If you’re having problems with the microphone on your AirPods, don’t worry! AirPods are very popular headphones and include a microphone. You can use them for FaceTime calls, Zoom conferences, or Siri commands. Apple’s AirPods are easy to carry, light, and comfortable to wear. The battery life is also decent, and they come with a charging case.
But sometimes, you encounter multiple bugs such as the microphone not working, audio dropping out, or AirPods disconnecting. This blog post will explain what to do if the microphone on your AirPods is not working.
AirPods microphone not working? 7 Tips to fix them!
Here are multiple tips that have worked well for other users. Let’s get started!
1. Unpair your AirPods and pair them again
This is the first step you should take if your AirPods microphone is not working. Sometimes, unpairing and then pairing them again can help fix the problem.
To unpair your AirPods, open up the Settings app and go to Bluetooth. Tap on the “i” symbol next to your AirPods and select “Forget Device.” Then, turn off Bluetooth on your device and turn it back on.
Finally, put your AirPods back in the charging case and wait for them to power up. Give them 30 seconds, then pull them out and pair them again. This process is similar to “restarting” a computer or phone, but for your AirPods. In most cases, this procedure solves the problem.
If this doesn’t work, continue to the next step.
2. Clean your AirPods microphone
If the first step doesn’t work, you can try to clean your AirPods microphone. This may help if any dirt or debris is blocking the microphone.
To clean your AirPods, use a dry cotton swab or cloth. Gently wipe around the microphone opening on the stem of each AirPod. Be careful not to get any liquid inside the device and avoid touching any internal components.
Each AirPod has 2 microphones, one external mic at the end of the stem and 1 internal mic. You can’t clean the internal mic. If the external mic is dirty, this may solve your microphone problem.
If cleaning your microphones doesn’t work, continue to the next tip.
3. Restart your paired device
Our first suggestion was to “restart” your AirPods by unpairing them and pairing them again. But what if the AirPods were not the problem and instead it was the device you were pairing them with?
Whether you’re using an iPhone, a MacBook, iPad, or any other device, sometimes restarting it can fix the problem. This is a simple step you should try before moving on to any other suggestions.
4. Make sure your AirPods have enough battery
If your AirPods microphone is not working, one possible reason is that the battery is low. When the battery on your AirPods gets too low, they may start to experience problems such as the microphone cutting out or audio dropping out.
Sometimes the left AirPod dies first. The microphone stops working a couple of minutes before the AirPods completely shut down. I have experienced this behavior a few times.
You can always check your AirPod’s battery levels in the Settings app on your paired device. If the battery is under 5%, charge them for a few minutes (AirPods charge quite fast) and try them again. If the microphone works now, your problem was the low battery.
If this tip doesn’t work, move to the next one.
5. Check the microphone settings on your AirPods
Most people don’t know you can enable or change the microphone location on your AirPods. By default, the mic is enabled automatically on both AirPods, but maybe an app or somebody changed your settings by mistake.
Open up the Settings app on your paired device and go to Bluetooth to access the microphone settings. Tap on the “i” symbol next to your AirPods and select “Microphone.”
You can select if you want to switch AirPods automatically or use one AirPod as a fixed microphone. Now that you’re inside this menu, you can also change the actions on double-tap, change your AirPod’s profile name or disable “automatic ear detection.“
Pretty cool, huh? Check out the next tip if you’re still having issues.
6. Update to the latest firmware and iOS version
If you’re having constant microphone problems with your AirPods, it’s probably a good idea to check for updates. Ensure you have the latest firmware and iOS versions installed on your devices.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad to do this. You can also open the App Store and tap on Updates in the top right corner of the screen.
If there are any available updates, install them and try using your AirPods again. If they still don’t work, continue down this list. Updating your AirPods firmware isn’t as straightforward as updating your iPhone because there’s no way to force it, and it happens as long as they’re synced to your iPhone every now and then.
To check your firmware’s version, go to Settings > General > About on your iDevice and select your AirPods. There, you will be able to see your firmware version, and you need to check online if that’s the latest firmware available or not.
If everything else fails, it’s time to take more drastic measures.
7. Repair your AirPods or get a replacement
Finally, if nothing else has worked, it’s time to take your AirPods in for repair or get a replacement. Apple offers a one-year warranty on all its products, and AirPods are no exception.
You can go to an Apple Store, an Authorized Service Provider, or contact Apple Support. They will be able to help you with the process and either repair your AirPods or give you a brand new set.
Remember to keep your AirPods inside the charging case when you’re not using them to protect them, and don’t forget that Airpods aren’t water-proof. Please don’t bring them with you to the pool or the beach. Don’t shower with them.
The bottom line
There you have seven tips to try if your AirPods microphone isn’t working. Hopefully, one of these tips will help you get your microphone up and running again. If not, it might be time to take them in for repair or get a replacement set from Apple.
Don’t hesitate to reach out for more assistance or leave a comment if you have any other suggestions. Thanks for reading!