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Why do my AirPods Squeak?

As an owner of Apple AirPods, I’ve been more than a bit frustrated with the intermittent squeaking sound coming from them. I was determined to figure out the cause, so I set out to do some research and testing. I’m here to share what I’ve learned about why AirPods squeak and how to fix them. Hopefully, this advice can help save others from the same frustration!

Tips:
AirPods can work separately if they are not paired with each other.
To fix this, you need to reset the AirPods by forgetting them on your devices and then holding the button for 15 seconds until the light flashes orange then white.
Your AirPods might be working separately due to a bad connection with the device, needing to be reset, or because they are faulty.
To get your AirPods to stop working separately, try resetting and reconnecting them.
If resetting and reconnecting them does not work, it would probably be necessary for you to take them to an Apple store.

Why do my AirPods Squeak?

Below are likely reasons why your AirPods have been making a squeaking 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 squeaking 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 squeaking 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:

  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 might also be the case that the AirPods are broken. This would be more likely if they have been making the squeaking 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 squeaking 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: Why are my AirPods working separately?

AirPods
AirPods

Why do my AirPods Pro squeak?

If your AirPods Pro squeak when you are using them, it could be due to any of the same reasons as with regular AirPods.

However, it could also be due to a fault with the noise-canceling or transparency modes. It would help to try resetting and reconnecting your AirPods.

If they are making a noise that they definitely should not be making, it will likely be necessary for you to take them into an Apple store.

If your AirPods Pros themselves squeak in your ears when you have them in, it could be because of the size of the silicone ear tips.

It could help to try different-sized ear tips. Alternatively, you could try some memory foam ear tips which should not squeak so much. You can buy memory foam ear tips from third parties.

Read more: Can you plug an external hard drive into Apple TV?

How to get my AirPods to stop squeaking?

To get your AirPods to stop squeaking try the following (all explained above):

  • Reset and reconnect your AirPods
  • Update their software
  • Switch to the internal mic
  • Try different sized ear tips or memory foam ear tips if you are using AirPods Pro

If that does not work and the sound is definitely one that should not be happening, it would likely be necessary for you to take them to an Apple store.