As an AirPods owner, I’ve been frustrated by the occasional high-pitched noise coming from my headphones. I’ve tried all the usual fixes, but nothing seemed to work. After doing some research and testing, I’ve discovered a few potential solutions and I’m excited to share them with you in this blog post. I’ll explain why your AirPods might be making a high-pitched noise, and how to fix it. So if you’re having the same issue, keep reading to find out how to get rid of that annoying sound!
Likely reasons why your AirPods make a high-pitched noise are that they have a bad connection with your device or because they have a bad fit with your ears. If you are using AirPod Pros, it might also be the case that the noise-canceling mode is over-compensating for a bad seel from the eartips.
Quick tips:
- High-pitched noises coming from AirPods can be caused by a bad connection, a bad fit, overcompensating noise cancellation, dirt in the microphone or speaker area, or a broken AirPods.
- To fix the issue try resetting and reconnecting your AirPods, updating your AirPods and device, using different ear tips, disabling automatic ear detection and noise control, switching to the internal mic, or taking your AirPods to an Apple store.
- If your AirPods make a high-pitched noise when charging, it would likely be due to a problem with the case or the battery in the AirPods.
- If your AirPods make a screeching noise, it is likely due to a bad connection, needing to be updated, needing to update your phone, or because the AirPods are broken.
| Cause of high-pitched noise | Solution |
|---|---|
| Bad seal of the ear tips | Try different-sized ear tips if using AirPods Pro |
| Overcompensating noise cancellation | Turn off automatic ear detection and noise control |
| Bad connection | Reset and reconnect AirPods, and try connecting them to a different device |
| Dirt in the microphone or speaker area | Clean the mic and speaker grills using a q-tip |
| Broken AirPods | Take the AirPods to an Apple store to be fixed |
| Needing a software update | Update the AirPods |
| Issue with the device itself | Try using other earphones on the same device, and switch to the internal mic |
| Feedback | Turn down the volume and move away from other devices |
Table of Contents
Why do my AirPods make a high-pitched noise?
Below are likely reasons why your AirPods have been making a high-pitched noise.
A bad seel of the ear tips
If you are using AirPod Pros, if the seal of the ear tips is not right, it can cause the noise canceling in the AirPods Pro to overcompensate which results in a high-pitched noise.
This would only be the case if it happens when you have noise-canceling mode activated. In this case, it would help to try ear tips that are a different size.
Turn off Automatic ear detection and noise control
A number of users have found that turning off Automatic ear detection and noise control fixes the issue.
To do this open the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone or iPad, click the “i” next to the AirPods then you can disable automatic ear detection and noise control there.
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 make the high-pitched noise when they are connected to a different device.
If they do not, it would mean that there is an issue with the connection.
It might 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:
- Forget the AirPods on the device you are using
- Put your AirPods in the case
- Press the button on the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes orange then white
- Wait 30 seconds
- Open the lid and hold the button on the case
- Reconnect your AirPods to your device
Dirt in the microphone or speaker area
Sometimes the microphone areas can get dirt in them which can result in a buzzing noise. To fix this, you can get a q-tip and rub the mic and speaker grills using the q-tip.
Broken AirPods
It might also be the case that the AirPods are broken.
This would be more likely if they have been making the high-pitched 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 could 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 high-pitched 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.
Read more: How to stop AirPods from hanging up
How to get my AirPods to stop making a high-pitched noise?
To get your AirPods to stop making a high-pitched noise, try the following (all the steps are shown in the section above):
- Reset and reconnect your AirPods
- Update your AirPods and device
- Try different sized ear tips if you are using AirPods Pro
- Disable Automatic ear detection and noise control
- Switch to the internal mic
If none of that works, try taking your AirPods to an Apple store; they might be able to fix or replace your AirPods.
Read more: Can I play Xcloud on Apple TV
Why do my AirPods make a high-pitched noise when charging?
If your AirPods make a high-pitched noise when charging, it would likely be due to a problem with the case or the battery in the AirPods. In this case, the best option would be to take them to an Apple store to be replaced.
Why do my AirPods make a screeching noise?
Your AirPods could be making a screeching noise due to a bad connection, a bad seel of the ear tips, needing to be updated or needing to update your phone, or because the AirPods are broken.
If the AirPods make the noise regardless of the device they are paired with, it would be likely that the issue is with the AirPods themselves. They might be faulty or they might not be fitting in your ear correctly.
It would help to try the steps as mentioned below:
- Reset and reconnect your AirPods to your device
- Update your AirPods and the iPhone you are using them with
- Try different sized ear tips if you are using AirPods Pro
- Disable Automatic ear detection and noise control
- Switch to the internal mic