Water eject sound
Got water in your phone speaker? Play this low tone at full volume with the speaker facing down. The vibration pushes droplets out of the grille, usually within a minute.
Ready. Turn the volume all the way up.
How to use it
- Unplug headphones and turn off Bluetooth audio, so the sound comes from the phone itself.
- Turn the volume all the way up.
- Hold the phone with the speaker facing down, so gravity helps the water out.
- Tap Play sound and let the 30-second cycle run. If it still sounds muffled, repeat two or three times.
Why a low tone works
A phone speaker is a thin membrane behind a fine mesh. Water sitting in the mesh damps its movement. A low, loud tone makes the membrane move in long strokes, and those strokes push the droplets out. That's why the sound starts gargled and turns clean as the water leaves.
Before you start
- This only helps with water in the speaker grille. It can't repair liquid damage inside the phone.
- Don't put the phone in rice, and don't use a hair dryer or compressed air. Let it dry upright in an airy spot.
- Don't charge the phone until the charging port is completely dry.
- Keep the phone away from your ear while the tone plays.
Step-by-step guide: how to get water out of your phone speaker
Frequently asked questions
Does a water eject sound really work?
It helps when water is sitting in the speaker grille, which is the usual reason a phone sounds muffled after rain or a splash. The low tone vibrates the speaker membrane and pushes the droplets out. It can't fix liquid that has got inside the phone; if the sound is still distorted after a few cycles, have the phone checked.
Why 165 Hz?
165 Hz is low enough to make the speaker membrane move in long strokes and plays loudly enough on phone speakers to shake water loose. It's also the frequency made popular by water eject shortcuts. The sweep mode moves between 140 and 200 Hz in case your speaker responds better a little higher or lower.
Does it clean the earpiece too?
Browsers play sound through the phone's media speakers. On phones with stereo speakers the top earpiece plays media too, so it gets the tone as well.
Is it safe for my speaker?
Short cycles like this one are within what phone speakers are built for: playing loud bass. Stop if you hear rattling or buzzing that stays after the water is gone.
Do I need to install anything?
No. The tone is generated in your browser; nothing is downloaded or recorded.
Can a water eject sound get water out of the charging port?
No. The charging port has no moving part, so sound can't push water out of it. Unplug everything, tap the phone gently against your hand with the port facing down, and let it dry in an airy spot. On an iPhone, the liquid alert goes away once the port is dry.
Does it work for AirPods or other earbuds?
Not really. Earbud speakers are tiny, and you'd be playing a loud tone right next to your ears. Dry wet earbuds with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth and don't put them back in the charging case until they're completely dry. Never play the tone with earbuds in your ears.