KTMBL

Q: Is anyone else having speaker issues after showering with the watch?

I have had my apple watch replaced once already for muffled sound/speaker issues.  I have had my replacement watch back for a few days.  I have worn it in the shower 2 times.  After I shower my speaker does not work.  It takes hours to be able to hear it again.  I am considering returning it and getting my money back.   It is so expensive and according to the marketing we should be able to wear it in the shower.  I can't decide if it is worth the money if I can't wear it in the shower without worrying.

Watch Sport 42mm

Posted on May 14, 2015 5:15 PM

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Q: Is anyone else having speaker issues after showering with the watch?

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy May 14, 2015 5:25 PM in response to KTMBL
    Level 10 (270,309 points)
    Desktops
    May 14, 2015 5:25 PM in response to KTMBL

    You should not wear the watch in the shower. This is why your sound is damaged - your mis-use.

     

    Important handling information


    Exposure to liquid Apple Watch is water resistant but not waterproof. You may, for example, wear and use Apple Watch during exercise (exposure to sweat is OK), in the rain, and while washing your hands. If water splashes on to the watch, wipe it off with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. Try to minimize exposing Apple Watch to these substances and follow the instructions below in the “Cleaning and care” section if Apple Watch comes into contact with them:

    Soap, detergent, acids or acidic foods, and any liquids other than fresh water, such as salt water, soapy water, pool water, perfume, insect repellent, lotions, sunscreen, oil, adhesive remover, hair dye, or solvents.

    Submerging Apple Watch is not recommended. Apple Watch has a water resistance rating of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529. The leather bands are not water resistant. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and Apple Watch cannot be rechecked or resealed for water resistance. The following may affect the water resistance of Apple Watch and should be avoided:


    • Dropping Apple Watch or subjecting it to other impacts.
    • Submerging Apple Watch in water for long periods of time.
    • Swimming or bathing with Apple Watch.
    • Exposing Apple Watch to pressurized water or high velocity water, for example, showering, water skiing, wake boarding, surfing, jet skiing, and so on.
    • Wearing Apple Watch in the sauna or steam room.

     

  • by KTMBL,

    KTMBL KTMBL May 14, 2015 5:35 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2015 5:35 PM in response to Kappy

    Several Apple representatives (and the marketing materials) say you can wear it in the shower.  It should be okay.  Even when it was unveiled in CA, they said it can be worn in the shower.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy May 14, 2015 5:35 PM in response to KTMBL
    Level 10 (270,309 points)
    Desktops
    May 14, 2015 5:35 PM in response to KTMBL

    Well, Apple doesn't agree with these marketing people. You make your own decision, but eventually your form of water damage will void your warranty. I've provided you with the information from the Watch's user manual. I think that trump's several Apple representatives. It's your warranty.

  • by ButterrMann,

    ButterrMann ButterrMann May 14, 2015 9:18 PM in response to KTMBL
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2015 9:18 PM in response to KTMBL

    How can you get a replacement watch when they don't even have enough watches for everyone....

  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 May 14, 2015 10:56 PM in response to ButterrMann
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    May 14, 2015 10:56 PM in response to ButterrMann

    You can get one, but you'll have to wait, unfortunately

  • by nick101,Helpful

    nick101 nick101 May 15, 2015 1:39 AM in response to KTMBL
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    May 15, 2015 1:39 AM in response to KTMBL

    I know Tim Cook has said he wears his in the shower, and I know that various people of an adventurous disposition have taken theirs swimming, underwater and whatever.

     

    But Kappy's right - the handling information says what it says. I don't wear mine in our (quite powerful) shower.

  • by yas9in,Helpful

    yas9in yas9in May 15, 2015 7:33 AM in response to KTMBL
    Level 1 (36 points)
    May 15, 2015 7:33 AM in response to KTMBL

    I've noticed the same problem for two days now, the first time it got all better after leaving it on the charger for the night but this last time, it got better at first but then got worse again. it's already been 5 hours and I've tried sticking a paper towel in the hole for the speaker and microphone. how long did your speakers remain muffled before you decided to have the watch replaced? I think I'll just wait a bit longer and maybe wait a night before jumping to any conclusions. but I guess showering isn't safe after all, although Tim Cook did say he showered with it. I guess the speaker thing isn't really damage but just a side effect of showering which lasts for a few hours at the end it's just not worth the risk.

     

    42 MM SS /W Sport band

  • by SebaSaint,

    SebaSaint SebaSaint May 15, 2015 7:43 AM in response to nick101
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 15, 2015 7:43 AM in response to nick101

    I found my speaker wasn't working this morning as my alarms were not coming on, luckily my phone alarm was still set to come on as well.  I did get accidentally submerge the watch doing dishes by hand yesterday so this was concerning to me.  I tried rebooting, repairing and other software fixes and what worked in the end was blowing air into the upper speaker slit and seeing some some water come out of the lower slit. After doing this and removing the water, my speaker was working just fine again.

  • by yas9in,

    yas9in yas9in May 16, 2015 12:21 AM in response to yas9in
    Level 1 (36 points)
    May 16, 2015 12:21 AM in response to yas9in

    Update: after 20 hours or so, the watch is back to normal with speakers working just fine. am really relieved. seems like this isn't a serious problem but I'm going to avoid showering with it from now on.

  • by yas9in,

    yas9in yas9in May 16, 2015 12:25 AM in response to SebaSaint
    Level 1 (36 points)
    May 16, 2015 12:25 AM in response to SebaSaint

    SebaSaint wrote:

     

    I found my speaker wasn't working this morning as my alarms were not coming on, luckily my phone alarm was still set to come on as well.  I did get accidentally submerge the watch doing dishes by hand yesterday so this was concerning to me.  I tried rebooting, repairing and other software fixes and what worked in the end was blowing air into the upper speaker slit and seeing some some water come out of the lower slit. After doing this and removing the water, my speaker was working just fine again.

    Doesn't sound good. if you submerged the watch, you may well be in big trouble. is everything else working fine? Water muffling the speakers doesn't seem to be a big deal but you should NEVER blow air, especially hot air into your watch as it is not dust proof and this can ruin the waterproof seal. next time just wait for the water to evaporate.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair May 16, 2015 6:03 AM in response to SebaSaint
    Level 9 (58,419 points)
    iPhone
    May 16, 2015 6:03 AM in response to SebaSaint

    SebaSaint wrote:

     

    I found my speaker wasn't working this morning as my alarms were not coming on, luckily my phone alarm was still set to come on as well.  I did get accidentally submerge the watch doing dishes by hand yesterday so this was concerning to me.  I tried rebooting, repairing and other software fixes and what worked in the end was blowing air into the upper speaker slit and seeing some some water come out of the lower slit. After doing this and removing the water, my speaker was working just fine again.

    The water resistance should protect against that type of brief submergence. However, if water got into the speakers, it could take it a while to dry out. You should be fine.

  • by SebaSaint,

    SebaSaint SebaSaint May 16, 2015 6:19 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 16, 2015 6:19 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Submerging the watch isn't the issue as Apple has demonstrated by the IPX7 rating (though still not recommended).  The issue I think with my watch, although only temporary, was that fact that soap was involved.  Soap or surfactants by design have hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends chemically speaking.  This breaks surface tension and  allows water droplets to adhere to surfaces they normally wouldn't and it would have allowed the water easier access to the speaker holes/slits keeping the water there to muffle/silence the Apple Watch speaker.

     

    I don't think any water seals are at issue here.  Just the prolonged presence of the water due to the soap.  This would also explain any speaker issues after using the watch in the shower... That is unless some of you don't use soap, lol.   

  • by yas9in,

    yas9in yas9in May 17, 2015 5:07 AM in response to SebaSaint
    Level 1 (36 points)
    May 17, 2015 5:07 AM in response to SebaSaint

    SebaSaint wrote:

     

    Submerging the watch isn't the issue as Apple has demonstrated by the IPX7 rating (though still not recommended).  The issue I think with my watch, although only temporary, was that fact that soap was involved.  Soap or surfactants by design have hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends chemically speaking.  This breaks surface tension and  allows water droplets to adhere to surfaces they normally wouldn't and it would have allowed the water easier access to the speaker holes/slits keeping the water there to muffle/silence the Apple Watch speaker.

     

    I don't think any water seals are at issue here.  Just the prolonged presence of the water due to the soap.  This would also explain any speaker issues after using the watch in the shower... That is unless some of you don't use soap, lol.  

    well thanks for proving you know your high school chemistry. but I think you may be right as apple explicitly advises against letting the watch come into contact with soaps. and speaking from personal experience, the only time my speakers got muffled was when I kept the watch on while washing (as opposed to taking it off before using soaps which I did the first few days). although, chemically speaking, soap's waterphobic side would have no reason for sticking to metal surfaces. they are designed primarily to stick to fats and long carbon acids (because of their non-polar build). stainless steel contains mostly Iron, Chromium and Carbon. my chemistry isn't that good but I don't think any of these elements can cause the alloy to become non-polar and so attractive to soap's waterphobic side. 

  • by Ethan Pirso,

    Ethan Pirso Ethan Pirso Jun 2, 2015 4:02 PM in response to KTMBL
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 2, 2015 4:02 PM in response to KTMBL

    yo dude please respond i have same watch and same problem with speaker, it takes so long to go back to 100% after showering or washing hands...did showering void warranty? did they replace it for free or was it because of apple care? idk what to do please help

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