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The Apple Watch has been water-resistant since its introduction to the market, with later models being fully submergible and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 rated for depths of up to 330 feet. If the watch gets waterlogged, however, I can rely on the Water Lock feature to eject the unwanted liquid. But the same can't be said about my iPhone. While many phones are water-resistant, only the most recent models can be submerged in up to six meters of water without damage.
I have taken my phone swimming with me, but if water gets trapped in the speakers, it'll sound like I'm underwater when I talk on the phone or play music. As a result, many iPhone owners are reluctant to get their device wet, since there's no water-ejection function like on the Apple Watch. However, I want to share a little secret that I've discovered: You can actually enlist an Apple Shortcut to expel water from an iPhone's speaker in just a few taps.
How to Expel Water From an iPhone Speaker
To start, make sure you have the Shortcuts app. It's a free app that should already be on your phone, but you can also download it from the App Store if you can't find it. You're going to be looking for the Water Eject shortcut, which will make your iPhone vibrate until unwanted water is expelled. I couldn't find it by searching in the app, but you can open this direct link
At the page, select Get Shortcut, then tap Add Shortcut, then open the Shortcuts app and tap the Eject Water shortcut that you just downloaded. There are a few options here, but the fastest way to get started is to tap Begin. You’ll get a short countdown, and then your speakers will start vibrating. This is different from the Water Lock feature on the Apple Watch—instead of a high-pitched sound, it will be more like a low vibration. This will continue until you press the Stop button on the shortcut.
(Credit: Clay Halton / Apple)Tips for Getting the Best Results
This shortcut is about as simple as it gets. Even so, there are a few ways to ensure you get the best results. Before you activate the shortcut, keep the following in mind:
- Don’t connect headphones, wired or wirelessly. If you do, the sound will emit from your ear buds and not the phone speakers, so no water will be ejected.
- Turn your volume all the way up. The louder the volume, the more vibration, and the more water that will come out of your speakers.
- Time often works the best: Sometimes your iPhone really does just need some time to dry out before the speakers are back to normal. But this shortcut might get you there faster!