5 Common Problems Owners Have With Apple AirPods

AirPods have made their mark on the wireless personal audio market over the years. In fact, the AirPods Pro 3 are one of the best wireless earbuds for audiophiles, according to Consumer Reports, and the AirPods Max 2 also earned the best CR rating among noise-cancelling over-ear headphones. With solid audio performance and impressive features out of the box, it’s no longer surprising that there are millions of AirPods users across the world. You may have even heard a friend or two recommend at least one model to try.

But not all users praise AirPods, especially when these Apple products have problems. Some of these quirks can easily be fixed by changing the settings, but for others you’ll have to take them to a service center. Before you do, check out these troubleshooting methods for five of the most common issues with AirPods.

Charging issues with AirPods are usually caused by dirty charging contacts and ports. If your AirPods themselves aren’t charging, the pins inside the case may be the cause. Sweat and dirt from earbuds can leave unwanted residue on the pins and prevent them from properly contacting your earbuds. If your AirPods case isn’t charging, check the port for dust and debris buildup. It’s also common for USB/Lightning ports to get dirty from daily use.

But even if your AirPods appear clean, it’s still a good idea to give them a thorough cleaning to keep them in good condition. To clean the inside of the charging case, try a cotton swab first. If the dirt is still there, moisten the cotton swab with a little isopropyl alcohol. For charging case port, use only a soft bristle brush. Next, wipe the exterior of the case with a soft cloth lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Be sure to wipe the earbuds as well, but this time the cloth should be dampened with fresh water instead. Wipe them dry, then let them air dry for a few hours. Never put them back into the case when they are damp.

Another common reason why your AirPods aren’t charging is a faulty cable or power adapter. Try replacing it or use a wireless charger if you have one. If all else fails, one trick several Reddit users found to work was to simply put both earbuds in the case and shake it. There’s no scientific explanation, but it’s worth a try.

One of the common problems users encounter with AirPods is connection failure. Sometimes they simply refuse to connect to your iPhone, even though they are charged and close enough for pairing. To resolve this issue, first update your iPhone, then restart your mobile and AirPods. Yes, you can restart your AirPods by placing the earbuds in the charging case, closing the lid, and waiting about ten seconds. If you have AirPods Max, all you need to do is press and hold the Digital Crown button and the listening mode button long enough for the LED light to flash orange.

If you’ve already paired your AirPods with other devices in your home, like your PC, smart TV, or even your Nintendo Switch, go to Settings and disconnect the AirPods. This could interfere with your iPhone connection. From here, try reconnecting AirPods to your iPhone again with this guide:

1. Check if Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone.
2. With both AirPods inside the charging case, open the cover.
3. Put AirPods into pairing mode:
4. (For AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3) Double-tap the front of the case.
5. (For other models) Press and hold the setup button.
6. When the LED light starts flashing white, check if the login prompt on your iPhone appears.

Some Reddit users have also successfully turned off Bluetooth on the iPhone before setting the AirPods to pairing mode and then turning Bluetooth on again.

When your AirPods randomly disconnect from your iPhone, the first thing you can try is to turn off automatic ear detection. Many users reported that this fixed the disconnection issue. This AirPods feature is enabled by default, so try turning it off to see if it fixes the problem. Here’s how to do it:

1. Once connected to AirPods, open the Settings app.
2. Go to (name of your AirPods) at the top.
3. Under Audio, turn off automatic ear detection.

The downside to this fix, however, is that you have to manually pause and play your audio and video when you want to take your headphones off and on. Other settings you can try changing are Custom Spatial Audio, Custom Volume, and Microphone. All of these can be found in the AirPods settings. Turn off custom volume and custom spatial audio, then assign the microphone to left or right instead of auto.

If all else fails, you can always reset the AirPods to factory settings. Here’s how to do it:

1. Leave your AirPods in the closed case for 30 seconds.
2. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
3. Go to Bluetooth.
4. Tap the i icon next to your faulty AirPods.
5. Select Forget this device.
6. Tap Forget Device to continue.
7. Open your charging case.
8. (For AirPods 1-3 and AirPods Pro 1-2) Press and hold the back button for 15 seconds.
9. (For AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3) Double-tap the front of the case, wait for the LED to turn white, then double-tap again. When you see faster blinks, double-click one last time.

The Connect prompt should now appear on your iPhone. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to pair your AirPods to your mobile again.

It’s especially annoying when one of your AirPods stops working out of nowhere, but there are several solutions you can try. First, clean your earbuds and charging case. They may not charge properly due to dirt buildup blocking the connectors. Once cleaned, follow these steps:

1. Connect your AirPods case to a charger and let them charge fully.
2. Put both earbuds into the case.
3. Leave the headphones in place for approximately 30 seconds.
4. Check if both AirPods are charging by opening the case near your iPhone. Both earbuds should display the bolt icon in the AirPods panel that appears.
5. Wear the defective earphone.
6. Start playing a video or song.

If you still don’t hear anything from the AirPods, try performing a factory reset, then pair your AirPods with your phone again. If this does not resolve your AirPod issue, take it to a service center for repair or replacement. Service for a damaged AirPod is estimated at $89 for Pro models and $69 for Base models.

If someone has ever mentioned on a call that your voice is muffled, it’s probably the microphone on your AirPods. You can usually fix this common AirPods problem by switching the microphone to your left or right AirPod. Follow these steps:

1. Connect to your AirPods.
2. In the Settings app, tap your AirPods to display the settings page.
3. Scroll down to Microphone.
4. Set it to Always Left AirPods.
5. Record a short voice memo.
6. If the playback sounds good, keep the microphone on the left AirPod.
7. If playback seems muffled, go back into the AirPods settings.
8. Change the microphone to the always upright AirPod.
9. Record a voice memo again.

Another potential solution to the muffled microphone issue on your AirPods is to change the mic mode while on a call on your iPhone. Follow this guide:

1. During a call, swipe down to open Control Center.
2. Go to the orange microphone controls at the very top.
3. Set the mic mode to Standard, Wide Spectrum, or Voice Isolation, whichever is appropriate for you.

Cleaning AirPods can also work wonders. The microphone, although small, can still be blocked by unwanted dust accumulation. You can try adhesive putty, a soft bristle brush and compressed air. Just make sure you’re gentle enough that you don’t push more dirt into the mic slot. If you’ve tried everything and the AirPods microphone still seems muffled, do a factory reset and repair the AirPods.