As an AirPods owner, I was extremely frustrated when I discovered my AirPods wouldn’t answer calls. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share how I solved my problem, as well as some other solutions I discovered. In this blog post, I’ll explain why won’t my AirPods answer calls and what I did to remedy the issue.
Likely reasons why your AirPods won’t answer calls are that you are not doing it correctly, you need to reset your AirPods, you are using Android, your data is out of credit or a network issue.
| Quick Tips: Answering Calls on AirPods |
|---|
| 1. Double-tap on regular AirPods or squeeze AirPods Pro stem once to answer a call. |
| 2. If AirPods won’t answer calls: |
| – Check if you are doing it correctly. |
| – Reset your AirPods. |
| – Check if mic is muted. |
| – Ensure AirPods are not connected to other devices. |
| – Clean the mic. |
| – Enable microphone access in App settings. |
| – Check for network or data credit issues. |
Why won’t my AirPods answer calls?
Below are common reasons why your AirPods won’t answer calls.
Doing it wrong
It could be the case that you have not been answering calls correctly. To take a call, you are meant to double tap on the regular AirPods or to squeeze the AirPods pro stem once.
You need to reset your AirPods
Sometimes, AirPods don’t work correctly due to a problem with the connection. It would help to try reconnecting your AirPods to the 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
- Wait 30 seconds
- Open the lid and hold the button on the case
- Reconnect your AirPods to your device
Out of data
If you are using a pay-as-you-go plan, it could also be the case that you have run out of credit on your sim card.
Read more: Do AirPods have a good mic?
Network issue
It might also be the case that there is an issue with your network connection. This would be more likely if the issue only seems to happen when you are using cellular data.
You’re using Android
While AirPods do work on Android, they don’t have their full functionality and can be more prone to errors when using Android. However, it is possible to answer calls on Android by tapping the AirPods or squeezing the AirPod pros.
If you cannot answer calls on Android, it would be likely that you need to reconnect your AirPods or to make an adjustment in your call settings.
Why don’t my AirPods work on calls?
Below are likely reasons why your AirPods are not working on calls.
Your AirPods are muted on your phone
It might just be the case that you have muted your AirPods on your phone. It would help to make sure that your AirPods are not muted and that it is not the phone’s mic that is selected.
Your AirPods are actually connected to another device
The reason might also be that your AirPods are actually connected to a different device. It would help to make sure that your AirPods are not currently connected to any other devices and to see if it works then.
It would also help to see if your AirPod’s mic works on a different device. If your AirPods do work on a different device, it would suggest that there is actually a problem with the device you are using.
Broken AirPods
It might 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”
Dirty
It might also 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
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
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.
A software issue
AirPods do receive software updates and it might be the case that your AirPods need an update.
To update your AirPods, you need to put them in the charging case, connect the charging case to a power source and move your Apple device (iPhone, iPad or MacBook) near to your AirPods.
Your mic is not allowed on the app’s settings
It could also be the case that you need to enable microphone access in your app’s settings.
If you have tried all of the above and you are still unable to get your AirPod’s mic to work, the best option for you would be to take your AirPods to an Apple Store and to see if they can fix or replace your AirPods.
Why can’t I make a call with my AirPods?
Read more: Can you use AirPods with LG TV?
To make a call using AirPods, you double-tap on your AirPods to activate Siri then tell Siri who to call.
Why can’t I talk on the phone with AirPods?
Likely reasons why you are unable to talk on the phone with AirPods are:
- The mic is dirty and you need to clean it (as explained above)
- A mic is broken and you need to switch to the other mic (as explained above)
- You need to reconnect your AirPods to your device
- Your mic is not allowed in the App settings
Pros and Cons of using AirPods for calls
Pros
- Easy to use
- Great sound quality
- Good connection on iPhone
- No wires to get in the way
Cons
- Can be expensive
- Not compatible with all phones
- Battery life is shorter when using the mic
