Wearing AirPods in the rain?
“Ahh, that takes me back…
To one of the biggest regrets of my life.”
Seriously, this is not the time to follow Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan.
And I’ll tell you why.
Keep reading to find out:
- 3 crucial tips if you accidentally wear your AirPods in the rain.
- If you can wear AirPods in the rain (and whether it will survive or not).
- How to accessorize and protect your AirPods from an unexpected drizzle.
- And so much more…
Can you wear AirPods in the rain?
You shouldn’t wear your AirPods in the rain. This could lead to water damage, which can’t be repaired even by a professional Apple technician. As a result, your only fix is to buy a new pair. Standard AirPods are not water-resistant. Although AirPods Pro have water resistance, it’s still a big risk.
Wearing your AirPods in the rain: 3 important tips
#1: Don’t run, instead…
Cover your ears first, and then run.
Why shouldn’t you run first, you might ask?
Mostly because if any water manages to seep into your AirPods…
You’ll end up like me and end up buying a new pair of AirPods.
Wow! Upgrade. Yeah – awesome.
But also – shelling out $160 for a new pair isn’t exactly cheap.
Remember: Your legs can run at any time in the rain and survive. But your AirPods? 5 seconds in the rain is all it takes to put it at great risk.
#2: Find the nearest shelter to safely store your AirPods
So you’re covering your ears and running…
What next?
Are you going to run all the way home while shielding your ears?
Barbaric.
But…respect if you would actually do such a thing.
Really – just find the nearest cafe or store in the area.
Then, when your AirPods aren’t at risk of getting wet from the rain, store them in your pocket.
Or, you could put them back in your charging case.
Now, here’s a good question I’m sure is running through your head right now:
“Why don’t I just keep my AirPods in my charging case as the rain starts to pour?”
You make a fair point. But also…
Your charging case isn’t waterproof. Or, think of it this way:
You open your charging case.
While removing each AirPod from your ear, some of the rain could also…
- Fall into the charging port of your charging case.
- Lead to a higher chance of your AirPods getting wet.
- Worse – your hands are slippery and your AirPods fall into a puddle.
Yes – it sounds like a bad case of paranoia.
But to tell you the truth, it’s quite possible for any of those scenarios to happen.
Albeit – it’s a slim chance.
But, slim might just be the worst luck you’ll find on a bad rainy day.
In other words, don’t take chances.
Want a bonus tip? Accessorize your AirPods.
Get a waterproof charging case.
That way, your AirPods and charging case are guaranteed safe and dry even in your pockets.
Ear hooks are also great for securing AirPods to your ears.
It also means…no more accidental drops in a rain puddle.
#3: Use a sweatband or gaiter
Sure – a jacket or a hoodie works too.
However, a sweatband or beanie is better for protecting your AirPods.
Another benefit of a sweatband is it keeps your AirPods in place.
Now, if sweatbands or beanies aren’t your thing, don’t worry.
You can also opt for a wide-brimmed hat.
Take note, though.
Whether it’s a gaiter, sweatband, or wide-brimmed hat, this only works with light rain.
If it’s heavy rain, keep your AirPods immediately.
Help! My AirPods got wet! What do I do?
In the event your AirPods got wet from the rain, here’s what you should do:
Step 1: Use a microfiber towel to clean the surface of your AirPods.
Do the same with your charging case.
Step 2: Use a cotton swab to reach into the charging port of your case.
Note: A cotton swab also works for the small ports and mesh of your AirPods.
Step 3: Flip your charging case upside down and let it dry in an open area.
Let your AirPods dry out in the open as well.
It’s best to leave both your AirPods and case to dry out overnight.
Warning: Don’t ever use a blowdryer or external heat source to “dry out” your AirPods. Extreme temperatures could damage the circuitry of your AirPods.
From here, you can check your AirPods condition by charging it to see if it works.
Reader’s Tip: (11 Fixes) Right AirPod Not Charging
For extra advice and tips, check out this video on how to remove water from your AirPods:
The guy in the video intentionally wets his AirPods and shows you how to clean them.
Alternatively, you’ll also find YouTube videos that use sound to remove water from AirPods.
It’s worth the try if it means saving yourself the hassle of buying a new pair.
Why you shouldn’t wear AirPods in the rain
As I mentioned before, you should remember that your standard AirPods aren’t water-resistant.
Note: Standard AirPods are your 1st-gen and 2nd-gen AirPods. That means standard AirPods are more vulnerable to water damage. Whether it’s light rain, showers, or even water splashes, these all pose a risk.
And then you have the AirPods Pro.
On Apple’s support page, it says that:
AirPods Pro and 3rd-gen AirPods have an IPX4 water-resistant rating.
“But what does IPX4 mean?
And if it has water resistance, why is it bad to wear AirPods in the rain?”
First, let’s dissect what “IP” means in IPX4.
IP stands for Ingress Protection.
Basically, it helps the user (you) identify that a product has protection against:
- Dust.
- Solids.
- Liquids.
The first symbol after “IP” refers to a product or device’s dust resistance.
Dust resistance ranges from 0 to 6, with 6 having the highest dust resistance.
The second symbol after “IP” means a product is protected from water intrusion.
Or put simply, water resistance.
Water resistance ranges from 0 to 9.
If you see an “X” instead of a symbol, it means the device was not tested.
So when you read “IPX4”, it means…
- IP: Ingress Protection.
- X: Device was not tested against dust resistance.
- 4: Device is water-resistant to water splashes from all directions.
You can use an IP rating table to understand the different levels of water resistance.
Does that mean it’s okay to wear AirPods in the rain?
Technically, AirPods Pro can survive light rain and occasional rain splashes.
However, heavy rain is a different story and could risk water damage.
It’s also worth noting that water-resistant seals degrade over time.
In other words, your AirPods Pro becomes less water-resistant over time.
The worst part?
There’s no way to re-seal a water-resistant seal.
So if you’ve had your AirPods Pro for quite some time, sure it’s water-resistant.
But don’t expect it to have the same protection as it did before.
If you want to prevent your AirPods from ever having any water damage, then…
It’s worth considering waterproof earphones. Some of these include: