Economy ・ Causes of IT AirPods microphone malfunction and 9 countermeasures

Lifehacker [Japan Version] Reprinted from the article published on January 5, 2022

If your AirPods mic doesn't work, there are many possible reasons.

Examples include dust in the microphone hole, incorrect settings, or minor bugs or malfunctions.

If your voice is unclear or doesn't pick up at all, try the following causes one by one. It will surely lead to the solution of the situation.

1. Put it back in the case and reconnect

Most AirPods audio issues can be resolved by simply reconnecting to your iPhone.

In particular, if you have been able to use it normally until just a while ago, please do not hesitate to try reconnecting.

The procedure is simple, just put both AirPods in the charging case (smart case in the case of AirPods Max) and take it out again.

2. Remove dirt

After months of using AirPods, the holes in the microphone get dirty.

This can cause the microphone to get stuck or muffled. In such a case, clean the AirPods microphone.

First, use a cotton swab sprayed with alcohol (be careful not to overspray) to wipe off any dirt on the microphone holes at the bottom of the AirPods. Then remove the foreign matter with a toothpick or tweezers.

At that time, you need to be very careful not to break the mesh part that covers the microphone.

3. Check the microphone settings

If you can only use one microphone, it may be a configuration issue. On the AirPods settings screen, make sure you're set to use both microphones.

Open "Settings" "Bluetooth" and tap the "Information" icon next to the AirPods you want to set.

Then tap "Microphone" and select "Automatically switch AirPods". That way, AirPods will pick the best microphone for you when you use it.

Other microphone settings are "left" and "right".

With this setting, if you accidentally put the AirPods on the other side in the case, or if the ambient noise is noisy with the microphone, it tends to cause trouble.

4. Update the AirPods firmware

If the firmware is out of date, the microphone may not work properly.

Check the latest firmware version in "Settings", "General", "Information", and "AirPods".

5. Restart your iPhone

If you're experiencing occasional connectivity issues that prevent you from receiving audio from your AirPods correctly, try restarting your iPhone.

First, press and hold the volume down button and the side button at the same time (only the side button if the model has a home button) for a few seconds.

Then slide the displayed power icon to the right. Wait about 30 seconds, then press and hold the side button to restart.

6. Update iPhone

If the AirPods microphone doesn't work, it may be a problem with the iPhone's system software.

Try the update from "Settings", "General", and "Software Update" to see if it improves.

7. Reset and reconnect your AirPods

If that doesn't work, reset your AirPods. Press and hold the charging case status button (for AirPods Max, press and hold the noise control button and Digital Crown at the same time) until the status LED turns amber.

This completes the reset.

Open the charging case again near your iPhone (remove it from your smart case for Airpods max) and tap Connect and Done.

The iPhone's network settings can also be one of the causes of problems with AirPods microphones.

Open the iPhone Settings app and select "General", "Transfer or Reset iPhone", "Reset", "Reset Network Settings".

9. Send or replace your AirPods for repair

If all of the above doesn't work, it's likely that your AirPods are out of order.

If you often drop your AirPods, it may have broken your microphone.

Contact Apple Support or book a repair or replacement at your local Apple Store.

Finally, it's a good idea to check for common AirPods-related issues other than microphones.

Original Article: AirPods Microphone Not Working? Here's What to Do by MakeUseOf