How to get water out of your phone speaker
This free speaker cleaner plays a low 165 Hz tone that makes the speaker membrane vibrate strongly. The vibration helps push water droplets and loose dust out through the speaker grille. It works in the browser on iPhone and Android – there is no app to install.
- Remove the case if it covers the speaker holes.
- Turn your phone volume to maximum and turn off silent mode on iPhone.
- Unplug headphones and turn off Bluetooth so the sound plays from the phone speaker.
- Hold the phone with the speaker facing down, so gravity helps the water drain.
- Press Water eject. The tone plays for 30 seconds. Run it 2–3 times if needed.
- Try Pulse mode or Sweep mode if the sound is still muffled.
- Let the phone air-dry with the speaker facing down for an hour or two.
Why 165 Hz?
Low frequencies make a speaker cone move further than high frequencies at the same volume. A tone around 150–200 Hz is still within the range a small phone speaker can play loudly, so it produces the largest movement the speaker can manage. That movement pushes on trapped droplets. 165 Hz is a widely used value for this purpose. The pulse and sweep modes add short bursts and changing frequencies, which can help when a steady tone is not enough.
Signs there is water in your speaker
- Sound is muffled, quiet or "underwater".
- Crackling or buzzing that started after rain, a spill, swimming or a shower.
- The sound improves when you shake the phone.
If the sound stays crackly when the phone is completely dry, the speaker may be damaged – see why speakers crackle.
What not to do
- Do not use rice. Apple advises against putting an iPhone in rice; small particles can get into the phone, and rice does not dry it faster than open air.
- Do not use a hair dryer or heat – heat can damage the battery and seals.
- Do not poke cotton buds or pins into the speaker grille or charging port.
- Do not charge a wet phone. iPhones show a "Liquid Detected" alert for a reason – wait until the port is dry.
Cleaning dust and lint from a phone speaker
For dust and pocket lint, play the sweep mode first to loosen it, then gently brush the grille with a soft, dry toothbrush while holding the speaker facing down. A small piece of putty-style adhesive pressed lightly on the grille and lifted off can pick up stubborn dust. Avoid liquids and compressed air close to the grille, as strong air can push dirt further in.
Will this work on every phone?
The speaker cleaner helps with small amounts of water in the speaker grille, which is the most common case after rain or a splash. It cannot remove water inside the phone or repair a speaker damaged by liquid. Water-resistant phones (IP67 or IP68) are protected against getting wet inside, but water can still sit in the speaker opening and muffle the sound until it is pushed out or dries.
Supported devices and browsers
- iPhoneSafari or Chrome. Turn off silent mode first.
- AndroidChrome, Samsung Internet or Firefox.
- Laptops and tabletsAny modern browser. Use moderate volume on laptop speakers.
- How it worksThe tone is generated on your device with the Web Audio API.
Related tools
Speaker Test
Check left, right, stereo, bass, treble and run a full frequency sweep.
Start testBass & Subwoofer Test
Play bass tones from 20 to 200 Hz and slow sweeps for subwoofers.
Start testLeft Right Audio Test
Find swapped or dead channels and check stereo balance.
Start testFrequently asked questions
Does the speaker cleaner really work?
For small amounts of water trapped in the speaker grille, strong low-frequency vibration helps push droplets out, which is why some smartwatches use a similar sound to clear their speaker. It will not fix water inside the phone or a damaged speaker.
How many times should I play the water eject sound?
Two or three 30-second runs are usually enough. Then leave the phone to air-dry with the speaker facing down.
Can this damage my speaker?
A 165 Hz tone at full volume is within what phone speakers are designed to play. Do not run it for many minutes at a time, and stop if you hear harsh distortion. Do not use it with headphones or earbuds connected.
Is there a water eject sound for iPhone?
iPhone does not have a built-in water eject button (Apple Watch has Water Lock). You can use this page in Safari: turn off silent mode, set the volume to maximum and press Water eject.
Does it remove dust from speakers?
The vibration can loosen light dust. For lint packed into the grille, gently brush it with a soft dry toothbrush afterwards.