How the speaker cleaner works
A phone speaker makes sound by pushing air through a small grille. Play a low note at full volume and it pushes as much air as it can, back and forth, many times a second. Water sitting in the grille gets thrown out with it. The Apple Watch clears its own speaker this way after a swim.
The Water setting plays three patterns in 30 seconds: a steady tone at 165 Hz, the pitch water eject tools commonly use; a sweep from 130 to 400 Hz, because phones differ in how low their speakers can go; and a run of short bursts. The sound is made in your browser. Nothing is downloaded and nothing is recorded.
Does a water eject sound really work?
For the speaker, yes. In 2024 The Verge and the repair company iFixit soaked four phones (an iPhone 13, a Pixel 7 Pro, a Pixel 3 and a Nokia 7.1) in dyed water, then played a water eject tone. Close-up video showed droplets spraying out of every speaker. MacRumors has a summary of the test.
The same test showed the limit. The tone only reached the speaker. Water in the charging port, the SIM tray and under the buttons stayed where it was. One of the iFixit testers summed it up: the sounds "kind of work" and "can't hurt", but they are not a complete fix.
What it can't do
- Dry the charging port, the SIM tray or the inside of the phone.
- Repair a speaker that crackles or stays silent once it is dry. That is damage, not water.
- Remove lint or grime packed into the holes. That needs a brush, as described below.
- Make a phone waterproof. A phone case doesn't do that either.
How to remove water from a phone speaker
- Take the case off and wipe the phone with a soft, dry cloth.
- Unplug it and don't charge it. Apple's advice is to wait at least 30 minutes, and it says full drying can take up to 24 hours.
- Hold it with the charging port facing down and tap it gently against your palm.
- Run the speaker cleaner at the top of this page with the speaker pointing at the floor.
- Leave it somewhere dry with moving air. Near a fan is ideal.
If it fell into something other than clean water, such as soapy water, a drink or the sea, and your phone is rated water resistant, rinse it first. Samsung says to rinse a water-resistant Galaxy in clean water for 1 to 3 minutes. Apple says to rinse off anything other than water with tap water. Then dry it as above.
If your phone is not water resistant, Samsung's advice is to switch it off straight away and take it to a service centre before turning it back on.
What not to do
- Rice. Apple warns that small particles of rice can damage the phone.
- A hair dryer, any other heat, or compressed air. Apple and Samsung both say no.
- Cotton buds, tissue or pins pushed into the port or the speaker holes.
- Charging while it is wet.
Cleaning dust and lint out of a speaker
The Dust setting plays short, fast bursts that can shake loose dry dust sitting on the speaker mesh. No published test backs this up the way one backs water ejection, so treat it as a first try that costs nothing.
For lint and grime packed into the holes, Apple recommends a small, soft-bristled brush that is clean and dry. A new soft toothbrush works. Hold the phone with the speaker facing down so the dust falls out, and brush lightly across the holes. Don't use pins, liquids or compressed air.
When to stop and get it checked
- The speaker is still muffled a day after the phone has dried.
- The sound crackles or distorts at normal volume.
- The moisture warning will not clear, or the phone gets hot or will not charge.
Liquid damage is usually not covered by warranty. Apple states this for iPhones, including the water-resistant ones.
Frequently asked questions
Will this fix my speaker?
If the speaker is muffled because of water or loose dust, usually yes. If it crackles or stays silent once the phone is dry, the speaker is damaged and sound will not repair it.
How long should I run the speaker cleaner?
Run it once, which takes 30 seconds, then play the test sound. Two or three runs are plenty. If the speaker is still muffled after three, more sound will not help. Let the phone air-dry.
Is it safe for my speaker?
It plays a loud, low tone at whatever volume you set. That is harder work for a small speaker than music, so keep it to short runs and don't leave it looping for minutes. Don't hold the phone against your ear while it plays.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes, in Safari and in Chrome. Turn the volume up. If you still hear nothing, switch Silent mode off and try again.
Can it clean the earpiece, the speaker I hold to my ear?
On phones with stereo speakers the earpiece plays this sound too, so it gets the same treatment. On phones with a single speaker at the bottom, a web page cannot send sound to the earpiece. Make a phone call instead: Samsung notes that the earpiece's own vibration during a call helps clear moisture from its mesh.
Will it get water out of the charging port?
No. Sound only moves the air in front of the speaker. For the port, hold the phone with the port facing down, tap it gently and leave it to dry. Don't charge until the moisture warning has gone.
Does it work on tablets, laptops and Bluetooth speakers?
It plays on anything with a browser and a speaker, so tablets and laptops work the same way. For a Bluetooth speaker, connect it and start the sound. Don't use it with earbuds in your ears.
Do I need to install an app?
No. There is no app, no sign-up and no ads. It runs in your browser, and once the page has loaded the sound works without internet.
Is my phone waterproof?
No phone is waterproof. Many are water resistant, and that wears off with age, drops and repairs. An IP67 rating means the phone survived 1 metre of fresh water for 30 minutes in a lab. IP68 means deeper, and the maker sets the depth: 6 metres for recent iPhones. Salt water, soap and steam are not part of those tests.
Why does a phone case brand have a speaker cleaner?
A wet or dusty speaker is a phone problem, and phones are what we work on all day. The tool is free. If you need a case, they are listed under the tool. Not sure which phone you have? Find your exact model.
