If you need to know how to eject water from phone speakers and ports, you’re probably dealing with a water emergency right now. Whether your phone took a dip in the pool, got caught in the rain, or survived a toilet drop, getting water out quickly is crucial to preventing permanent damage. Modern smartphones have some water resistance, but they’re not completely waterproof, and water trapped in speakers, charging ports, and microphone holes can cause serious problems. This comprehensive guide will show you proven methods to eject water from your phone, what to do immediately after water exposure, and how to prevent long-term damage.
Why You Need to Eject Water from Your Phone Quickly
Water and electronics don’t mix well. Understanding why makes the urgency clear.
How Water Damages Phones
Water can cause multiple types of damage to your smartphone. The most immediate concern is short circuits—when water creates unintended electrical connections between components, causing them to malfunction or burn out. Even if your phone seems fine initially, trapped water can corrode internal parts over time, leading to failures weeks or months later.
Water also affects specific components differently. Speakers sound muffled or distorted when filled with water. Microphones stop picking up your voice clearly. Charging ports can corrode and stop working. Camera lenses fog up, creating blurry photos. The touch screen might behave erratically or stop responding altogether.
The Critical First Hours
The first few hours after water exposure are crucial. Water sitting in your phone’s crevices can seep deeper into the device, reaching components that were initially protected. Corrosion begins almost immediately when water contacts metal parts. The faster you remove the water, the better your chances of avoiding permanent damage.
Water-Resistant vs. Waterproof
Many modern phones claim water resistance with IP ratings like IP67 or IP68. These ratings mean your phone can survive brief water exposure under specific conditions—usually fresh water at certain depths for limited times. However, water resistance degrades over time as seals wear out, and it doesn’t protect against all water scenarios. Salt water, chlorinated pool water, and soapy water can be especially damaging. Even water-resistant phones need proper drying after getting wet.
Immediate Actions: What to Do Right After Your Phone Gets Wet
Before you try to eject water, take these critical first steps.
Turn Off Your Phone Immediately
Power off your phone as quickly as possible if it’s still on. Don’t unlock it, don’t check if it works, don’t take a photo of the incident—just turn it off. Electricity and water create short circuits, so eliminating power flow reduces damage risk. If your phone is already off, don’t turn it on to check if it works. Leave it off until you’ve thoroughly dried it.
Remove Cases and Accessories
Take off your phone case immediately—it can trap water against your phone. Remove any accessories like PopSockets, screen protectors that could hold moisture, or anything attached to your device. If you have a phone with a removable battery (rare these days), remove the battery. Take out your SIM card and any memory cards to protect your data and allow better airflow.
Dry the Exterior Thoroughly
Use a clean, dry, lint-free cloth or paper towels to wipe down your phone’s exterior. Pay special attention to visible water droplets around buttons, speakers, charging port, and headphone jack. Gently shake the phone with the ports facing down to encourage water to drip out. Don’t shake too vigorously, as this could spread water to dry areas inside.
What NOT to Do
Avoid these common mistakes that can make things worse. Don’t use a hair dryer—the heat can damage internal components and force water deeper into the phone. Don’t put your phone in the oven or microwave. Don’t use compressed air, which can push water further inside. Don’t charge your phone until you’re absolutely certain it’s completely dry, as charging a wet phone can cause short circuits.
Methods to Eject Water from Phone Speakers
Water trapped in speakers causes muffled, distorted, or completely blocked sound. Here are proven methods to eject it.
Use Water Eject Shortcuts and Apps
Modern technology offers apps and shortcuts specifically designed to eject water from phone speakers using sound frequencies.
For iPhones, you can use the Shortcuts app to create a water ejection routine. Download a water eject shortcut from reputable sources (search for “water eject shortcut” in your browser). When you run this shortcut, it plays a specific frequency that vibrates the speaker, physically pushing water out. You’ll actually see water droplets fly out of the speaker grills if there’s water inside.
For Android phones, several free apps serve this purpose. Apps like “Speaker Cleaner” or “Clear Wave” play tones at frequencies designed to eject water. Download one from the Google Play Store, run the water ejection function, and let it cycle through different frequencies. Place your phone speaker-side down on a cloth so ejected water can drip out.
The Sound Frequency Method
These apps work by playing low-frequency sounds (usually around 165Hz) that create vibrations strong enough to dislodge water droplets from speaker meshes. The vibrations essentially shake the water out the way it came in. Multiple cycles often work better than one, so run the ejection sound 3-5 times with brief pauses between.
You can also find water ejection tones on YouTube if you don’t want to download an app. Search for “water eject sound” and play it at maximum volume with your speaker facing down.
Manual Speaker Drying
If you don’t have access to these tools, try these manual methods. Place your phone speaker-side down on a dry towel. Gently tap the back of the phone to encourage water to drip out. Use a cotton swab or soft cloth to carefully blot the speaker grills—don’t press hard or you might damage the speaker mesh. Position the phone with speakers angled downward and leave it for several hours, allowing gravity to work.
How to Remove Water from Charging Ports
A wet charging port is particularly problematic because charging while moisture is present can cause serious damage.
The Wait-and-Dry Approach
For charging ports, patience is essential. Don’t attempt to charge your phone for at least 24 hours after water exposure, even if you think it’s dry. The charging port has small crevices where water hides, and moisture detection systems in modern phones will often prevent charging if water is detected.
Gentle Drying Techniques
Hold your phone with the charging port facing down and gently tap the phone against your hand. You might see water droplets fall out. Use a clean, dry cotton swab to very gently absorb moisture from the port—insert it carefully and twist gently without pushing too deep. Don’t use anything metal or sharp that could damage the charging pins.
Point a fan (not heat, just air circulation) at the charging port for several hours. Room-temperature air movement helps evaporation without the risks of heat damage. Silica gel packets placed near (not inside) the charging port can also help absorb moisture over time.
When Your Phone Says “Liquid Detected”
Many modern phones have moisture detection systems that prevent charging when water is detected. If you see a “liquid detected in charging port” warning, don’t ignore it. This warning means your phone detected moisture and is protecting itself from damage. Don’t try to override this warning or force charging. Let your phone dry naturally until the warning disappears—this could take several hours or even a full day.
Drying Methods: What Actually Works
Beyond ejecting water, you need to completely dry your phone. Some popular methods work better than others.
The Silica Gel Method (Actually Effective)
Silica gel packets—those little “Do Not Eat” packets that come in shoe boxes and electronics packaging—are genuinely useful for drying phones. Silica gel is a desiccant, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. Collect several silica gel packets or buy desiccant packets online. Place your phone in a sealed container or ziplock bag with the packets surrounding it (but not touching). Leave it for 24-48 hours.
This method works because the silica gel creates a very dry environment that pulls moisture out of your phone through evaporation. It’s much more effective than rice.
Why Rice Doesn’t Work Well
The “put your phone in rice” advice is everywhere, but it’s not actually very effective. Rice does absorb some moisture, but it’s not particularly good at it compared to actual desiccants. Worse, rice dust and small particles can get into your phone’s ports and speakers, creating new problems. If you absolutely have no other option, rice might help slightly, but don’t expect miracles. And never let rice get stuck in your charging port or headphone jack.
Air Drying (Time and Patience)
Simple air drying in a well-ventilated area actually works quite well if you have patience. Place your phone in a spot with good air circulation—near (not directly in front of) a fan, on a shelf with airflow, or in a naturally breezy area. Position it so gravity helps: charging port down, speakers down. Leave it for at least 24-48 hours before attempting to turn it on. The longer you wait, the better.
Vacuum Method (With Caution)
Some people use a vacuum cleaner on low suction to pull moisture out of ports and speakers. If you try this, be very gentle and don’t press the vacuum nozzle hard against your phone, as this could damage components or create static electricity. Hold the vacuum near (not directly touching) the ports and speakers for 10-15 minutes.
Special Considerations for Different Phone Models
Different phones require slightly different approaches.
iPhones (iPhone 7 and Newer)
Recent iPhones have IP67 or IP68 water resistance, meaning they can survive brief water exposure. However, they still need proper drying. iPhones since iPhone 7 lack a headphone jack, which means one less opening for water to enter. Use the water eject shortcut for speakers. Trust the “liquid detected” warning in the charging port—don’t charge until it disappears. Apple recommends waiting at least 5 hours before charging after water exposure, though 24 hours is safer.
Samsung Galaxy Phones
Flagship Samsung phones typically have good water resistance ratings. Use the speaker test feature in Samsung’s built-in diagnostics or download a water eject app. Samsung phones often have speaker grills on both top and bottom, so make sure to eject water from both. The USB-C port should be dried thoroughly before charging.
Google Pixel Phones
Pixel phones generally have IP67 or IP68 ratings on newer models. The moisture detection system is quite sensitive and will prevent charging when water is detected. Don’t try to bypass this protection. Use sound frequency methods to eject water from speakers.
Phones Without Water Resistance
If you have an older phone or budget model without water resistance ratings, treat water exposure very seriously. These phones have less protection against water intrusion and may suffer damage more easily. Be extra patient with drying—wait at least 48 hours before turning the device on.
How to Know If Your Phone Is Completely Dry
Before turning your phone back on or attempting to charge it, confirm it’s dry.
Time Guidelines
At minimum, wait 24 hours before attempting to power on your phone. For phones that were fully submerged or exposed to significant water, 48-72 hours is safer. This might seem excessive, but hidden moisture takes time to evaporate, and the patience could save your phone.
Visual Checks
Look for visible moisture in the camera lens—if you see fog or condensation, water is still inside. Check for water droplets in the charging port using a flashlight. Inspect speaker grills for wetness. If you see any moisture anywhere, continue drying.
The Moisture Indicator
Many phones have internal moisture indicators that change color when exposed to water. These are usually small stickers inside the SIM card tray or charging port. Check your phone’s manual to find yours. If the indicator shows water exposure, continue drying even if you don’t see visible moisture.
The First Power-On
When you finally power on your phone after drying, do it carefully. If the phone doesn’t turn on, don’t panic immediately—the battery might be dead. Try charging it briefly (10-15 minutes) in a well-ventilated area and watch for any unusual heat, smells, or sounds. If anything seems wrong, unplug immediately and seek professional help.
If the phone powers on, test all functions: make a test call to check the microphone and earpiece, play music to test speakers, take photos to check the camera, try charging to ensure the port works, and test the touch screen’s responsiveness. Document any issues so you know what might need professional repair.
When to Seek Professional Help
Sometimes DIY methods aren’t enough, and professional intervention is necessary.
Signs You Need Professional Repair
Seek professional help if your phone won’t turn on after 72 hours of drying, the phone powers on but has multiple malfunctioning components, you see visible corrosion on charging ports or SIM trays, the phone gets unusually hot when powered on, you smell burning or chemical odors, or the battery drains extremely quickly after water exposure.
What Professionals Can Do
Phone repair shops have tools and expertise you don’t have at home. They can open your phone safely to dry internal components, clean corrosion from circuits and connections using specialized solutions, replace damaged parts like speakers, charging ports, or batteries, and test components systematically to identify all problems.
Professional cleaning soon after water exposure can prevent corrosion from setting in and causing long-term damage. If your phone is valuable or contains irreplaceable data, professional help is worth the cost.
Warranty and Insurance Considerations
Check if your phone is covered under warranty or insurance. Most manufacturer warranties don’t cover water damage, even on water-resistant phones, because water damage is considered user error. However, if you have AppleCare+, Samsung Care+, or third-party phone insurance, water damage might be covered with a deductible.
Moisture indicators inside your phone will show if it’s been water damaged, so don’t try to hide water exposure when making a warranty claim—it won’t work and could void any coverage you do have.
Preventing Water Damage in the Future
Prevention is always better than repair. Here’s how to protect your phone from future water mishaps.
Use Waterproof Cases
If you’re often around water—at the beach, pool, on boats, or working outdoors in the rain—invest in a quality waterproof case. Brands like Lifeproof, OtterBox, and Catalyst make cases that provide genuine waterproof protection beyond what your phone offers naturally. These cases seal all ports and buttons while maintaining touchscreen functionality.
Be Mindful of Water-Prone Situations
Common water damage scenarios include phones falling in toilets (keep your phone in a secure pocket, not your back pocket), using phones in bathrooms where steam and moisture accumulate, setting phones on edges near pools or bodies of water, using phones in heavy rain without protection, and forgetting phones in pockets when doing laundry. Awareness of these situations helps you avoid them.
Regular Maintenance
Water resistance degrades over time. Phone seals can wear out, adhesive can weaken, and cracks can compromise protection. Replace cracked screens promptly, as cracks break water seals. Avoid exposing water-resistant phones to extreme temperatures, which can affect seals. Don’t open your phone yourself, as this breaks factory seals.
Back Up Your Data
The best insurance against water damage is backing up your data regularly. Use cloud services like iCloud, Google Drive, or OneDrive to automatically back up photos, contacts, and important files. If your phone dies from water damage, at least you won’t lose precious memories and information.
The Bottom Line
Knowing how to eject water from phone speakers and ports can save your device from permanent damage. The key steps are turning off your phone immediately, using sound frequency methods to eject water from speakers, thoroughly drying all ports and openings, waiting at least 24-48 hours before powering on, and seeking professional help if problems persist.
Modern water ejection tools using sound frequencies are remarkably effective at clearing water from speakers. Combined with patience and proper drying techniques, most phones can survive water exposure if you act quickly and correctly. Remember that even water-resistant phones need care after getting wet, and prevention through cases and careful handling is always your best strategy.
If your phone survives the water incident, consider it a warning and take steps to protect it better in the future. If it doesn’t survive, at least you’ll know you tried everything possible to save it.
10 Frequently Asked Questions
- How long should I wait before turning on my phone after it gets wet?
Wait at least 24 hours before attempting to power on your phone after water exposure. For phones that were fully submerged or exposed to significant amounts of water, 48-72 hours is safer. This waiting period allows hidden moisture deep inside the device to evaporate completely. Turning on your phone too soon can cause short circuits that create permanent damage, even if the phone seems dry on the outside. - Does putting my phone in rice really work?
Rice is not very effective for drying phones, despite being the most common advice given. While rice can absorb some moisture, it’s not designed as a desiccant and works poorly compared to proper drying methods. Worse, rice dust and grains can get stuck in your phone’s ports and speakers, creating additional problems. Silica gel packets, air drying, or professional drying services work much better than rice. - Can I use a hair dryer to dry my wet phone?
No, don’t use a hair dryer on your wet phone. Heat can damage internal components, melt adhesives that hold your phone together, and warp plastic parts. Additionally, the air pressure from a hair dryer can push water deeper into your phone rather than removing it. Stick to room-temperature air circulation from fans or natural air drying instead. - What does the water eject sound do?
Water eject sounds play specific low-frequency tones (usually around 165Hz) that cause your phone’s speakers to vibrate intensely. These vibrations physically push water droplets out of the speaker grills the same way they entered. The method is remarkably effective—you can actually see water flying out of the speakers when the sound plays. Running the eject sound multiple times typically works better than a single use. - Why won’t my phone charge after getting wet?
Modern phones have moisture detection systems that prevent charging when water is detected in the charging port. This is a safety feature that protects your phone from short circuits and further damage. The “liquid detected” warning means your phone is protecting itself. Don’t try to override this—wait until your phone dries completely and the warning disappears naturally, which can take 5-24 hours or longer. - Is my phone ruined if it got wet?
Not necessarily. Many phones survive water exposure if handled correctly. Whether your phone is ruined depends on several factors: how long it was in water, whether it was powered on during exposure, how quickly you acted, and your phone’s water resistance rating. Phones with IP67 or IP68 ratings have better survival chances. Even phones without water resistance can often be saved with quick action and proper drying. - Can salt water or pool water damage my phone more than regular water?
Yes, salt water, chlorinated pool water, and soapy water are significantly more damaging than fresh water. Salt water is especially corrosive and can cause rapid deterioration of internal components. Chlorine and other pool chemicals can also corrode connections. If your phone was exposed to salt water or pool water, rinse it quickly with fresh water (while powered off) before drying to minimize corrosion, then dry it thoroughly. - How do I know if there’s still water inside my phone?
Signs of remaining water include fog or condensation inside the camera lens, muffled or distorted speaker sound, “liquid detected” warnings when trying to charge, visible water droplets in ports or speaker grills when inspected with a flashlight, and abnormal phone behavior like random touches or apps opening themselves. If you see any of these signs, continue drying your phone. - Will water damage affect my phone later even if it works now?
Yes, water damage can cause delayed problems. Corrosion develops over time as trapped moisture reacts with metal components. Your phone might work fine immediately after drying but develop issues weeks or months later, such as battery problems, speaker degradation, charging port failures, or camera malfunctions. This is why thorough drying is so important—you want to remove all moisture before corrosion begins. - Should I take my phone apart to dry it faster?
Unless you’re experienced with phone repair, don’t attempt to open your phone yourself. Modern smartphones are complex devices with delicate components and strong adhesives. Opening your phone can void warranties, break water-resistance seals permanently, create new problems with ribbon cables and connectors, and potentially damage components beyond repair. If internal drying is needed, take your phone to a professional repair service that has the proper tools and expertise.
