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AirPods, including the standard model and the latest AirPods Pro, stand out as the best wireless earbuds on the market. Yet, like everything in the world, they are not perfect and still face certain issues. Mytour has compiled common AirPods problems and shared effective troubleshooting methods for you to reference in case you encounter any unexpected issues with your earbuds.
Guide to Resolving Common AirPods Issues While Listening to Music
Common AirPods Issues and How to Resolve Them
1. Lost AirPods.
While not technically an AirPods malfunction, given their size and wireless nature, losing them is a prevalent complaint. Fortunately, this can be addressed using Apple's Find My Phone tracking software.
Resolution: To begin, open the Find My Phone app on your iOS device or access the iCloud website, log in with your Apple ID, and select Find My iPhone. There, choose your AirPods, and you'll see a map displaying their location or the last known location before they powered off. If you see a green dot next to the AirPods icon, it means they are active, and you can play a sound to easily locate them. If they are inactive, the map will at least provide you with initial search clues.
2. Connectivity Issues.
If you encounter the problem of AirPods not connecting to your phone or tablet, the first thing to do is place them in the charging case, wait for 10 seconds, then take them out and check if they are functioning.
If not, the next step is to try turning on/off Bluetooth on your phone and tablet. Then repeat the process as above. While not a universal solution, in most cases, this method will resolve the issue.
3. One AirPod Not Working.
Another common issue with AirPods is the problem of only one side working or only one AirPod connecting. Similar to resolving the issue of connecting both sides of the earbuds, the first thing you should do is place them in the charging case, wait for 10 seconds, take the earbuds out of the charging case, and try again. If ineffective, this time toggle Bluetooth on your phone or tablet before removing the AirPods from the charging case. If the magic still doesn't happen, try resetting the AirPods. Refer to the article What to Do If AirPods Are Not Working here
4. Connection Issue with Computer.
AirPods not connecting to a MAC computer is not an issue with newer Macs, but sometimes maintaining a Bluetooth connection can be a challenge for older computers. The first thing to do is very familiar—put the AirPods back in the charging case within 10 seconds.
This method not effective? You'll need to disconnect and reconnect them by toggling Bluetooth on and off, but this can be problematic if you're using a Bluetooth mouse on the computer. In that case, go to the Bluetooth settings (Bluetooth icon on the status bar or in System Preferences > Bluetooth), find AirPods, and disconnect them. Then perform the steps as you did to connect AirPods to the computer.
5. Call Interruption.
Frequent call interruptions have been a persistent issue since the introduction of AirPods in 2017. Luckily, there's a simple and effective solution to fix this AirPods problem: use only one earbud for calls instead of both.
If this issue persists, there are a few other options iPhone users can try. First, open the Settings app, select Bluetooth, tap the (i) icon next to your AirPods, and choose Microphone. Then, set it to Left or Right. In severe cases, you can also turn off Automatic Ear Detection, although this disables one of the most convenient features of the earbuds and may also drain the battery faster.
6. Audio Issues or Interference.
Average sound quality or interference can result from various factors, making it challenging to diagnose this AirPods issue. Bluetooth connections may be affected by interference, leading to issues ranging from noise to reduced audio quality and even disconnection. If this occurs consistently in a specific location, interference may be the problem. In your home, you might need to identify and relocate devices causing this interference, or use AirPods in a different area. If at the office, you may be fortunate.
However, there's a workaround for this AirPods issue that many have found successful, albeit not very convenient. Wi-Fi can cause interference with AirPods, especially during phone calls, so you might want to turn off Wi-Fi when making calls. If you experience crackling instead of interference and noise, you can also try turning off the Automatic Ear Detection option as described above.
7. Volume Issue on Android.
If you're using AirPods with an Android device, you might encounter the AirPods issue of lower volume compared to iOS devices. Some features of AirPods utilize the W1 and H1 chips on AirPods 2 with the Wireless Charging Case and AirPods Pro to interact with iPhone or iPad, a luxury not available on Android devices, potentially affecting the volume.
The core issue is when using most other Bluetooth audio devices, there are two volume levels: the source device's volume (phone, tablet, or computer) and the audio device's volume. When using AirPods with an Android source device, the AirPods' volume isn't automatically controlled as on iOS. Fortunately, there's still a solution to fix this problem.
For native Android devices, press the volume up/down button, and you'll see the volume control on the screen. Tap the arrow next to the volume control, and you'll see all the controls appear. Among them is Bluetooth, and now you just need to adjust it as desired to fix this AirPods issue.
On Samsung Galaxy phones, the steps are slightly different. Go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth. There, tap the 3 dots in the top-right corner to access more options, then enable Media Volume Sync. Now, you can use the volume controls on the device similar to iOS.
8. Battery Issues.
Out of the box, AirPods can operate for approximately 5 hours on a full charge, providing up to 3 hours of talk time on AirPods 2, and AirPods Pro - an increase of over 2 hours compared to the original AirPods. Gradually, the runtime will decrease. There's not much you can do to prevent this, but if you experience significantly shorter battery life than expected, there are a few things you can try.
First, ensure this AirPods issue isn't happening; check if the Automatic Ear Detection option is enabled as it puts AirPods in low-power mode, essentially turning them off when not in use. If you enable this feature and still notice much shorter battery life, you may need to perform a device reset as shared at the end of the article.
Guide to Updating AirPods
Before resorting to fixing AirPods issues with a reset, consider checking for any software updates. If available, the update may include fixes for AirPods issues as Apple often uses these upgrades to provide enhancements and feature refinements.
Unfortunately, there's no straightforward way to force an update for your AirPods or AirPods Pro. Connecting AirPods to a charger and then pairing them with an iPad or iPhone will compel them to initiate the update installation after a short period.
To check if there's a specific firmware version for your active AirPods, follow these steps:
- Ensure your AirPods are connected to an iOS device.
- Open Settings > General > About > AirPods.
- Identify the version number next to Firmware Version.
If there's nothing new, it's likely because your AirPods have automatically upgraded to the latest software version in the background. In that case, to fix AirPods issues, you'll need to perform a reset on AirPods or visit an Apple Store for assistance.
Guide on How to Reset AirPods
As mentioned earlier, resetting AirPods can effectively resolve many AirPods issues. This process is quick. Here's how to reset AirPods:
- Place AirPods into the charging case.
- Press and hold the button on the charging case for 15 seconds until the orange LED light flashes.
- Open the charging case and place it next to your phone. Wait for the AirPods to reconnect.
Assuming you're using an iPhone, iCloud will sync the connection to your other devices at this point. If using a different device, you'll have to manually connect as with any other Bluetooth device.
If you're experiencing issues with AirPods, and the specific AirPods issue isn't in this list or you've tried the troubleshooting steps without success, it's best to contact Apple Support or visit the nearest Apple Store for assistance.
