Why does the phone speaker cut in and out after water exposure?
Intermittent dropout usually means water is sitting on or near an electrical contact rather than just inside the speaker chamber. When the contact is dry the speaker works, and when moisture bridges the connection it interrupts the signal. It can also mean the speaker membrane is partially stuck to water droplets and releases briefly under audio vibration before settling again.
Is cutting out a sign of permanent damage?
Not necessarily. Intermittent symptoms are actually a good sign compared to complete silence because they indicate the speaker is still functioning. If the dropout improves over time as the phone dries, moisture is likely the cause. If the cutting out becomes more frequent or leads to complete silence over hours, the moisture may be reaching additional components and repair should be considered.
What should I do to fix a speaker that keeps cutting out?
Run the Fix My Speaker eject tone two to three times with the phone face-down to remove as much water as possible. Then place the phone speaker-down on a dry cloth for at least an hour without using audio. Avoid charging the phone during this period. If the cutting out continues after passive drying, try the eject tone again. Most intermittent dropout cases resolve within one to three hours of combined active ejection and passive drying.