How to Fix the Microphone on Your AirPods

When your AirPods are running low on battery, the microphone may cut out. This happens when the microphone in one of the AirPods is low on power. If others can’t hear you during a call, or if your voice is breaking up, place your AirPods in the charging case and let them charge for at least 30 minutes before trying again.

• To check the battery level, simply place your AirPods in the charging case (if you have the original or Pro version), open the lid, and bring the case near your iPhone or iPad. The battery status will appear on your screen after a few seconds.

By default, AirPods automatically select the microphone to use. If you're experiencing cut-off voice issues with the microphone, disable the automatic microphone selection feature to prevent AirPods from switching between two mics. Here's how you can do it:

• Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
• Tap on Bluetooth.
• Tap the "i" icon next to your AirPods.
• Tap the Microphone option at the bottom of the screen.
• Select either Always Left or Always Right.
• Try making a call or recording to test. If the microphone quality is still poor, try switching to the other mic (left or right).
• If you're using just one microphone, you may face issues when the battery on the active earbud is low. If the microphone stops working on your active earbud, switch to the other microphone and try again.

Many AirPods Pro and Max users report that turning off the noise cancellation feature improves microphone performance. If others hear the surrounding noise louder than your voice, turning off the noise cancellation during a call can resolve the issue. You can always re-enable your favorite noise cancellation mode when listening to music or podcasts.

• Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
• Tap on Bluetooth.
• Tap the "i" icon next to your AirPods.
• Select Off to disable.

Use a dry cotton swab to clean away dust. AirPods can accumulate dust, especially in the recessed areas of the microphone and speaker. If the microphone gets clogged, your voice may sound unclear or muffled during calls or recordings. Gently use a dry cotton swab to clean the dust from these recessed areas, but avoid pressing hard on the speaker's mesh grille.

• Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe the AirPods or AirPods Pro casing.
• Do not use sharp or abrasive objects or damp cloths to clean your AirPods.

Are AirPods water-resistant? Although AirPods Pro and the third-generation AirPods are water-resistant and sweatproof, other models do not have these features. Even if your AirPods are water-resistant, they can still absorb water, meaning you should avoid using them in the shower, sauna, putting them in the washing machine, or submerging them in water. If water gets inside your AirPods, it could damage the microphone (and other features) permanently.

• If your AirPods get wet, you need to dry them in a dry place for at least one day until they are completely dry before using them again.
• If you have AppleCare+, you can replace water-damaged AirPods for a relatively low cost.

Performing the "forget" and re-pairing action can resolve Bluetooth issues. While this will remove any custom settings you’ve applied to your AirPods, such as button configurations, it can help fix microphone problems like distorted sound, intermittent audio, or muffled voices.

• Place your AirPods or AirPods Pro into the charging case and close the lid.
• Wait for 30 seconds, then open the lid again. Keep it open.
• Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
• Tap Bluetooth.
• Tap the "i" icon next to your AirPods.
• Tap Forget This Device and confirm the action.
• Press and hold the button on the back of the charging case for about 15 seconds until the LED turns amber and then flashes white.
• Pair your AirPods again by bringing them close to your phone or tablet and following the on-screen instructions.

Switching to Transparency Mode instead of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) can sometimes resolve issues. Transparency Mode allows you to hear more external sounds compared to ANC – in theory, it’s the sound you hear rather than what others hear. However, many AirPods Pro and Max users on Apple forums have reported that others can hear more clearly when using Transparency Mode over ANC.

• To activate Transparency Mode on AirPods Pro, squeeze and hold one of the earbud stems until you hear a chime.
• On AirPods Max, press the noise control button located above the ear cup, right next to the Digital Crown.

Apple occasionally releases firmware updates for AirPods. These updates automatically install when your AirPods are powered on and connected to an iPhone or iPad via Bluetooth.

• To check which firmware version is currently installed, open Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad, tap the "i" icon next to your AirPods, and look for the "Version" field.

Update your operating system to ensure you have the latest bug fixes. Apple releases OS updates every year, along with necessary bug fixes and security patches. Sometimes these updates address issues affecting AirPods, such as improving sound quality and Bluetooth connectivity. To update your iOS system, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap General.
• Tap Software Update.
• Install any available updates.

If your AirPods' microphone still isn't working or the quality is poor, you should contact Apple. Visit https://getsupport.apple.com to reach Apple’s support team via live chat or phone. You can also use the support website to find an authorized service provider (ASP) who can repair your AirPods.

• Apple is aware of audio issues affecting AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. If you have either of these models made before October 2020 and are experiencing distorted or intermittent sound, you can have them repaired for free at an authorized Apple service provider.