The revolutionary wireless headphones freed us from the constraint of tangled cords. Going wireless significantly improved the audio experience for the users by offering freedom and comfort. In 2016, Apple Inc. reinvented the wireless headphones by introducing the compact AirPod range. Amongst AirPod’s various features, the microphone was the most notable addition.
The microphone on AirPod offers a crystal clear voice quality during calls, improves voice command input, and cancels noise while recording audio. As a result, the AirPod microphone has set a benchmark for other microphones. But what if your AirPod microphone stops working? Surely you can visit Apple’s iCare center, but it might not be sensible if the issue is solvable at your end.
Therefore, to save your precious money and time, this article will help you troubleshoot AirPods for microphone issues. It will also offer certain solutions which might fix the microphone on your AirPods.
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Factors Which Might Restrict Microphone From Working
The first step in finding a solution to a problem is to locate the problem. This helps in understanding the main issue and following a suitable solution. AirPods are durable units that are tested for several conditions. Still, an electronic device can suffer damage by any elements. This section will discuss possible reasons why the microphone is not working.
- Dust Particles: Due to the electrostatic field created around AirPod, small particles of dust are attracted toward it. With time, dust particles accumulate near the microphone area, creating a thick coat. This thick coat obstructs the sound waves from traveling to the microphones. As a result, people on the other end of the voice call experience a low or zero volume from the user.
- Water Contact: All generations of AirPods are water resistant but not fully waterproof. It means they can resist water splashes to an extent. They can, however, damage if submerged in the water. Water contact can damage the electronics of AirPod. The damaged electronics will not process the audio, and hence anything received from the microphone will be converted into dead silence.
- Liquid Spoilage: Liquid spoilage can also restrict the AirPod microphone from working. The liquid damage is caused by chemicals, foams, or other types of liquids (excluding water as water damage is different). The chemicals can destroy electronics due to their properties. Even normal liquids like shampoo, oil, sauce, etc can damage AirPod microphones. Some liquids initiated a corrosion process on the affected surface, which destroyed it.
- Battery Not Charged: The battery percentage is a crucial factor for your AirPod. When the battery percentage drops to a certain level, sensors on AirPods might not work efficiently. A similar thing is experienced by the microphones at low battery levels. Users can experience a voice drop on calls and trouble in giving voice commands. If connected to wireless technology like Bluetooth, the signals will be weaker, thereby affecting the microphone’s operation.
- Pairing Issues: AirPods are paired with Bluetooth technology to keep them connected to the user’s device. The pairing has to be successful so that all functions of the AirPods can work fine. Due to an unsuccessful pairing, AirPods will not be recognized by your phone. This prevents the microphone from working with various functions of the phone. It also causes distorted voices during voice calls.
- Software Or Firmware Issue: Software or firmware issues can also affect the working of the AirPod microphone. When software is outdated on the user’s device, bugs can restrict access to the microphone. Similarly, if the firmware on AirPod is not updated, it causes malfunction of several features, including the microphone. The issue also arises if the software or firmware update is interpreted in the middle. The residual files can corrupt and cause trouble for mirpcchone’s operations.
Fixing The Issues Of AirPods Microphone
We are aware of the most common factor which prevents the AirPod microphone from working. Even though these factors cause issues, they can be easily fixed or repaired. Some uncommon issues also affect the working of the microphone, which are easy to trace and fix. This section will walk you through some of the popular solutions to solve AirPods microphone-related problems.
1. Put AirPods Back In The Case
The AirPods sometimes need a little restart to perform efficiently. This can be done by placing them back in the AirPods case. By waiting for 30 to 40 seconds, issues with the AirPods will be fixed by a soft reset. By opening the case, you can again connect AirPods to check if the problem is solved.
2. Check Battery Status Of Airpods
As explained earlier, we know that low battery on AirPods will cause issues for the microphone. You can check the battery status of AirPods by accessing the Bluetooth or battery settings from the control center. Here, the status of the connected AirPod is shown with the battery percentage. If the battery is low, you can place the unit in the case for charging.
3. Clean The Airpods
You already know how a dust coat can prevent a microphone from receiving audio. If you notice a dust layer formed on the AirPod microphone, it needs to be cleaned. You can use a clean cotton cloth or swab. A fine brush will also be an ideal alternative. By carefully moving the cleaning cloth/swab/brush, the dust layer can be removed. You can do this process in regular intervals, to prevent the microphone from jamming with debris.
4. Check Water Damage On The AirPods
Since AirPods are not waterproof, high levels of water can damage its electronics. If the microphone stopped working after a brief contact with water-related activities, water damage might be the culprit. You can wipe the wet AirPods and rest them on a soft piece of cloth. You should avoid using hair dryers for compressed air to remove water, as it will cause more harm.
If this solution fails, you can visit the Apple authorized service center.
5. Reset Airpods and Re-pair
Resetting the airpod will clear any bugs or caches, which prevent the microphone from working. Users can easily reset Airpods by placing them in the case. To keep the case lid open, you have to press the setup button on the back of the case. A notification light appears on the case by holding the setup button for 30 seconds. By closing the lid, the reset process is finished.
After the reset process, you have to hold the case near your device. To initiate the pairing process, just open the lid, and your device will recognize the pairing process. By selecting the connect and continue options, your AirPods will be paired with your device.
6. Check Settings For Microphone
Sometimes the issues are present in the settings. Incorrect settings can prevent the microphones from working to their potential. To check these settings, you can access the settings menu. In the Bluetooth settings, users have to locate their AirPods. By tapping the “i” icon, a menu option for the AirPods. By scrolling down, users can access the “microphone” section. By switching between the available settings in this menu, the user can check if the microphone is working.
7. Restart iPhone
If there is a problem on your device, you can restart it to clear minor issues. For the iPhones, the power menu can be accessed by pressing the side button for a few seconds. When the power slider appears, the user can swipe it to initiate the restart process. If your device is stuck on the loading screen, you can also try a hard restart process. You have to press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears on the iPhone. The restart process might solve the microphone issue.
8. Update Operating System (Includes Software and Firmware)
If your device is running on an older version of the operating system, issues might arise for the Airpod microphone. To check if the iOS on your iPhone is updated or not, you can access the settings menu. In the general section, you can select the software update option. Your iPhone will check for the latest iOS update. If a newer version is available, you can download it from this section. After installing the software update, iOS will assist the microphone in working efficiently.
Firmware of AiPods does not need a manual update as it gets automatically updated. You can check the current firmware version by accessing the settings menu >general section >about > AirPods. Compare the version on the official Apple website. If the version is outdated, place the AirPods near an Apple device. The firmware will be automatically updated through a wireless connection.
9. Turn Off The Noise Cancellation Feature
AirPods offers additional features to improve the experience at the consumer’s end. The features can sometimes interfere with the working of the microphone. The active noise cancellation feature is great for isolating the background noise. But on rare occasions, it causes an interruption in the working of the microphone by isolating the audio waves. You can turn off this feature by visiting the settings/control center menu. By holding the volume slider icon, a noise control menu is opened, which can be turned off.
10. Disable Automatic Ear Detection
The automatic ear detection feature is another additional feature for an Airpod. It enables the working of the Airpod by detecting the user’s ears. In case the user is not wearing AirPods, the audio playback automatically stops. This feature also has an impact on the microphone, which creates uneven working of the audio input. To disable this feature, you have to visit the Bluetooth settings. By pressing the “i” icon, a menu for Airpod opens. Toggle settings for the “automatic ear detection” option. To turn it off.
11. Turn Off Low Power Mode
All models of iPhones feature a low-power mode which minimizes background work when the battery level is low. This feature can interfere with the working of an Airpod. If you experience a malfunction of the microphone when low power mode is activated, you can turn it off. By visiting the settings menu, you have to open battery settings. Here, scroll down to locate the low-power mode section. By toggling this option, it can be turned off.
12. Check Bluetooth Settings
Bluetooth is the major connectivity bridge between AirPod and iPhone. Any issue with the Bluetooth settings will cause trouble for the microphone. To check the settings, the user can directly access the settings and tap the Bluetooth icon. You have to check if Bluetooth is disabled. You can also check if the Airpod is connected to the Bluetooth settings. This will restore the microphone’s working to normal.
13. Reset Network Settings Of Your Device
Since Bluetooth itself is a network technology, resetting the network settings can help you. Simply access the settings menu and select the general tab. At the bottom of the menu, the “Transfer or Reset iPhone” option is present. Tap it and select the reset option. Another menu of various settings appears where “reset network settings” can be selected. The network settings for your iPhone will be reset, and the microphone will start working again.
14. Update Bluetooth Drivers
The outdated Bluetooth drivers sometimes contain bugs that prevent the efficient functioning of Bluetooth. By keeping these drivers up to date, your device will not experience issues with bugs. Updating of the Bluetooth drivers is done via iOS update for Apple devices. In the case of the Windows operating system, users can visit the Bluetooth settings and choose to update drivers. Users can also download Bluetooth drivers externally by visiting official websites.
15. Contact Customer Support
If you have followed all the solutions from this section and the microphone still refuses to work, you can contact customer support. Apple has a team of technical professionals who can guide you through various solutions for your Airpod microphone issue. You can have a live chat or directly call customer support. In case they fail to offer a solution, you will be guided through the process of replacing your unit if they are under warranty.
Airpods Microphone Not Working – FAQs
Ans: There might be several factors that prevent the microphone from working. A thick layer of dirt can interrupt the travel of audio waves to the microphones. Similarly, incorrect settings or bugs cause software-level issues. The microphone can also stop working due to issues at your device end or due to additional features of the airpod.
Ans: The Airpod microphone can be fixed in certain situations. By updating the operating system of your device, bugs can be removed. Similarly, resetting your AirPods will clear any issues with the microphones, users can also opt for professional help to repair the AirPod microphones.
Ans: Several issues with the microphone can restrict the transfer of your voice to the other receiver. The clogged microphone will not transfer your voice through the call. Also, if Bluetooth is disabled on your device, AirPods will be disconnected, which eventually disables the microphones.
Ans: Unclogging the microphones on the Airpod is simple. You have to use a clean and dry cotton cloth for the process. By slowly moving the cloth over the dirty mesh, debris is removed. Similarly, by using a soft-bristle brush, you can remove dirt from hard-to-access areas.
Ans: To change microphone settings, you have to access the settings menu on your Apple device. In this section, scroll down to the Bluetooth section. By pressing the “i” icon, the settings menu for the microphone is opened. Users can select the “automatic” settings, to change microphone settings for their airpods.
Conclusion
AirPods is a wonderful device that elevates your audio experience and eliminates the need for long wires. Components of these units are designed to last long, yet certain issues might hinder their operations. A microphone is a crucial component for establishing connections with other people or using voice commands. In case the microphone suffers failure, the user will be cut off from crucial functions. This article helps in identifying issues with the Airpod microphone. It also offers a long list of solutions to ensure the Airpod microphone is fixed.
