Why are my AirPods playing from the outside

AirPods are one of the most popular Apple products. They’re easy to use, and they work great! However, sometimes there are issues with them that need to be addressed. One common issue is that AirPods go quiet overtime or start having a low volume. Have you ever had this issue?

Why are my AirPods so quiet?

First of all, you need to know there’s not 1 single reason that could be causing the AirPods to have a low volume or sound quiet. Several reasons could be happening, but there’s no way of knowing for sure what the exact cause is without testing out different things on your own first, so we’ll go over those now!

Your AirPods are dusty or have earwax

First of all, most AirPods have a small opening on the back that allows dust and dirt to get inside. Sometimes ear wax from your ears can also be an issue as well. So if you’re having issues with your AirPods being quiet or just not sounding right, try taking them out and looking through the little holes on the backside of each pod carefully. Try blowing air in there with a blow dryer to clean it out first before trying any other methods!

Also, keep your AirPods clean from earwax by using a tissue or a paper towel to clean it out. You don’t want earwax getting inside your AirPods because this will cause the sound quality to be more muffled and have less bass as well!

Why are my AirPods playing from the outside

Low power mode on your iPhone

Sometimes, going into low power mode on an iOS device can limit audio output from certain apps that are using too much battery, which could affect how loud things play even though there are no settings for volume control in the actual app you’re listening to music with.

This doesn’t make sense as AirPods have their own battery, but it’s just how iOS works.

So if Airpods go quiet all of a sudden while being used with an iOS device, check if you have low power mode enabled and disable it to see if the issue is resolved.

Volume limit on your iPhone

Some iPhones may be set to a maximum volume level that could cause this problem as well. This setting exists to protect your hearing. But if you want to change this, go to Settings – General – Accessibility and scroll down all the way until you see Volume Limit at the bottom.

If you’re using your AirPods with an Android device it shouldn’t be an issue, but most devices have an audio limiter to prevent hearing loss.

Your AirPods/iPhone/Mac need to be updated

If your iOS device and or AirPods weren’t updated when new updates came out, the reason why they’re acting up may be due to software issues. If you can update them both with a newer version of iOS, then go ahead and do so!

To check if there are any available updates for either of these devices:

iPhone – Settings > General > Software Update

AirPods – Check what firmware version they have under “Settings” on iPhone/iPad (it’ll say something like BTXX.00X).

Low battery left on AirPods

If your AirPods are completely dead, they won’t play any audio at all. So make sure both of the pods have some battery life left in them before trying to use them! Also, make sure your AirPods case charges properly and has some battery left to charge your AirPods.

Sometimes the AirPods battery is about to die, but it’s hard to tell because they usually last at least a few hours depending on how you use them. Also, it’s common to have 1 AirPod’s battery drained before the other as well. This is normal!

Reset your equalizer settings

For those of you who don’t know what an Equalizer is, it’s a setting that allows for fine-tuning the frequency response of every speaker/headphone to match how we hear sound in real life. So if something sounds too bassy or treble-y and there’s no way to change this through any other means than changing the EQ balance on each specific device, then try doing so by adjusting some sliders around until everything sounds good again! Or just reset them back to normal.

To adjust these settings on iPhone:

  • Go to Settings > Music > EQ = select off.

Try selecting a different profile and switch back to “off” and see if that helps.

Bluetooth synchronization issues

If you’re having trouble with Bluetooth on your AirPods, make sure the settings are all correct and that they were successfully paired to both of your devices (iPhone/Mac or PC).

Sometimes you need to disconnect and reconnect your AirPods in the Bluetooth settings on each device to solve the issue. One person from Reddit reported a simple way to fix this problem:

  1. With AirPods connected and playing music, turn the volume down to 0
  2. Disconnect your AirPods from your Bluetooth settings page without unpairing/forgetting them and keep them in your ears.
  3. Play music from your iPhone speakers and turn the volume down to 0 as well.
  4. With both (AirPods and iPhone speakers) settings at 0 volume, reconnect your AirPods again and turn the volume up.

Problem solved. This seems to have been reported in the Apple support forums as well, so it’s worth trying if you’re having sync issues.

Make sure both AirPods have the same volume

If one of the AirPod’s volumes level is significantly lower than the other, this may be why they seem quiet. There might be a problem synchronizing both AirPods at the same level.

Why are my AirPods playing from the outside

If you aren’t sure if your AirPods are at the same volume level, there’s an easy way to check it. Take one of them out and put it back in again. Wait until they’re both connected before continuing onto the next step! If one is playing audio much louder than the other, then this will solve your problem!

Try lowering the volume on both AirPods and disconnect them at the same time, then reconnect them both at the same time again to recalibrate their volume levels.

Adjust the volume with Siri

You could always ask Siri to adjust the volume for your AirPods whenever necessary! Sometimes this could help to bump the volume up a little bit and it’s definitely way more convenient than fiddling with the volume buttons on your iPhone.

Siri command: “Hey Siri, increase/decrease AirPod volume by 50%” – this will control both of them at once!

Your AirPods are damaged by water, heat, dust, etc.

Finally, the bad news.

Your AirPods may have been damaged by a liquid or some other substance. This could cause them to malfunction and not play audio properly! If this is the case you should send them back to Apple within your warranty period for repair/replacement.

They can probably save whatever’s left inside of it if they haven’t been destroyed from the outside. Make sure you get an estimate before sending anything though because sometimes these repairs can be really expensive!

The bottom line – why are my AirPods so quiet?

Many people around the web are complaining about quiet AirPods right now but there seem to be several different reasons why it might happen. The most common ones are listed above but if you’re still having trouble, make sure to follow some of the links provided in this article or do a Google search!

Leave a comment below if you have any questions. You can also try asking on Reddit’s /r/AirPods subreddit. Good luck with fixing your quiet AirPods.

How do I stop my headphones from leaking sound?

  1. Use foam ear tips and earpads. Foam ear tips are better for preventing sound leakage than silicone tips.
  2. Cover your earbuds with your hands.
  3. Use bone conduction headphones.
  4. Use noise-isolation headphones.
  5. Use a pair of ear-protection earmuffs.
  6. Turn your volume down.

How do I fix my AirPods out loud?

If you have first generation AirPods, double tap either earbud to wake Siri and then ask Siri to adjust the volume. If you have second generation AirPods or later (this includes the AirPods Pro), and you’ve set up the “Hey Siri” function on your iPhone, say “Hey Siri” and then ask Siri to adjust the volume.

How do I stop AirPods echoing?

Step 1: Put the AirPods back in the charging case, wait for around 30 seconds, then take them back out and pop them in your ears again. Step 2: Or, try turning Bluetooth on and off on your phone or tablet. Then repeat the first step. In all but the most unusual cases, this should solve the issue.

Are AirPods waterproof?

Most AirPod models aren’t water-resistant, and none of them are waterproof, so you need to be careful when using them around water, including sweat. Only AirPods Pro are water-resistant, which means they can withstand heavy sweat and small splashes of water.

Why do my AirPods echo on FaceTime?

Why Is My iPhone Echoing? “Feedback” is the echo you experience during phone or FaceTime calls. Your voice is coming out of the speaker on their phone and then going into the microphone, causing the echo.

Why do my AirPods sound like a robot?

If you are using an earlier version of firmware while Apple has already updated to a higher one, the AirPods will not deliver their best performance. It may even be that your voice will turn robotic for some reason! Updating the firmware is the solution in this scenario.

Can you clean AirPods with alcohol?

To kill any germs that might have hitched a ride on your AirPods, Apple says it’s OK to gently wipe the exterior surfaces (but not the speaker mesh) with a 70-percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or a Clorox disinfecting wipe.

Where is the mic on AirPods?

Look for the microphone ports — on the AirPods or AirPods Pro, you’ll find them at the end of the stem, close to your mouth.

Why do my earbuds pick up background noise?

When the headset is in use, the front side microphone is targeting your voice while the back side microphone is listening for background noise. The electronics within the headset circuitry will adjust what your caller hears making your voice come through loud and clear while reducing background noise by up to 75%.

Can you use AirPods in shower?

Don’t place your AirPods under running water, such as a shower or faucet. Don’t swim with or otherwise submerge your AirPods. Don’t put AirPods in the washing machine or dryer.

What is the difference between transparency mode and off?

In her review, perhaps Lory explains it best, by noting, “(Transparency mode is) different than turning off ANC. It’s actually more like turning on a microphone inside the earbuds that draw in outside audio.

What is ambient sound?

Ambient sound refers to the background or surrounding noise present. You can hear the ambient noise through the earbud microphone while listening to the music. Example: You can listen to the train announcement, rain, birds, etc.