Having damaged Headphones due to improper care can be annoying.
Here are some tips on how to keep your Headphones in mint condition, and extend the life of your Headphones!
Liquid ingress will damage or cause malfunction to your headphones during charging. Ensure headphones are completely dry before connecting to a charger. See: Protecting Headphones from water damage when charging.
General Cleaning & Care
Cleaning the Earpads
To prevent cracking or peeling of earpads caused by prolonged contact with bodily fluids such as sweat, hair oil, or other sebum, clean them regularly using dry, soft tools — cotton swabs, balls, or pads are ideal.
Avoid sharp or abrasive materials that could damage the earpad surface.
Deep Cleaning a Heavily Soiled Headset
Dampen a soft cloth with diluted mild (neutral) detergent, wring it out thoroughly, then wipe down the surface. Do not saturate the cloth.
Cleaning After Sweat or Rain Exposure
Leaving sweat or raindrops on metal parts can cause corrosion and surface deterioration. After exposure:
- Wipe all surfaces with 99% water-based wipes (free from alcohol or solvents).
- Leave the headphones at room temperature to air-dry thoroughly before storage or use.
Storage
Always store headphones in the included case or a protective bag when not in use. This protects the earcups, headband, and cable from dust, scratches, and accidental impact.
Do not leave headphones in very cold environments. Moisture on the headset can freeze and cause malfunction — wipe off moisture before storage in cold conditions.
For WH-1000XM6 only
🎧 WH-1000XM6 — Microphone Mesh Cleaning
Earwax or debris in the microphone mesh can reduce noise-cancelling effectiveness or cause abnormal noise. Clean the microphone mesh regularly. For more information on how to clean WH-1000XM6 microphone mesh, refer to How to care for and clean your WH-1000XM6 headphones
If earbuds are not well-maintained and foreign substances (dust, earwax) build up, the volume may decrease, charging may fail, or water-resistance performance may be affected. Clean your earbuds regularly.
General Cleaning & Care
Removing and Reattaching Earbuds
Before cleaning: hold the housing firmly and twist-then-pull the earbud tip to remove it. Do not pinch the end of the earbud tip when removing.
After cleaning: firmly reattach earbud tips so they are not loose or skewed. Test that audio plays correctly once reattached.
Cleaning the Earbud Tips
If earbud tips are dirty, gently wash them by hand with a neutral detergent and water. Thoroughly wipe off all moisture before reattaching.
Additional earbud tips in different sizes are included in the box. Replace clogged or heavily soiled tips with fresh ones to maintain audio quality and hygiene.
Cleaning the Sound Output Holes
Use a slightly damp cloth (wrung out firmly) to clean the mesh of the earbuds — the area where sound comes out — removing dirt, earwax, or accumulated debris. Take care not to push debris into the earbuds.
If sound output holes are covered with mesh: do not rub aggressively, as the mesh may peel or tear.
Draining water from sound output holes: If water enters the earbuds, the sound can become muffled. Remove the earbud tips, point the sound output holes downward, and shake gently several times to drain the water.
Cleaning the Charging Contact Points
If sweat, moisture, or foreign substances remain on the charging contacts, the charging function may be impaired or stop working entirely. Wipe them immediately and let dry at room temperature.
Use a dry cotton swab or soft, dry cloth to clean:
- The contact points inside the charging case
- The contact points on the back of each earbud housing
Draining the Microphone Holes (Water-Resistant Models)
For water-resistant Truly Wireless models: after exposure to moisture, turn the microphone hole downward and gently tap the earbud about 5 times against a dry cloth. Ensure no water droplets remain in the microphone hole, as residual moisture can cause corrosion over time.
Charging Case Care
After cleaning the earbuds, place them in the charging case and close the lid. Note that even if your earbuds have water resistance, the charging case does not. Always ensure earbuds are completely dry before placing them back in the case.
For WF-1000XM5 & WF-1000XM6 only
🎧 Cleaning the Vent Holes (WF-1000XM6)
The WF-1000XM6 features vent holes located just below the microphones on each earbud. Keep these clear to maintain optimal noise-cancellation performance.
- Wipe vent holes with a tightly wrung, water-moistened cloth, removing earwax and dirt without pushing it deeper.
- If dirt is lodged and cannot be removed with a cloth, use a dust-cleaning gel (press against the vent hole and lift) or a clean soft brush (sweep gently across the surface).
🎧 Finding the Best Fit
A proper seal improves both audio quality and noise cancellation. Refer to General earbud fit guide for more information.
General Cleaning & Care
Daily Cleaning
After each use, wipe earbud housings and cables with dry, soft tools such as cotton swabs, balls, or pads. Regular cleaning prevents earwax and debris buildup in the sound output holes and maintains audio quality.
Deep Cleaning
For heavier soiling, wipe down with a cloth lightly dampened with diluted mild detergent — wring thoroughly before use. Do not let liquid enter the earbuds.
Plugging & Unplugging Safely
When disconnecting from an audio jack:
- Always grip the plug body — not the cable — and pull straight out gently.
- Never yank the cable to remove the plug, as this stresses the internal wiring and can cause permanent damage or crackling audio.
Clearing Earwax from Sound Output Holes
Remove the earbud tips and check the sound output holes for earwax or blockage. Blocked holes cause muffled or no sound. Clean the opening carefully without pushing debris further in.
Replace dirty earbud tips with the spare tips included in the box.
USB / Charging Port Cover
Ensure the USB Type-C® port cover (or Micro-USB cover) is fully closed and sealed when using the headphones, especially during exercise or in humid conditions.
If there is a notch on the USB cover, ensure it is firmly seated into the bracket-hole on the port housing. If perspiration or moisture is left around the port cover, wipe it off immediately and allow to dry at room temperature.
Cable Management & Storage
Avoid tangling the cable or storing in-ear headphones in tight pockets or compressed bags. Do not let them dangle unsecured from a bag or pocket — the cable can catch and pull, stressing the connections at the plug and earbud housing.
Store in a cable pouch or case when not in use.
The LinkBuds family — with its distinctive open and semi-open designs — requires some specific care considerations to preserve the ring driver, mesh, and charging contacts.
General Cleaning & Care
Daily Cleaning (All LinkBuds Models)
After each use, wipe the earbud exteriors with a dry, soft cloth or cotton pad. The open-ring design of the original LinkBuds (WF-L900) is particularly susceptible to dust accumulation inside the ring opening — check and clear this area regularly.
Charging Contact Maintenance
Clean the charging contacts on both the earbuds and the inside of the charging case regularly with a dry cotton swab or soft cloth. Sweat or debris on the contacts is the most common cause of charging failure. Wipe immediately after any moisture exposure.
Charging Case — Moisture Precautions
While LinkBuds earbuds may have an IPX rating for splash resistance, the charging case is not water-resistant. Always ensure earbuds are dry before returning them to the case. Charging wet earbuds risks water entering the case, potentially causing short circuits.
Model-Specific Care Guides
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