AirPods Microphone Not Working? Quick fixes you need to try!

What You Need to Know

• AirPods microphone not working?  Make sure you have cleaned and charged your AirPods
• If problems persist reboot your phone, and then reset and reconnect your AirPods
• Make sure you are running the latest firmware and software versions on your phone and AirPods to prevent future issues
• If all troubleshooting fails to resolve the issue contact Apple technical support to find out if there is a hardware issue

Introduction

AirPods have become an essential gadget for many of us. They’re sleek, convenient, and deliver great audio. But what do you do when the AirPods microphone isn’t working as it should? This is a very common issue that many owners have experienced! But don’t worry, in this guide, we will walk you through the troubleshooting steps to get your AirPods microphone working properly.

AirPods Microphone Not Working? Here are the Reasons Why

There are many reasons why your AirPods microphone isn’t working properly.  Here we outline the most common issues people experience.

Your AirPod mic is blocked by dust and debris

This is one of the most common causes of microphone interference.  Take your AirPods out of the case and examine them for any dust, dirt, or earwax build up.  Also examine the inside of the case to make sure it is clean.

Low battery can cause issues with your AirPod microphone

A low battery on your phone or your AirPods will impact performance.  For instance, your phone will decrease power to certain functions such as your Bluetooth connection and ultimately the microphone.

Is your AirPods microphone not working? Automatic mic switching could be the culprit

Another common reason why the microphone on your AirPods is not working can be due to the microphone automatically switching between the left and right AirPods.  As an example, if you are using one AirPod and the other is in the case, your AirPods may still try to access the microphone on the AirPod in the case.

Software Incompatibility between your AirPods and your phone

Apple will often release software and firmware updates for their products to correct any compatibility issues between devices.  Your AirPods will always update automatically in the background.  However, your iPhone or Droid device may not be configured to automatically update and require you to manually update the software.

Make sure you do not have a hardware issue

The final reason why your AirPods microphone may not be working could be due to a hardware issue.  This could include water damage to the AirPods microphone, or other types of physical damage to the microphone.

How to fix your AirPods Microphone not working

Now that we have outlined the reasons why your AirPods microphone is not working we can begin walking through the solutions to the problem.  To state the obvious, before continuing with the following steps, make sure your microphone is not muted!

Reconnect your AirPods to your phone to fix your AirPods microphone not working

In many cases, simply reestablishing the connection between your iPhone and your AirPods will fix your problem.  To do this simply place your AirPods back in the case, close the case, and then take them out again and place them in your ears.

PRO TIP:  To test the microphone open the Voice Memos app on your phone and create a new recording with your AirPods connected to your phone.  The playback should be clear if the microphone is working properly.

Make sure that your AirPods are properly charged to solve the AirPods microphone not working issue

Low battery levels can cause issues with your microphone. There are several ways to check the battery level. 

One method is to place the AirPods in your ears and connect them to your iPhone.   Then open Settings > AirPods on your iPhone and at the top of the screen you will see the battery level for your AirPods.  A second method is to place the AirPods in the case and then open the case next to your iPhone.  A screen will appear showing the battery level.

Always make sure the charge is greater than 20% to prevent your devices from entering low power mode.  If the charge is low, place the AirPods in the case and charge them for 30 minutes and then test them again.

Disable automatic microphone switching on your AirPods

There are times when your iPhone will switch which AirPods microphone is active and this can distort your voice through the microphone.  To disable Automatic Switching:

• Place the AirPods in your ears
• Open Settings on your iPhone
• Select AirPods
• Select Microphone
• Then Select “Always Left AirPod” or “Always Right AirPod”

Once the setting is disabled test your AirPods microphone to see if the issue has been resolved.

Clean the AirPods microphone and speaker grills to solve the AirPods microphone not working problem

Often dust, dirt and earwax can clog your AirPods speakers and microphone. To clean, use a dry cotton swab to clean the microphone and speaker mesh.  You can also use a soft bristled brush to remove debris from the grills.  Do not get your AirPods wet during the cleaning process!

Disable automatic device switching for your AirPods

If you have multiple apple devices (iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple TV, etc.) that all use the same Apple account they are automatically configured to connect to your AirPods. As you move around your home or use the different devices, there may be times when they automatically connect to your AirPods even when you do not want that to happen. 

To prevent this you can set your AirPods to only connect to the previously connected device.  Doing this is a manual, time consuming process, so this is not considered a permanent fix.  Connect to each apple device and then go into the bluetooth settings, select your AirPods and locate the “Connect to …” section.  It will say:

• Connect to this mac
• Connect to this iPhone
• Connect to this iPad

Once you click on that setting change the setting from Automatic to select “When Last Connected”.  Once this is set on all your apple devices, your AirPods will only connect to the device you were most recently connected to and will not switch between devices.

This does mean that you will need to manually connect your AirPods when you want to change between devices.  To do so, go into your bluetooth settings and select your AirPods on the device you would like to connect to force the connection.

Make sure you are running the latest firmware version on your AirPods

Unlike Mac and IOS devices, the firmware on your AirPods is automatically updated. You can check your version by going into Settings > Bluetooth  on your iPhone and clicking the “i” button next to your AirPods.  Scroll to the bottom and check the version. If they need to be updated, place the AirPods in their case and leave the case near your iPhone to update.

Reboot Your Phone

Rebooting your phone will do a soft reset of your bluetooth connections.  Place your AirPods in the case and then press and hold the volume up button and right side button at the same time on your iPhone.  You will be prompted to swipe to reboot your phone.  Swipe and allow your phone to shutdown.  After shutdown press and hold the right side button until you see the Apple symbol and let the phone reboot.  Login to your phone and place your AirPods in your ears and verify they connect.  Test the microphones on your AirPods.

Update your iPhone to the latest IOS version

You should always be running the latest version of IOS on your iPhone if you are having technical issues with your AirPods (or any device or application for that matter).  To check that you are running the latest version of IOS go to settings > General > Software Updates.  If there is an update available it will show up on this screen. 

Keep in mind that IOS software updates can take an extended period of time depending on how large they are so make sure you have enough time available for the update to complete.  Install the update and when completed test to see if your AirPod microphone is not working.

Reset (Unpair & Pair) your AirPods

This step will create a new Bluetooth connection and hopefully resolve any miscommunication between the AirPods and your iPhone.  Log on to your iPhone and open Settings > Bluetooth > Click the “I” next to your AirPods > Click “Forget this device”. 

• Place your AirPods in the case
• Open the case
• Press and hold the button on the back of the case until the light turns amber and then flashing white. 

(On older AirPods the light is inside the case, while on newer versions it is on the front of the case.)

Hold the case next to your iPhone and you will receive a prompt to connect on your phone – click connect. After connecting, test the microphone on your AirPods.

Verify your AirPods do not have water damage

Newer versions of AirPods are sweat and water resistant – older versions are less so – and AirPods should never be submerged in water.  Over time sweat and precipitation can damage the microphone and speakers on your AirPods.  There are also times when you might accidentally drop your AirPods in water or run them through the washing machine.  If you are able to address the issue immediately you can eject the water from your AirPods following the steps in this YouTube video here.

Temporarily Disable automatic ear detection

If automatic ear detection is not working properly and the AirPods sensors think they are not in your ears, the sensors will deactivate your microphone. To turn off automatic ear detection go to Settings > AirPods > Automatic Ear Detection and disable.

Reset the network settings on your iPhone

Your bluetooth settings are included in the network settings on your phone and resetting your network settings can remove any corrupted bluetooth connections that may be causing interference with your AirPods microphone.

Keep in mind that resetting your network settings will erase existing Bluetooth connections, WiFi network connections, and VPN connections.  You will have to reconfigure these after the reset is complete.  To reset your network settings go to:

• Open Settings
• Click General
• Select Transfer or Reset iPhone
• Select Reset
• Choose Reset Network Settings

Follow the prompts to complete the reset.  Once completed reconnect your phone to your WiFi network and pair your AirPods. To pair your AirPods Open the case > Press and hold the button on the back of the case until the light turns amber and then flashing white.  On older AirPods the light is inside the case, on newer versions it is on the front of the case. Hold the case next to your iPhone and you will receive a prompt to connect on your phone – click connect. Now test your AirPods to see if the issue continues.

Contact Apple to repair or replace your AirPods

At this point if none of the steps above resolve the issue with your microphone it is most likely  a hardware issue that will require professional assistance to resolve.  Contact Apple support to address the problem.  They will be able to diagnose any hardware problems and provide you with your options to repair or replace your AirPods.

Conclusion

AirPods, like any tech gadget, may periodically experience issues with the microphones or speakers.  We have addressed the most common issues you may encounter with the microphone and discussed a comprehensive list of solutions.  Follow these steps to solve your problem, but remember, while it’s great to try and fix things yourself, don’t hesitate to contact Apple support if you believe the issue is beyond simple troubleshooting.