Living with a big family is tough.
I have no alone time, esxcept for when I’m taking a shower.
And now that I have a pair of AirPods…
I can finally start listening and dancing along to my favorite tunes…
Without anyone complaining about the extra noise.
But, the question is:
Can I use the AirPods in the shower?
Keep reading to discover:
- 7 dangers of using AirPods in the shower.
- What can heat from water vapor do to your AirPods.
- How to expel water from your AirPods without opening them.
- The reason why using your AirPods in the shower cancels your warranty.
- And so much more…
Can you wear AirPods in the shower?
You can wear your AirPods in the shower as long as you keep them away from soap suds, shampoo, and heat from water vapor. Unless you place them under running water for a long period of time, your AirPods should be okay.
7 dangers when wearing AirPods in the shower
#1: Battery depletion
There’s nothing like a hot shower after a long day.
Unfortunately, there’s also nothing like heat on your AirPods.
And not in a good way.
Lithium-ion Batteries, or Li-ion, power your AirPods.
They’re also the reason why some of your gadgets are expensive.
But, all for good reasons.
See, Li-ion batteries are becoming the norm for electronics nowadays because they’re:
- Safer.
- Long-lasting.
- More lightweight.
- Quicker and more efficient.
Great. Now, what’s wrong with Li-ion? Simple:
Li-ion batteries don’t do well under heat.
Studies found that they self-discharge under high temperatures. What’s worse is that the discharge rate doubles every 10°C temperature increase.
Now, you might say:
“So my AirPods die during hot showers. I’ll just charge them after.”
You see, self-discharge means your AirPods are at 0% for an extended period.
And, the longer your Li-ion batteries are at 0%, the more prone they are to degradation.
Which means that your capacity will be severely limited after using them in a hot shower.
You may also be interested in: How Long Do AirPods Last Before Breaking?
#2: Internal damage
This fact shouldn’t come as a surprise to you, but…
Water and electronics don’t mix.
And AirPods are still electronics.
Minerals in your tap water can cause a short circuit inside your AirPods.
If not, they can also be the start of your corroding internals. Which, over time, can entirely stop your AirPods from turning on.
And this is just from the tap water.
You’ll also have to account for your AirPods’ exposure to:
- Sweat.
- Water vapor.
- Cleaning agents, like shampoo or soap.
#3: Audio issues
Have you ever had a call with your friend whose mic sounded like it was underwater?
Imagine that, but permanent.
Stuck water inside your AirPods can coat its input modules.
And this results in a muffled voice when using them for calls or recordings.
Not only that, but an audiophile friend of mine once told me this:
It sounds silly, but…
He never goes into the shower without his AirPods.
For a while, it’s fine and dandy. No issues.
But, soon, he notices something…missing.
He couldn’t put his finger on it until he listened to a Led Zeppelin song.
That’s when he realized:
The bass from his AirPods was gone.
So, to avoid forever sounding like a dolphin during your Zoom calls…
Make sure that your AirPods stay dry.
#4: Lost connection
“Hello? Hello?”
You repeatedly shout mid-call as your AirPods keep disconnecting from your phone.
Once or twice is normal…
But if it happens all the time, constant disconnection is a symptom of water damage.
#5: AirPods expanding
Do you ever wonder what materials they use to make AirPods?
I do.
I got curious and here’s what I found:
- Nickel.
- Rubber.
- Silicone ear tip.
- Plastic housing.
- Stainless steel acoustic mesh.
- Thermoplastic elastomer cable.
Now, don’t worry if you don’t know what these are. You don’t have to.
You know, it’s possible to drive a car without knowing what each single component of it is or does.
The same goes for using AirPods.
However, you have to know that your AirPods are mostly metal, rubber, and plastic.
And if there’s one thing I learned in Chemistry, it’s that metal and rubbers expand under heat.
So, if you’re ever hopping in your shower with AirPods…
Please consider using lukewarm water.
#6: Cancelled warranty
This one, admittedly, is a little bit weird.
Do you know that using your AirPods while showering can void your warranty?
It’s true.
But why?
For that, you need to take a look at your warranty agreement.
Once you buy a pair of AirPods, Apple would also give you a warranty along with the device.
This warranty grants you a year of free repair or replacement.
As long as the damage isn’t:
- From wear-and-tear.
- Unauthorized repairs.
- Personal modifications.
- Normal depletion of batteries.
And lastly, I quote:
“[…] losses caused by the user’s fault.”
So, what does that mean?
More than 1 user has reported that the Apple Store denied their warranties.
The reason?
They willingly used their AirPods while showering or during the rain.
So the next time you’re going to Apple for repair?
It would help if you didn’t tell the repair center that you damaged the AirPods during a bath.
#7: Nothing
Despite what the haters say…
Believe it or not: AirPods are durable.
Really, really durable.
Let’s talk about IP ratings.
AirPods have an IPX4 water resistance rating.
Now, those may just seem like 3 letters followed by a number to you…
However, it actually tells us a lot.
To know what I’m talking about, here’s a list of IPX ratings and what they mean:
- IPX0: No protection from liquids whatsoever.
- IPX1: Can only resist drips of water.
- IPX2: Can only resist water dropping from a 15° angle.
- IPX3: Can resist water sprays.
- IPX4: Can resist repeated splashing water from all directions.
- IPX5: Can resist a water spray.
- IPX6: Can resist high-pressure water spray.
- IPX7: Can withstand 1 meter of water.
- IPX8: Can withstand more than 1 meter of water.
- IPX9K: Can resist a high-pressure, high-temperature spray at point blank range.
See? AirPods with an IPX4 actually does quite well in water resistance.
But, water-resistant doesn’t mean waterproof.
So, yes, AirPods can be water-damaged. But it’s unlikely.
And, even then, it’s easy to remove water from a pair of AirPods.
How? Follow these 7 easy steps:
- Make sure that you connect your AirPods to an Apple device.
- Dry the water outside using a rag or a microfiber cloth.
- Install Siri Shortcuts.
- Cover the sensors using your fingers.
- On Siri Shortcuts, press ‘Water Eject.’
- Remove the water coming out of your AirPods using a dry cloth.
- Repeat until no water is coming out of your AirPods.
Fun fact: Have you heard of dropping your electronics on uncooked rice if water gets inside? This old wives’ tale has been proven to be false.
So, if you want to use AirPods while in the shower…
By all means, go ahead.
And be careful. Maybe snag a pair of ear hooks to prevent your AirPods from falling.
Do you want visual instructions for removing water inside your AirPods? Watch this video:
People also ask:
Can you get electrocuted in the shower with AirPods?
You can get electrocuted in the shower with AirPods.
But it’s rare.
There have been no credible sources of real electrocution from AirPods.
However, you can get zapped from their static electricity.
Although, it’s not enough to cause any real damage except slight discomfort.
What can cause static buildup, you ask?
- Low to no humidity.
- Windy environments.
- Synthetic fiber clothes.
- Moving with your AirPods in your pockets.
- Constantly putting your AirPods in and out of your pocket.
And, if your AirPods are constantly zapping you, Apple advises you to:
- Use lotion for your skin.
- Increase indoor moisture.
- Avoid using your AirPods on windy days.
- Don’t wear clothes that have synthetic fibers.