Why are my AirPods so quiet?

Many AirPod users know it: The AirPods have become significantly quieter and suddenly everything sounds duller and more distant – even though the volume is already set to maximum. The fact that there are problems with Apple’s wireless headphones in the long run is not news. Because sooner or later, almost every AirPod owner reports such and similar issues. But do not worry: If your AiPods have become quiet, it is not always due to a defect. In many cases, the causes are quite simple and the wireless headphones just need a thorough cleaning. We will show you the reasons why AirPods become quieter and what you can do to solve the problem.

Why are my AirPods so quiet?

Why are my AirPods so quiet? These are the Causes!

If you find that your AirPods are too quiet, you should first check what the problem is. It is not uncommon for dirt and grime to be a reason why your Apple AirPods have become quieter. In most cases, the dirt comes from earwax. This is because in-ear headphones are a real magnet for earwax. In many cases, you can directly detect earwax encrustation on the headphones by taking a close look. But if you now think you can just go ahead and clean wildly, you should be careful. Water is harmful for the sensitive membrane of the speaker, and the grilles of AirPods are also very susceptible and can be damaged quickly. Once they are defective, the speakers behind them will be damaged in the long run. Therefore, the following method is recommended for gently cleaning AirPods:

  1. Take a toothpick and carefully remove the coarsest dirt on the grille of the headphones.
  2. Then you can remove the remaining dirt with a cotton swab. In the case of ear dirt, you can use a drop of baby oil for this purpose, which will quickly dissolve the greasy lard and thus completely free the grille again.
  3. Finally, you should wait for a short while and then remove the excess baby oil with a dry cotton swab.

Now your Apple headphones should work as usual again. If not read the next parts of the article.

Reconnect (pair) Airpods

The first option is to disconnect the Airpods from your iPhone and pair them again. To do this, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on Bluetooth.
  3. Select your AirPods in the list by tapping on them. Tap the i icon next to your AirPods and select Forget This Device to stop pairing with your iPhone.
  4. Go back to Settings, tap Bluetooth again, and pair with your AirPods by tapping Connect.

If the volume of your AirPods still seems too quiet, you have the option to increase the volume of the headphones.

AirPods have become quieter: Increase the Volume

If you still find your AirPods too quiet, you can increase the volume. This works quite easily as long as your iPhone or iPad is nearby. You can simply use the buttons on your smartphone or tablet directly to control the volume, or fall back on Siri, which can do the job for you. To do this, proceed as follows:

  • If you are using first-generation AirPods, you can activate Siri by double-tapping one of the headphones. You then give your command to Siri. For example, a specific statement such as “Hello Siri, please increase the volume by 10 percent.” This way, you can be sure that the volume is ideally adjusted to your personal preferences.
  • On the other hand, those who use second-generation AirPods or AirPods Pro simply say “Hello Siri” and then ask the assistant to adjust the volume accordingly.

Adjust Volume setting individually on the AirPod

However, not everyone is satisfied with the maximum volume of the Apple headphones. In such a case, there is a helpful trick that helps you to make the wireless headphones permanently louder. However, this option only works with the following models:

  • AirPods (2nd generation)
  • AirPods Pro
  • AirPods Max
  • EarPods

If you own one of the above models, you should connect it to your iPhone or iPad and then proceed as follows:

  1. Open Settings in your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Now switch to Accessibility and then select the Audio/Visual option.
  3. Now click on Headphone Accommodations and enable the adjustments.
  4. After that, you can choose how much you want to increase the quiet sounds. If you want to select the volume individually, you can do so with the Custom Audio Setup option.
  5. Then click on Continue. Now you will be presented with various audio examples. You will have to answer questions so that a volume that suits you can be determined. The same happens for the playback of music.
  6. You can then configure the transparency mode if you wish. Here, too, the pitch can be adjusted individually.
  7. Now select Use Custom Settings and the volume of your headphones will be adjusted accordingly.

After completing the above steps, the volume of your Apple headphones should now be significantly louder. If this doesn’t suit you in the long run and you want to revoke the setting, you can simply flip the switch at the Headphone Accommodations option to do so. Thus, you can turn the changes on and off at any time and have a solution when your Apple AirPods have become quiet.

One Apple AirPod is quieter than the other

An equally common problem is the fact that one Apple AirPod is significantly quieter than the other. In such a case, you should check the accessibility settings. To do this, proceed as follows:

  1. Go to the Settings and then select Accessibility.
  2. Now click on the Audio/Visual menu item.
  3. Now check at the very bottom Balance if the volume slider is in the middle between both headphones. If not, you should move it accordingly.

FAQ for “Why are my AirPods so quiet?”

How can I make AirPods that are too quiet louder on iOS?

You can’t adjust the volume of your Apple earbuds using buttons or sliders on the device itself. You have to use a special app that lets you do that! There is no official app from Apple like there is for Android devices.

Fortunately, there are still a few ways to fix the problem of the AirPods being too quiet:

  • Reconnect (pair) AirPods: The first option is to disconnect the AirPods from your iPhone and pair them again.
  • Accessibility: If your AirPods are still too quiet for you, you can take a detour in the control panels to make your AirPods even louder.

Here’s what to do if your AirPods are too quiet and you want to make them louder. Details on how to do it are provided in the beginning of the article.

Why are my AirPods so quiet on Android?

However, not every user can or wants to access Siri, especially if you use the AirPods with an Android smartphone instead of an iPhone. If your AirPods are too quiet on the Android device and the device volume is already set to the maximum value, you can make the following setting:

  1. First, you need access to the Android device’s developer options. Therefore, open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll to the bottom and select System.
  3. Here you will find the entry Build number (may be located under About Phone). Press the entry several times.
  4. After pressing it about seven times, you will get access to the developer options.
  5. Call them up via the Settings page or the System page and look for Developer Options and tap on it.
  6. Scroll through the settings until you find the option Disable absolute volume. Set the setting to On via the slider.

Now, the AirPod should also run at a higher volume on the Android device.

What are AirPods and what makes them stand out?

Apple’s wireless earbuds have a number of great features that set them apart from other brands on the market. One of them is the special W1 chip that allows the AirPods to pair seamlessly and quickly with any Apple device. Another great feature is that the AirPods detect when you take off one or both earbuds and automatically pause music playback for you.

On top of that, the AirPods are just completely wireless. They can be used with both Apple products and Android devices that support Bluetooth connectivity.

The AirPods Pro and Max models also have a noise cancellation feature. This means you can use the AirPods to block out background noise, allowing you to sleep better or concentrate better!

Why are AirPods sometimes too quiet?

When playing music from your iPhone, there is a chance in some cases that you may not hear it at full volume when wearing the AirPods. This is because the W1 chip in the AirPods is trying to save battery and therefore reduces the volume on its own.

Another possibility is that your iOS device is set to Noise Cancellation and this option can also reduce the volume on its own.

Also, if the battery of one or both earbuds is low, they may not play as loud.