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Why are my AirPods making a ringing noise?

As an owner of Apple’s AirPods, I was recently frustrated when I heard a ringing noise coming from them. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share how I solved the issue, as well as some other solutions I discovered. In this blog post, I’ll be exploring why my AirPods were making a ringing noise and how to fix it.

Likely reasons why your AirPods have been making a ringing noise are that they have a bad connection with your device, the device or AirPods need a software update, the AirPods are broken or because you are actually hearing feedback from the AirPods.

Tips
Poor connection or a software update could be causing your AirPods to make a ringing noise.
If your AirPods are making a ringing noise, try resetting and reconnecting them to your device.
If only one AirPod makes the sound, it could be due to a bad connection or because the AirPod is broken.
If the problem is only happening with FaceTime or Mac, switch to the internal mic.
Turn off the transparency and noise cancellation modes to see if the ringing noise goes away.
Clean the microphone area and try switching the eartips if only one AirPod has the ringing noise.

Why are my AirPods making a ringing noise?

Below are likely reasons why your AirPods have been making a ringing noise.

Read more: Do AirPods get dirty?

Bad connection

The issue could be that your AirPods have a poor connection with the device you are using.

It would help to see if your AirPods still ring when they are connected to a different device. If they do not, it would mean that there is an issue with the connection.

It could also be the case that you need to reconnect your AirPods and it would help to try reconnecting them to your device.

To reset and reconnect your AirPods, do the following:

  1. Forget the AirPods on the device you are using
  2. Put your AirPods in the case
  3. Press the button on the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes orange then white
  4. Wait 30 seconds
  5. Open the lid and hold the button on the case
  6. Reconnect your AirPods to your device

Broken AirPods

It could also be the case that the AirPods are broken. This would be more likely if they have been making the ringing sound regardless of the device they are connected to.

It would also be more likely if only one AirPod makes the sound and if you recently dropped them or got them wet.

In this case, the only option would be to take your AirPods to an Apple store to be fixed.

AirPods need a software update

It might also be the case that your AirPods need updating. To update the AirPods, you need to put them in the case while the case is being charged, then put a connected Apple device near the case.

A problem with the device itself

It might also be the case that there is an issue with the device your AirPods are connected to.

This would be more likely if your AirPods only make the sound when they are connected to that device and if other earphones also make a ringing sound when they are connected to that device.

You need to switch to the internal mic

If the problem is only happening with FaceTime or Mac, Some users have found that for some reason when the AirPod’s mic is enabled on FaceTime Mac, it results in the sound quality being bad. To fix this, you need to switch to the internal mic on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

The reason for this is that when you are using the AirPod’s mic on FaceTime and Mac, the audio codec changes in both directions which is why you need to switch to the internal mic.

Feedback

In some cases, it could be feedback from your AirPods.

This happens when you turn the volume up too high on your device, or if you’re standing too close to another microphone or speaker. Move away from other devices and turn the volume down.

Turn off transparency and noise cancellation modes

Some users have found that if you turn off the transparency and noise cancellation modes, the ringing noise goes away. To do this click the “i” next to your AirPods in the Bluetooth settings, then you can turn off the noise canceling and transparency modes there.

Dirt in the microphone area

Sometimes the microphone areas can get dirt in them which can result in a ringing noise. To fix this, you can get a q-tip and rub the mic and speaker grills using the q-tip.

A problem with the Eartips

Sometimes, the sound is actually the result of the eartips vibrating. Try taking the eartips out and putting them back in again. If only one AirPod is making the buzzing sound try switching the eartips over. If the sound stops, you will know it is due to the eartip.

Read more: Can you listen to AirPods from an Apple Watch?

AirPods
AirPods

How to get my AirPods to stop making a ringing noise?

To get your AirPods to stop making the ringing noise, it would help to reset and reconnect them to your devices as mentioned above, and to update your devices.

If it is happening regardless of the device the AirPods are paired with and resetting them does not fix it, you will probably need to take them into an Apple store.

Read more: do AirPods get dirty?

Why does one AirPod have a ringing noise?

If only one AirPod has a ringing noise, it could be due to a bad connection and it would help to try resetting and reconnecting the AirPods as mentioned above.

Unfortunately, it is likely that the AirPod will be broken.

This would be especially likely if the AirPod has recently gotten wet, if it happens regardless of the device the AirPods are connected to, or if you dropped it.

In this case, it would likely be necessary for you to take the AirPod to an Apple store.