Right now: protect the phone first
Disconnect cables, remove the case and wipe the exterior with a soft, lint-free cloth. Identify whether the bottom loudspeaker or top receiver is affected. Point that opening downward and leave the phone in a dry area with airflow.
If the speaker works, run one controlled water-eject sequence. Wipe away droplets and stop. Do not use heat, compressed air, rice or objects in the connector.
After one hour: look for direction, not perfection
Play the same short piece of familiar audio at the same volume. Is speech clearer? Has volume returned? Is crackling milder? Improvement, even if incomplete, supports continued drying.
No change can still mean moisture remains, but it can also indicate wrong output, blockage, residue or damage. Avoid continuous retesting because it changes volume and playback conditions without helping evaporation.
After 24 hours: broaden the check
Test music, speakerphone and a call at your ear. Inspect the dry opening for visible blockage. Check whether the phone has liquid alerts, charging trouble, heat, display changes, camera fogging, restarts or battery problems.
Apple says a connector may take up to 24 hours to dry fully and advises airflow rather than heat or rice. Follow Apple’s liquid-detection instructions and the alert shown by the phone.
After 48 hours: reconsider the cause
If severe muffling or crackling remains unchanged, the problem may no longer be simple trapped water. Contaminant residue, debris or speaker damage becomes more relevant. Once dry, follow Apple’s approved speaker-opening check and dry-brush guidance.
Do not treat the 48-hour mark as proof of damage. Treat it as a reason to stop repeating the same intervention without evidence of benefit.
What if the symptom comes and goes?
Recurring distortion can mean moisture is moving or residue is affecting the cavity. Note when it returns, which output is involved and whether certain volumes or frequencies trigger it.
Temporary improvement after Water Eject is not complete recovery when the symptom repeatedly returns. Allow a longer interval and consider service, especially after pool or salt water.
When should you stop waiting?
Stop waiting for a speaker-only recovery when the phone has no sound, severe mechanical distortion, charging failure after drying, repeated alerts, heat, shutdowns, display or camera symptoms. Seek service advice sooner after contaminated or prolonged exposure.
Time is useful when the device is stable and steadily improving. It is not a treatment for corrosion or damaged hardware.
Questions about wet-speaker drying checkpoints
What should I do during the first hour?+
Disconnect cables, remove the case, wipe the phone, point the affected output downward, run one controlled sequence if it works and leave the phone with airflow.
What if it is still muffled after 24 hours?+
Check the trend, output and opening. Continued improvement supports more drying; no change, contamination or other phone faults justify a different diagnosis.
Is it safe to charge after 24 hours?+
Only if the phone and connector are dry and no liquid alert appears. Follow Apple’s charging guidance and the device’s current alert.
What if distortion remains after 48 hours?+
Inspect for blockage when dry and consider service for severe, unchanged or recurrent symptoms. Forty-eight hours is a checkpoint, not a guarantee.