How to eject water from an iPhone
- Disconnect the charger, any Bluetooth device and AirPods, so the sound comes from the iPhone itself.
- Flip the Ring/Silent switch to ring, or turn off Silent mode with the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and later.
- Turn media volume up to 70–100%.
- Hold the iPhone with the bottom edge (speaker and charging port) facing the floor and press Play.
- Repeat once or twice if the sound is still muffled.
Don't forget the earpiece
On iPhone 7 and later, the earpiece at the top of the screen is also a speaker. It's the one you hear on calls and the second channel in stereo. If calls sound muffled, hold the iPhone upside down so the earpiece faces the floor and play the tone again.
Drying an iPhone the way Apple recommends
Apple's guidance is to tap the iPhone gently against your hand with the connector facing down, then leave it somewhere dry with some airflow. Don't use external heat, compressed air, cotton swabs or paper towels in the port, and don't put it in a bag of rice. Read Apple's liquid-detection instructions for your model.
“Liquid has been detected in the Lightning/USB-C connector”
That alert is about the charging port, not the speaker. Unplug the cable and wait. Apple suggests trying again after at least 30 minutes, and full drying can take up to 24 hours. Clearing the speaker with the tone doesn't make the port safe to charge. Wireless or MagSafe charging avoids the port, but only charge once the phone is dry.
Want a one-tap shortcut?
You can make a Siri Shortcut, Back Tap or Action button shortcut that opens this tool instantly. See the water eject shortcut guide. Still muffled once dry? Work through the speaker troubleshooting checklist or try Dust clean.
Common questions
Does iPhone have a built-in water eject?
No. Apple Watch has Water Lock, which plays a tone to push water out, but iPhone has no equivalent setting. Popular “Water Eject” Shortcuts just play a low tone. This page does the same in Safari without installing anything.
Isn’t my iPhone waterproof?
iPhone 7 and later are water-resistant, not waterproof. Recent models are rated IP67 or IP68, which covers splashes and brief submersion in fresh water. The seals wear over time, and resistance doesn’t stop water sitting in the speaker grille and muffling the sound.
Can I use Emergency Override on the liquid alert?
Only in a genuine emergency. Charging with liquid in the port can corrode the pins and damage the cable. Apple recommends unplugging and leaving the phone to dry. It can take up to 24 hours.