Is the Water Eject Shortcut Safe? (And Why You Should Stop Using Rice)

The myth of rice (and why to skip it)

We’ve all heard the urban legend: if your phone gets wet, bury it in a bowl of uncooked rice. But ask any repair technician, and they will tell you that rice is actually dangerous for your phone. It introduces starch dust into your charging port and speakers, creating a paste that is harder to clean than the water itself.

So, is the Water Eject Shortcut a safe alternative?

The science behind the sound

Yes, the Water Eject shortcut is completely safe for modern iPhones (iPhone 7 and later). It utilizes the exact same physics Apple officially uses in the Apple Watch. By playing a tone at a specific frequency (165Hz), the speaker diaphragm moves in a rhythmic way that pushes air—and water—outward.

Will it blow out my speakers?

No. The shortcut runs for a short duration and uses volume levels that your iPhone is designed to handle. It essentially "coughs" the water out. However, you should not run it continuously for an hour; 2 or 3 cycles is usually enough to clear the grill.

When not to rely on it

The Water Eject shortcut is perfect for speaker grill moisture and fixing muffled audio. However, if your phone was fully submerged in deep water for a long time, or if you dropped it in salt water (ocean), simply ejecting the water isn't enough. In those cases, power off the device immediately and seek professional repair.

The verdict

Stop buying rice. Install the Water Eject shortcut, keep a microfiber cloth handy, and let physics do the work for you.