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If you’re on a call, listening to music, or simply asking Siri a question and suddenly find yourself thinking, “why are my AirPods so quiet?” don’t fret. There are many reasons for the low volume on Airpods, and most are quick and easy to fix.
These nifty devices provide a seamless switch between your iPhone, Macbook, or Apple Watch when listening to music. However, your favorite playlist probably won’t hit the same if your AirPods aren’t loud enough.
If you’re struggling with sound issues, you’ll find the most common reasons and solutions in this guide.
My Airpods are Quite – 8 Common Causes
Without further ado, here are a few of the most common causes why your AirPods sound is low.
1. Airpods’ Battery Level Is Low
Wondering ‘why does my AirPods sound so low’? A typical reason for this could be that the battery level is low.
Low battery levels of around 10% will result in reduced performance, low volume, as well as weak connectivity with the connected device. If the battery is entirely dead, there will be no audio.
That said, it’s always best to check your AirPods battery and make sure your pods are charged, and they’ll let you know with a beeping sound that it needs more power. If you notice a beep from one earbud only, this is normal as one earbud battery might drain before the other.
If charging your earbuds doesn’t do the trick, you should inspect your charging case and make sure it is working.
2. Low Power Mode Is Enabled on Your Apple Device
Another reason your AirPods are too quiet might be that Low Power Mode is enabled on your iPhone, Macbook, or Apple Watch. This feature is activated when your device’s battery is running low and will display your battery icon in yellow.
Although Low Power Mode provides several benefits, it also slows down or disables some functions. It may limit audio output from particular apps that are draining your battery. Additionally, it can cause connectivity issues between the earbuds and the connected device, such as failing to run 5G.
Fortunately, all you’ll need to do is charge your Apple device and disable Low Power Mode to fix this issue.
3. The Volume Is Low on Connected Device
Imagine this, you start listening to a podcast and start wondering, “why is the podcaster speaking so softly?” or “why aren’t my AirPods loud?”. Well, it could be a simple case where the volume of your connected device is low.
This may seem like an apparent cause and solution, but sometimes, you might just have a few seconds of panic. So be sure to check the volume of your connected device if you’re struggling with low volume.
4. There Is Earwax Build-up, Dust, or Dirt in Your Airpods
Another common explanation for why your AirPods are not loud enough is the build-up of earwax, dust, dirt, as well as dead skin flakes.
Using your AirPods when working out and breaking a sweat causes sweat to dry on the speakers, resulting in more dust and dirt build-up. Additionally, the small opening at the back of the earbud allows dirt and dust to gather. Earwax is a typical culprit for low volume or muffled sound with AirPods.
It’s best to clean your earbuds regularly with a tissue, microfiber cloth, paper towel, or Q-tip. Remember to avoid using any liquid substances when cleaning and pay close attention to the corners of the earbuds.
5. Your Equalizer Settings Needs To Be Reset
Unsure about what this function does? Simply put, the audio equalizer (EQ) helps to improve balance and makes music sound better.
The EQ can also cause your AirPods to be quieter at times. To fix this, you’ll want to check your EQ in the settings on your connected Apple device. Here’s how you can find it: Settings > Music > EQ.
After locating the EQ function under Audio, you can switch it to “Off”.
6. The Volume on Both Earbuds Is Not Balanced
Wondering, “why is my AirPod so quiet and the other loud?”. While the first thing that may come to mind is that one earbud is broken, don’t panic just yet. This can be because the volume of the two earbuds is not balanced.
Here are a few easy steps you can follow if you notice that one Airpod is quieter:
- Go to Settings on your connected Apple device.
- Click Accessibility
- Go to Hearing
- Click Audio/Visual
- Slide the audio volume balance slider to the middle of the bar
7. Bluetooth and Connection Errors
If you’re struggling with your Bluetooth connection, it might cause the audio on your AirPods to sound low or inconsistent. Luckily, a simple “switch it on and off” is just the right method to try to fix this problem.
- Go to Settings on your connected Apple device
- Click Bluetooth
- Go to My Devices and click the icon next to the name of your AirPods
- Select Forget This Device
- Switch your Bluetooth off and then turn it back on
- Go back and select your Airpods and click Connect (once they appear on the Available Devices section)
8. Airpods’ Hardware Is Damaged
If your AirPods volume is too low after trying the fixes mentioned above, the hardware may have been damaged somehow.
Like other electronic devices, AirPods feature a circuit board and motherboard that assists with electricity flow and connects different parts of the hardware. If a part of the device is damaged, this may impact the entire system.
Certain factors, such as water damage, overheating, and physical impact, may cause your pods to crash or stop working entirely. If damaged hardware is the case, you’ll have to get it checked out in a service center.
Keep in mind that it’s best to compare repair prices and consider replacing your AirPods, as often, it may be cheaper to purchase a new pair.
Why are my AirPods so quiet? | Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to fix quiet AirPods, you won’t have to struggle with low audio output. So open that playlist or make the call, and enjoy crisp, loud sounds.
And next time you hear someone saying, “why are my AirPods so low? I can’t hear the sound clearly”, you’ll be able to lend a hand.
If you want more tips and tricks to combating low volume, check out these articles on why headphones are quiet and how to make headphones louder.
Post by Salma M
