Why are my AirPods so Quiet? – FAQs and Fixes

Here are a few reasons Why your AirPods are so Quiet and how to fix this issue.

Before moving to the details of the actual topic “Why are my AirPods so Quiet?”, let us have a brief idea about what makes the Apple AirPods so special? How is the audio so different? 

AirPods are wireless Bluetooth earplugs designed by Apple, Inc. They were first launched as first-generation AirPods on September 7, 2016, and within a short period, they became an incredible accessory for Apple. 

The AirPods are just magical. With the spatial audio, adaptive EQ, and the capacity to mute the breeze ( which minimizes the external noise), they create a whole new world around you when you put on the AirPods. The spatial audio and head tracking place the sound all around you to create the three-dimensional listening effect and the Apple-designed dynamic driver powered by a custom amplifier renders music in exceptionally detailed sound quality thereby making you feel the experience of sitting in a concert hall or a theater. With the capacity to mute the breeze, you will be able to hear and be heard clearly and loudly. These features of Apple AirPods make it more amazing.

But what if you have a problem with the audio output of these AirPods? What if you can’t hear the sound so effectively? How does it make you feel if the AirPods suddenly become Quiet? Certainly, you will be disappointed. Just breathe a sigh of relief. Here you have a list of possible issues that could make the AirPods turn quiet and the solution to fix the issues. Mark it down, it will surely help you.

Also Read: How-to make AirPods louder on all devices

Why are my AirPods so Quiet? Possible causes and solutions to fix it

There might be many reasons that cause the audio output of AirPods to turn quiet.  Here you will be enlightened with the most possible reasons for that and how to fix it when you face the issue. You will not know the exact reason until you test them one by one. 

Let’s see them in detail.

1. Your AirPods must be dusty or stuffed with your earwax:

If you are enjoying your AirPods and suddenly you notice that your AirPods become quiet or there is a difference in the sound quality, then the first thing you should do is take off your AirPods and check if there is something stuck in it. It has a small opening in the backside that might allow the dust or the earwax from your own ears to get inside of it and it will get collected on the speakers. This will reduce the sound coming out from the AirPods. Even a small amount of wax or dust will significantly change the quality of sound from your AirPods. Look at the picture for your reference.

If you find that this is your issue, then how to get back the sound from your AirPods. Read the solution part.

Solution: 

If you are a regular user of AirPods, make sure you clean the AirPods on a regular basis. If you are using an Airpod Pro, then you have to remove the tips to clean up the gunks that are sticking to the speakers. Follow the steps to clean the AirPods and the case.

• Clean the AirPods with a dry, clean toothbrush or cotton swab or with a Q-tip. 
• Clean up the AirPods mesh with the cotton swab and then use a toothpick if it gets pushed inside. If the dirt is more greasy, then use some gel or spray a little isopropyl alcohol and wipe it properly with a cotton swab.
• Clean the Airpod case as it will also attract the dust and dirt from its surrounding. Clean the outer part with a dry microfiber cloth and the inside part the same as the previous point.

2. Low power Mode on your iPhone:

To extend the battery life of the iPhone or your AirPods, you might choose to turn on the feature called Low power mode on your iPhone which in turn will reduce the performance of the device and the connected accessories. It will limit the audio output of certain devices if that is eating a lot of battery even if there is no volume control on the connected devices. Hence, if this feature is turned on, that will reduce the sound of the AirPods. Despite the AirPods itself having its own battery, this feature will control the volume of AirPods. It is due to the fact that iOS works in that way.

To turn it off, see the solution part.

Solution:

To turn off the Low Power Mode on your iPhone, follow the below steps:

• Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
• Tap on “Battery”.
• Then Toggle the “Low Power Mode” Off.

Don’t forget to charge your device immediately.

3. Volume Limit:

Most devices like smartphones, in-ear or over-ear headphones have a feature to control the volume getting too high which can damage your hearing. Many times this will allow you to hear whatever stuff you are listening to or watching on your device properly. But this may result in your AirPods getting quiet for some reasons like the audio file that you are listening to is not mixed properly or you are in a noisy environment. 

Solution:

If you are using the iPhone version iOS 15 and to turn off the volume limit, follow the below steps.

• Go to the “Settings” App.
• Tap on “Sounds and Haptics”.
• Tap on “Headphone safety”.
• Turn off your Volume Limit using the “Reduce Loud Sound” switch. 

4. Non-Updated Softwares:

It might be a while since you have updated the software on your devices. If that is the case, then take out time to first update both your iOS device or iPhone and the AirPods with the latest versions. If you think this might be the cause then follow the solution part mentioned below. Sometimes, there might be some other issues with the software of your devices which is causing the low volume of your AirPods. In that case, you can get fixed with the service centers nearby.

Solution:

Make sure the software of your iPhone or the connected device is up-to-date and there are no viruses in your devices that are hindering its performance. To check for the update, follow the below steps.

• Open “Settings” App
• Tap on “General” and then on “Software Update”
• Check for any updates due. And tap on “Update” if you have one.

5. Hardware Damage:

The reason for the significant reduction in the volume of your AirPods may be some kind of damage to the hardware of your AirPods. It can be either the water or your sweat or some moisture that has entered your AirPods or some heat that has caused the damage to it. This will make the device not function in the way it is supposed to. 

Solution:

If water or sweat entered your AirPods, then you can try with a dryer to dry out the entered moisture. But sadly, that’s not the guaranteed solution. In this case, you can ask for a replacement if you are still in the warranty period.

Also Check: [Infographic] The Definitive Guide to Identify Fake Airpods

6. Equalizer Settings:

Equalizer is a setting that allows you to modulate the frequency response of your device to enhance the sound quality or to match it to your interest. This can be done by just adjusting some sliders until you get back to the proper audio output.

Solution:

Follow the steps to set the equalizer while playing the music.

• Go to “Settings”.
• Tap on “Music”.
• Select “EQ” from the playback.
• Go to “Equalizer Settings” and try different options until you are done.

7. Synchronization Issues:

Sometimes there might be some problem of synchronization either with the Bluetooth or synchronization of the volume of both the AirPods. 

Solution:

Disconnect and reconnect the Bluetooth and make sure your iPhone and AirPods are paired properly. 

Try adjusting the volumes on both the AirPods until you hear the sound properly.

8. Low Power of Your AirPods:

If the power of your AirPods is less than 5{6d08995d7656033f9f21b60e1e0a2a92f283c7162b87d8a6b83105b7aa5da246}, there will be trouble in the working of it. They might be often disconnecting or suddenly the volume goes unacceptably quiet. 

Solution:

Take off your AirPods and charge them properly until it gets reenergized. The Battery power of Apple AirPods is just a boon. They provide a battery backup of an hour if you charge only for 10 minutes and to completely charge, it will not take more than 30 minutes to be in the charging case.

Concluding: “Why are my AirPods so quiet” Issue Fixed

A good sound and proper music can turn one’s bad mood on. The AirPods by Apple is great in audio quality. They create a magical world around you with their spatial sound.

It has a special sensor that can sense your ears. It will automatically turn on when you put the AirPods in your ears and turn off all by itself when you take it off. Using these AirPods makes you feel that you are in the seventh heaven.

But the reduction in the sound may be too frustrating for you. Try out the possible ways listed above to fix the issue before you get panic-stricken. Also, try restarting and reconnecting the devices. Blow off the steam with the insistent music.