How to clean earwax from AirPods and AirPods Pro safely

Earwax on the speaker mesh muffles sound and can make one side quieter. Apple has a specific, gentle method for each model; the main rules are no sharp tools and no liquid in the openings.

Wipe the outside with a cloth barely damp with fresh water, then dry with a lint-free cloth. On AirPods Pro, pull off the ear tips and rinse only the tips in plain water. For wax on the mesh, follow Apple's model-specific method with a soft children's toothbrush, and let everything dry for at least two hours before charging.

• 1. Wipe the outside: Dampen a corner of the cloth very lightly with fresh water and wipe each earbud. Dry straight away with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Keep water away from the speaker and microphone openings.
• 2. Remove the ear tips (Pro models): Pinch the silicone tip close to the earbud body and give it a firm tug. If it is slippery, use a clean cloth for grip. Do not pull the earbud by its stem.
• 3. Rinse the tips in plain water: Rinse only the silicone tips under water. Apple says not to use soap or household cleaners on them. Shake them off and let them dry fully before refitting.
• 4. Brush the mesh gently: Wax on the speaker mesh needs a light touch. Apple's current method uses a soft children's toothbrush with micellar water and distilled water, and the steps differ by model. Open Apple's cleaning page for your model and follow its timings. Clean only the meshes Apple points to.
• 5. Refit the ear tips: The tips are oval, so line them up before you press them back. You should feel them click into place.
• 6. Clean the charging case: Wipe the case with a dry lint-free cloth. Apple allows a cloth lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol for the case. Brush lint out of the charging port with a dry, soft brush and keep liquid out of it.
• 7. Let everything dry: Leave the earbuds and tips to air-dry for at least two hours before putting them back in the case or in your ears. In humid monsoon weather, give them a bit longer.