As an AirPods owner, I know the frustration of when your mic isn’t working when you need it the most. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share how I solved the issue and the other solutions I discovered. So if your AirPods mic is not working, read on to find out the causes and fixes.
Likely reasons why your AirPods mic is not working are that the Mic is not actually being used, you need to switch the mic that is being used, there is dirt or something covering the mic, a connection issue, they need a software update, low battery or your AirPods are connected to a different device.
Table of Contents
Tips
- The mic on your AirPods might not be the one that is being used.
- It might be necessary to switch the mic that is being used.
- Dirt or something might be covering the mic.
- A connection issue might be the cause.
- They may need a software update.
- Low battery might be the cause.
- AirPods might be connected to a different device.
Why is the mic not working on my AirPods?
Below are possible reasons why your AirPods mic is not working and what can be done about it.
You need to switch which mic is being used
It could be the case that the mic on one of your AirPods is broken. However, only one mic is actually used at a time to record your voice. So, you could try using the other mic to see if it is due to a hardware fault.
To fix this try the following:
- Go to settings
- Go to Bluetooth
- Click the “i” next to your AirPods
- Click “Microphone”
- Change it from “Always left” or “Always right”
The mic is not being used
It might also be the case that you need to enable microphone access in the settings for the app within your iPhone’s settings app.
On Mac press “Option + A volume button” and make sure that your Airpods are selected as the input source.
Your AirPods are muted on your phone
Read more: Noise canceling not working on AirPods Pro
The issue could be that your AirPods are muted on your phone or that you have selected to use your phone’s mic instead of the AirPods mic.
It would help to make sure that they are not muted and that it is actually the AirPods mic that is being used.
Dirt covering the mic
It might be the case that your AirPods mic is dirty. The problem is that metal filings can easily get into the filing grill which can make it harder for the mic to hear your voice. To fix this do the following:
- Get some Blu-Tack
- Firmly press it into the microphone grill several times
Alternatively, just get a cotton swab and rub the microphone grill using that.
You can also suck on the microphone grill to dislodge dirt that way.
A connection issue
It is also possible that there is an issue with the connection that your AirPods have with your device.
It would help to try connecting your AirPods to a different device and to see if the mic is still quiet when using that device.
It would also help to disconnect your AirPods from all the other devices that they have a connection with in case their connection has been interfering with your AirPods.
Your AirPods need to be reset
Another possible cause is that your AirPods need to be reset and reconnected with the device you are using.
To reset and reconnect your AirPods, do the following:
- Forget the AirPods on the device you are using
- Put your AirPods in the case
- Press the button on the case for 15 seconds
- Wait 30 seconds
- Open the lid and hold the button on the case
- Reconnect your AirPods to your device
They need a software update
AirPods do receive software updates. It might be the case that your AirPods need to be updated. They do update automatically when you connect them to an Apple device.
Low battery
If your AirPods are on low battery, it can sometimes cause the mic to not work properly. It would help to try charging your AirPods and to see if that helps.
AirPods are connected to a different device
Read more: Why won’t my AirPods disconnect?
It is also possible that your Airpods are actually connected to a different device and it would help to double check that your AirPods are actually connected to the device you think you are using.
