Your AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation just took a splash, maybe from a sudden downpour, a sweaty workout that ran long, or a drink that tipped over near them, and now you are wondering whether they are ruined. The good news is that these earbuds are built to shrug off a certain amount of moisture, and the catch is that what you do in the first few minutes matters more than almost anything else. Rushing wet AirPods straight back into the charging case is one of the most common mistakes, and it is exactly what the official guidance warns against. Below are the safe, ordered steps to dry, restart, and recover them, with the manufacturer service path saved for last.
First, the honest truth about how much water these can take
The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, along with their USB-C charging case, are rated dust, sweat, and water resistant at IP54 under IEC standard 60529. That rating is intended for non-water sports and exercise, not for the pool or the shower. In plain terms, they can handle splashes and sweat, but they are water resistant, not waterproof.
The manufacturer is explicit that you should not swim with your AirPods and should not submerge them, and it stresses that sweat, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and can diminish over time. So a quick splash is usually survivable if you treat it correctly, but a soaking or a dunk is a different story. Keep those limits in mind as you work through the fixes.
Stop, dry them first, and keep them out of the case
The single most important move is to resist the urge to drop wet AirPods back into the case. The verified rule is to dry them completely before placing them in the charging case, so damp earbuds should never go onto the charging contacts.
The official instruction is straightforward. Wipe them clean with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, then allow them to dry completely, for at least two hours, before using them or placing them in the charging case. Two hours is the minimum, so if you have any doubt about how wet they got, give them longer.
- 1.Take the AirPods out of your ears and keep them out of the case.
- 2.Wipe each earbud gently with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.
- 3.Set them somewhere dry and let them air-dry completely for at least two hours.
- 4.Only then place them back in the charging case.
Dry them the right way, never with heat, air, or rice
How you dry them is as important as the fact that you dry them. The official guidance says plainly that you should not use heat or compressed air to dry your AirPods. That rules out hair dryers, radiators, ovens, and canned air.
The popular bag-of-rice trick is not part of any official drying method either, so skip it. You should also not run your AirPods under water to rinse them, and you should not submerge them. A soft, dry, lint-free cloth plus patient air-drying is the entire approved process.
Clean off anything that is not fresh water
Not all liquid is created equal. Sweat, soap, shampoo, sunscreen, perfume, and lotions can leave residue that affects fit, the touch controls, and the sound, so they need more than a quick wipe. After exposure to these, the guidance is to clean and dry the AirPods properly.
Wipe them with a cloth and, where it is needed, use a cloth slightly dampened with fresh water, then dry them again with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. One firm rule applies throughout. Do not use sharp objects or abrasive materials to clean your AirPods, since those can scratch surfaces and damage the mesh and seals.
Once they are fully dry, restart them
Moisture can briefly interrupt audio or the controls and leave behind a software glitch even after the hardware itself is fine. A restart clears that up, and it should only be done once the earbuds are completely dry.
To restart your AirPods 4, put the AirPods in their case, then close the lid for a minimum of 10 seconds. After that, open the lid and reconnect to your iPhone or iPad. If a temporary hiccup was the cause, this often brings everything back to normal.
Update your software and AirPods firmware
An out-of-date system or stale firmware can mimic the symptoms of water damage, so it is worth ruling out. Start by making sure your iPhone or iPad is running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS, then confirm the AirPods firmware is current.
AirPods firmware updates are delivered automatically while your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that is connected to Wi-Fi, so there is no manual update button. To see which version you are on, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to your AirPods, and scroll to the About section. Compare it with the current AirPods 4 firmware listed by the manufacturer, since that version number is updated over time.
Confirm your listening mode if noise cancellation feels weak
If Active Noise Cancellation seems off after a splash, do not assume the hardware is damaged before you check the obvious thing, which is the mode you are actually in. It is easy to be sitting in Transparency or Off without realizing it.
To cycle modes, press and hold the stem on either of your AirPods until you hear a chime. Alternatively, in Control Center touch-hold the volume slider, tap the Listening Mode button at the lower left, and choose Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, Adaptive Audio, or Off. Keep in mind that Adaptive Audio and ANC require a compatible device running the latest iOS or iPadOS with the latest AirPods firmware.
Forget the device and re-pair if they will not connect
When the AirPods are dry and restarted but still refuse to connect cleanly, removing and re-adding them gives the Bluetooth connection a fresh start. This step removes the current pairing from your device, so you will set the AirPods up again afterward.
- 1.Open the Settings app, tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, then tap Forget This Device. You can also reach this from Settings > Bluetooth by tapping the Info button next to your AirPods.
- 2.Place the AirPods inside the case and open the lid.
- 3.Hold the case next to your device and double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white to enter pairing mode.
- 4.Follow the on-screen steps to reconnect.
Note that the AirPods 4 use the double-tap on the front of the case, not the older setup-button hold on the back used by some other models.
Factory reset the AirPods 4 as a last self-service step
If problems still linger after drying, restarting, and re-pairing, a factory reset returns the AirPods to their original settings and can resolve deeper software confusion. This erases their current pairing and settings, so you will need to set them up again from scratch afterward.
- 1.Put the AirPods in their case and close the lid, then wait 30 seconds.
- 2.Open the lid, then double-tap the front of the case three times.
- 3.Watch the status light, since a successful reset is confirmed when it flashes amber, then white.
As with re-pairing, the AirPods 4 do not use the older back setup-button hold. After the reset, set up the AirPods with your device as you did the first time.
When to call in the experts
If the AirPods still do not work properly after you have dried them thoroughly, reset them, and re-paired them, the problem may be genuine liquid damage rather than a glitch. At that point the right move is to set up an appointment at an Apple Store or with an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
That same service route is also how you get help updating firmware or arranging repair if you do not have a compatible device nearby. Bear in mind that IP54 resistance is not a permanent condition and can diminish over time, which means liquid damage may not be covered. Even so, official service is the only safe path once drying and resets have been exhausted, since there is no further user-serviceable water-damage repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I swim or shower with my AirPods 4 with ANC
No. The AirPods 4 are water resistant at IP54, not waterproof, and the official guidance says not to swim with them and not to submerge them. The rating is meant for non-water sports and exercise, such as handling sweat and splashes, not full immersion.
How long should I let my AirPods dry after they get wet
Wipe them with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, then allow them to dry completely for at least two hours before using them or placing them in the charging case. That two hours is the minimum, so if they got quite wet, give them longer to be safe.
Is it safe to use a hair dryer or a bag of rice to dry them faster
No. The official instruction is not to use heat or compressed air to dry your AirPods, which rules out hair dryers and canned air. The rice trick is not part of any approved drying method, so stick to a soft, dry, lint-free cloth and patient air-drying.
Why does my noise cancellation seem weak after water exposure
Before assuming hardware damage, confirm which listening mode you are in. Press and hold the stem until you hear a chime to cycle modes, or use the Listening Mode button in Control Center to select Active Noise Cancellation or Adaptive Audio. Remember that these modes require a compatible device on the latest iOS or iPadOS with the latest AirPods firmware.
Will liquid damage be covered if drying does not fix them
Possibly not. The manufacturer states that sweat, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and can diminish over time, so liquid damage may not be covered. If drying, resetting, and re-pairing fail, book service at an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider to find out your options.
