Are you a music lover who never wants to miss out on the beats? You may have been tempted to use your AirPods Pro in the shower. But is that a good idea? Can you wear AirPods pro in the shower?
The answer to this question lies in what happens when you submerge your AirPods Pro in water. Will it survive? Let’s find out.
Are Airpods Water Resistant?
Apple’s AirPods Pro and third generation AirPods are water resistant but not waterproof. That means these devices are protected against sprays of water, splashes, and drips. With an IPX4 rating, your AirPods Pro can withstand water splashes from any direction. This is according to the International Electrotechnical Commission—the body that developed the rating system.
It is important to note that being water-resistant doesn’t mean waterproof. For a device to be termed waterproof, it needs to have an IPX rating of seven and above (IPX7 to IPX9K). So, AirPods Pro, with an IPX4 rating, cannot be submerged in water. Therefore, they cannot be used in water sports such as swimming and showering. You’re likely to damage your Apple AirPods Pro if you immerse it in water, like in the case of swimming or showering with it.
Can You Wear AirPods Pro in the Shower?
There are many claims out there of people who have used their AirPods in the shower, and the gadgets turned out just fine. Several Reddit users, for instance, attest to having used their Pros in the shower severally without causing any damage to them.
But before you use any of the AirPods generation in the shower or when swimming, you’ll need to be ready to deal with water damage. Apple insists that while AirPods Pro are sweat and water-resistant, they are not sweatproof or waterproof. They advise their users to always wipe down their devices with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth after heavy sweating, workouts, and water splashes.
Apple also cautions Pro users against exposing their gadgets to sunscreen, oil, shampoos, soaps, solvents, lotions, conditioners, perfumes, detergents, acids, hair dye, or insect repellent. All of these can damage acoustic membranes and water seals.
While some users have reported no issue after showering with their AirPods Pro, Apple doesn’t take responsibility for water damage. And considering how expensive these gadgets are, it’s good to follow instructions and not submerge them in water. Also, the fact that they are sweat and water-resistant doesn’t mean they’ll always be like that forever. The resistance to sweat and water wears out with time.
What to Do if Your AirPods Get Wet
Accidents do happen,, and no matter how careful you are, you might find yourself in a situation where your AirPods become wet. What should you do?
As Apple advises, make sure you dry your AirPods using a lint-free cloth. Be careful not to charge your device before it’s completely dry, as this can damage them further.
Also, while some people believe in putting electric gadgets in a bag of rice to dry them, avoid this practice. This is because the rice grains, starch, or dust can enter the components of your AirPods, causing more damage.
Make sure you wipe the case as well. This procedure can only work for light water exposure, such as a drizzle of rain and sweat from exercise and non-water sports.
The situation will be different if the AirPods get wet under serious circumstances such as being subjected to high-velocity water, running water, showering, swimming, and high moisture areas like steam rooms and saunas. If this is the case, wipe down your Pros with a lint-free cloth and put them outside to dry for at least 12 hours. You can keep shaking them to see if there’s any extra moisture in them before putting them back in the charging case.
You can also dry your AirPods by putting them in a plastic bag with silica gel packets and then sealing it. Do this even for the case in case it also gets wet. Remember the case isn’t water-resistant and getting it wet will most likely cause permanent damage.
If your Pros don’t work after all these, you may consider contacting Apple for further advice. Chances are they won’t give a replacement if the gadget suffered water damage, so you’ll have to get a new one.
Can You Wear AirPods Pro in Rain?
As mentioned above, AirPods Pro are water-resistant but not waterproof. That means you can wear your Pros in light rain. However, too much rain can damage these gadgets. You’re better off erring on the safe side by simply not wearing them in the rain. Also note that the water-resistance capability wears off with time. This is the reason why you shouldn’t take any risk and protect your gadget from water as much as possible.
How Do I Know if My Airpod Pros Are Water Damaged?
There are several signs of water damage to your AirPods Pro, the most obvious one being distorted sound. The sound coming out of the device will be scratchy or muffled.
Also, water damaged AirPods won’t charge, nor will they turn on after light exposure. If you notice one or all these signs, follow the procedure of cleaning with a lint-free cloth and dry it before attempting to charge.
Final Thoughts On: Can You Wear AirPods Pro in the Shower?
There may be a few success stories of people showering with their AirPods Pro, but don’t let that fool you. AirPods are water-resistant but not waterproof. That means they’re likely to get damaged if you submerge them in water or splash water onto it. Also, water damage is not always instant. And the videos showing the device being waterproof may not be a real representation of what happens when you shower with your AirPods Pro.
So, ignore all the false information floating around and take care of your AirPods, considering it doesn’t come cheap. In the case that an accident happens, and your Pros get water damaged, follow the procedure of wiping it down with lint-free cloth. Make sure it’s completely dry before putting it back in the case.
