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Why Are My AirPods So Quiet? Fix Them Quick

AirPods are one of the most popular Apple products. They’re easy to use, and they work great! However, sometimes there are issues with them that need to be addressed. One common issue is that AirPods go quiet over time or start having a low volume. Have you ever had this issue?

Many AirPods users have experienced issues with their devices being too quiet. This can be frustrating, especially when listening to music or taking phone calls. The good news is that there are several ways to fix this problem, most of which are accessible.

The first thing to check is the volume level on the AirPods themselves. Sometimes, the volume can accidentally be turned down, causing the sound to be too low. Another possible cause is debris build-up on the AirPods, which can muffle the sound. Cleaning the AirPods with a soft, dry cloth can often help to fix this issue.

If neither of these solutions works, several other steps can be taken to increase the volume of AirPods. These include adjusting the settings on the device that the AirPods are connected to, recalibrating the AirPods, and updating the firmware. Following these steps, users can often restore their AirPods to their average volume and enjoy their music and phone calls again.

Why are my AirPods so quiet? 9 common reasons

First of all, you need to know there’s not 1 single reason that could be causing the AirPods to have a low volume or sound quiet. Several reasons could be happening, but there’s no way of knowing the exact cause without testing out different things on your own first, so we’ll go over those now!

Your AirPods are dusty or have earwax

First of all, most AirPods have a small opening on the back that allows dust and dirt to get inside. Sometimes ear wax from your ears can also be an issue as well. So if you’re having issues with your AirPods being quiet or just not sounding right, try taking them out and looking through the little holes on the backside of each pod carefully. Try blowing air in there with a blow dryer to clean it out first before trying any other methods!

Also, keep your AirPods clean from earwax by using a tissue or a paper towel to clean them out. You don’t want earwax getting inside your AirPods because this will cause the sound quality to be more muffled and have less bass as well!

why are my airpods so quiet - firmware update

The low power mode is enabled

Sometimes, going into low power mode on an iOS device can limit audio output from certain apps that use too much battery, which could affect how loud things play even though there are no settings for volume control in the actual app you’re listening to music with.

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This doesn’t make sense as AirPods have their battery, but it’s just how iOS works. So if Airpods go quiet while being used with an iOS device, check if you have low power mode enabled and disable it to see if the issue is resolved.

Volume limit on your iPhone

Some iPhones may be set to a maximum volume level which could also cause this problem. This setting exists to protect your hearing. But if you want to change this, go to Settings – General – Accessibility and scroll down until you see Volume Limit at the bottom.

It shouldn’t be an issue if you’re using your AirPods with an Android device, but most devices have an audio limiter to prevent hearing loss.

The AirPods are muted

One of the most common reasons your AirPods may be quiet is that they are muted. This can happen if you accidentally tap the AirPods or if you have set up a double-tap gesture to mute them. To unmute your AirPods, tap them again or adjust the settings on your device.

Your AirPods need to be updated

If your iOS device and or AirPods weren’t updated when new updates came out, they’re acting up may be due to software issues. If you can update them both with a newer version of iOS, then go ahead and do so! To check if there are any available updates for either of these devices:

iPhone – Settings > General > Software Update

AirPods – Check their firmware version under “Settings” on iPhone/iPad (it’ll say something like BTXX.00X).

The noise-canceling feature is turned on

Another reason your AirPods may seem quiet is that the noise-canceling feature is turned on. While this feature can be helpful in noisy environments, it can also reduce the volume of your audio. To turn off noise canceling, go to your device’s settings and adjust the audio settings.

Low battery left on AirPods

If your AirPods are entirely dead, they won’t play any audio. So ensure both pods have some battery life before using them! Also, make sure your AirPods case charges properly and has some battery left to charge your AirPods.

Sometimes the AirPods battery is about to die, but it’s hard to tell because they usually last at least a few hours, depending on how you use them. Also, it’s common to have 1 AirPods battery drained before the other. This is normal!

Bluetooth synchronization issues

If you’re having trouble with Bluetooth on your AirPods, make sure the settings are all correct and that they were successfully paired to both of your devices (iPhone/Mac or PC). Sometimes you need to disconnect and reconnect your AirPods in the Bluetooth settings on each device to solve the issue. One person from Reddit reported a simple way to fix this problem:

  1. With AirPods connected and playing music, turn the volume down to 0
  2. Disconnect your AirPods from your Bluetooth settings page without unpairing/forgetting them, and keep them in your ears.
  3. Play music from your iPhone speakers and turn the volume down to 0.
  4. With both (AirPods and iPhone speakers) settings at 0 volume, reconnect your AirPods again and turn the volume up.
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Problem solved. This also seems to have been reported in the Apple support forums, so it’s worth trying if you’re having sync issues.

Your AirPods are damaged by water, heat, dust, etc.

Finally, the bad news. A liquid or some other substance may have damaged your AirPods. This could cause them to malfunction and not play audio properly! If so, you should return them to Apple within your warranty period for repair/replacement.

They can probably save whatever’s left inside of it if they haven’t been destroyed from the outside. However, ensure you get an estimate before sending anything because sometimes these repairs can be expensive!

Can I make my AirPods louder? Practical solutions to fix a pair of quiet AirPods

If you’re experiencing low volume on your AirPods, don’t worry; a few practical solutions can help you fix this issue. Here are some things you can try:

Look for firmware updates

Make sure your AirPods are up to date with the latest firmware. To check for updates, connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad and go to Settings > General > About > AirPods. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

Clean your AirPods

Dirt and debris can build up in your AirPods and affect their sound quality. To clean them, gently wipe the exterior surfaces with a dry, lint-free cloth. You can also use a soft-bristled brush to remove debris from the speaker grilles or ear tips.

Reset your equalizer settings

For those who don’t know what an Equalizer is, it’s a setting that allows for fine-tuning the frequency response of every speaker/headphone to match how we hear sound in real life. So if something sounds too bassy or treble-y and there’s no way to change this by changing the EQ balance on each specific device, then try adjusting some sliders around until everything sounds good again! Or just reset them back to normal.

To adjust these settings on iPhone:

  • Go to Settings > Music > EQ = select off.
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Try selecting a different profile in the equalizer settings, switch back to “off,” and see if that helps.

Change the volume of sound effects on your iPhone/iPad

If the sound effects on your iPhone or iPad are too loud, they can affect the volume of your AirPods. To adjust the sound effects volume, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and drag the slider under Ringers and Alerts to the left.

Make sure both AirPods have the same volume

If one of the AirPod’s volumes level is significantly lower than the other, they may seem quiet. There might be a problem synchronizing both AirPods at the same level.

why are my airpods so quiet - recalibrate sound level

If you aren’t sure if your AirPods are at the same volume level, there’s an easy way to check it. Please take one of them out and put it back in again. Wait until they’re both connected before continuing to the next step! If one plays audio much louder than the other, this will solve your problem!

Try lowering the volume on both AirPods and disconnecting them at the same time, then reconnecting them both at the same time again to recalibrate their volume levels.

Adjust the volume with Siri

You could always ask Siri to adjust the volume for your AirPods whenever necessary! Sometimes this could help to bump the volume up a little bit, and it’s way more convenient than fiddling with the volume buttons on your iPhone.

Siri command: “Hey Siri, increase/decrease AirPod volume by 50%” – this will control both of them simultaneously!

Reset the AirPods

If your AirPods are still too quiet after checking for updates, you can try resetting them. To do this, put your AirPods in their case and press and hold the button on the back until the LED light on the front flashes white. Then, reconnect your AirPods to your device and see if the volume has improved.

Contact Apple Support

If none of these solutions work, contact Apple Support for further assistance. They can help you troubleshoot the issue and determine if your AirPods need to be repaired or replaced.

The bottom line – why are my AirPods so quiet?

Many people around the web are complaining about quiet AirPods right now, but there seem to be several reasons why it might happen. The most common ones are listed above, but if you’re still having trouble, follow some of the links in this article or do a Google search! Leave a comment below if you have any questions. Good luck with fixing your quiet AirPods.

Tom Wilson

Tuesday 31st of May 2022

I followed the instructions from Reddit mentioned above (setting Airpod volume to 0 while playing music, disconnect AirPods then do the same with iPhone volume with music playing), and that helped some. What finished the fix was filling the cap of an isopropyl alcohol bottle with alcohol then immersing the largest opening (with a screen) about 1mm into the alcohol for about 5 seconds then wiping the alcohol away, and blowing into the smaller oval shaped hole at the back and repeating until the paper towel no longer has discoloration from earwax. I did the same with the other Airpod (about 10 immersions each) and man have I missed the Bass! They sound as good as the day I bought them.

Penny

Saturday 30th of April 2022

I have slightly old airpods that have been working fine for a while. I tried cleaning them, messing with the audio, and disconnecting and reconnecting them. I also tried connecting them to a different device and still, my AirPods were extremely quiet. The volume only sounds normal when I have it all the way up, and also my right airpod is quieter so I had to mess with that as well. I have no clue how to fix it. Any help?

Zachary Baker

Saturday 2nd of April 2022

Hi I tried blowing, cleaning, fiddling in settings and nothing worked my AirPods are still quite and I only got them for Christmas this year if anyone could help me that would be great it is on full volume and it only sounds like it’s turned up a little

Pavel

Wednesday 24th of May 2023

@Penny, NO WAY! It works, thank you! :)

Penny

Saturday 30th of April 2022

There was this one method that’s kinda weird, but worked for me. You put the speakers in between your lips and suck up air to clean it out. It’s kinda gross, but it does work.

Jenica Asrat

Saturday 25th of December 2021

Hi , I am wondering how to fix my first generation air pods issue: The sound plays at the beginning for like 30after I put them in my ears and them become quite suddenly. If I put them back in the box for 10seconds and take it out will have sound for another 30seconds and so on. How can I fix this issue?

Descriptive Audio

Saturday 25th of December 2021

Isn't the battery draining too fast because the first generation is almost 5 years old?