal.
Then take the AirPods out and try pairing them with your iPhone, iPad, MacBook or other Bluetooth device as usual. You may need to go into settings to forget the device first if they are still trying to automatically connect.
Listen carefully when paired to see if audio plays properly from both earbuds. Also check the microphone by making a quick phone call. The speakers should play test tones when adjusting fit too.
If the beeping sound persists even after thorough drying, that’s not a great sign. It likely means some moisture remains inside interfering with the circuitry. You may need to keep air dry for 48 hours or longer before the beeping stops.
Get Professional Help If AirPods Stay Unresponsive
If your best drying efforts don’t resurrect wet AirPods, it’s probably time to seek professional help. The Apple Store or an authorized service provider can open up the AirPod shells to clean and dry the interiors correctly. This may cost $50-100 but beats buying a whole new set.
Third-party electronics repair shops may also be able to work on water-damaged AirPods if cost is a concern. Just search for terms like “AirPod liquid damage repair” in online directories. Read reviews to vet the shop’s reputation before dropping off your earbuds.
Water-resistant aftermarket AirPod cases can also help prevent moisture damage when caught early. But these won’t necessarily make the earbuds submersible for long periods. Drying them out is still important after any contact with liquids. Preventing water exposure in the first place remains ideal.
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When To Give Up On Wet AirPods?
If you’ve left wet AirPods sitting for over a week with no functionality after thorough drying, it’s probably time to replace them. Moisture corrosion may have damaged vital components beyond economical repair at that point. Apple only covers their 1-year included warranty from the original purchase date too.
You can always keep dead AirPods to harvest working parts from one side if the other earbud fails later too. AirPod repairs tend to replace both units unless you only need a single replacement, so salvaging can save money. Just don’t put old corroded parts into new housing risking further failure. Check eBay and other sites for discounted AirPod parts to fix your existing set economically.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article clearly answers your question “Why is my Airpod beeping after getting wet?” To recap, that loud repetitive beeping is triggered by internal moisture sensors as an alert that liquid has invaded the AirPod housing and could potentially damage the electronics.
It’s the AirPod’s way of telling you to promptly remove and dry it out before permanent water corrosion can take place. So now that you know why is my airpod beeping after getting wet, you can quickly take the proper action when it happens to rescue your malfunctioning AirPods!