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What to do if your Sony WF-1000XM5 earphones gets wet

If you accidentally wet your Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Stereo Headset and/or its charging case, then you can check out this troubleshooting article from Seeking Tech to see how you can safely dry these electronics and get them working normally again.

Before we start, it is important to note that the WF-1000XM5 earbuds have been rated with the IPX4 water resistance. Therefore, it should be protected against light water splashes. With that said, you should still be careful if your ear buds get wet.

Furthermore, the WF-1000XM5 charging case does not offer any water resistance at all. So, you should be extremely careful when handling this component when it gets exposed to water.

1. The first step you need to take when the WF-1000XM5 has been exposed to liquid is to remove them from your ears as soon as possible, if you are currently wearing them.

If they are in the charging case, then you should unplug the case from the power source if you haven’t done so already. You should also remove the earbuds from the case.

2. Next, you should wipe off any liquid from these devices.

To wipe your earphones or charging case dry, we suggest using a lint-free microfiber cloth to avoid any scratches.

3. If you think water has gotten inside of the earphones, then you should remove the ear tips.

Afterwards, point the exposed sound output tubes downwards and then shake until you no longer see any water coming out of it.

You then need to point the microphone portion of the earphones downwards and then gently tap the opposite end to remove any water.

3. Afterwards, we recommend that you wait for at least an hour for the earphones and/or charging case to dry out at room temperature.

4. After waiting, we suggest that you put the ear tips back on and then test out the WF-1000XM5 ear buds. If the earphones are still wet, then you may experience the following issues:

  • Unusual noises
  • Distorted sound output
  • Weakened noise cancellation

If you encounter these problems, then it may indicate that some parts of the earbuds are still wet. In this case, we suggest waiting some more for the WF-1000XM5 to dry out at room temperature.

5. If you are still encountering issues with the headset after drying it out, then the product may have suffered from permanent liquid damage. In this scenario, you will most likely need to get the earphones repaired or replaced.