How To Fix Muffled AirPods

Apple’s AirPods are earbuds that have rapidly become popular owing to the fact that they are very portable, have the capacity to operate wirelessly, and provide excellent sound. However, even the most cutting-edge Bluetooth headphones might have a malfunction, which can result in the music or noises being distorted or muffled.
Why do my AirPods all of a sudden have a muted sound? Your AirPods’ speakers being filthy is the most likely reason of the sound being muddled that you’re experiencing with them. Due to the fact that they are placed directly into the ear canal, earwax and other debris may accumulate over time, resulting in a degradation of the sound quality. Interference from another Bluetooth device or the fact that your AirPods need to be reset are two more possible causes.
If the sound from your Apple AirPods is distorted or muffled, continue reading this article for a step-by-step instruction that will walk you through diagnosing and repairing the issue.

About Apple AirPods

Apple’s AirPods are wireless headphones that use Bluetooth technology. According to the product page on Apple’s website, the AirPods use “optical sensors and motion accelerometers to determine whether they are in your ears.” [Citation needed] Their voice detection function features an extra “speech-detecting accelerometer that combines with beamforming microphones to filter out external noise and concentrate on the sound of your voice.” [Case in point:]

A single charge is good for either 5 hours of listening time or 3 hours of conversation time at their normal capacity. If you are seeking for a way to charge your device more quickly, placing it in their unique case for only 15 minutes will give you the equivalent of three hours of listening time or two hours of conversation time. In the interest of convenience, the carrying case, which is also cool, has space for numerous charges.

To see all the features of Apple AirPods, check out their listing on Apple’s Website.

AirPods Sound

Apple’s AirPods are intended not just for effortless usage but also for high-quality sound. AirPods provide a sound that’s clear in the mid-tones and is good for listening to podcasts and most music. Fully working AirPods should preserve this clear sound quality throughout their life, but if you notice that the sound is muffled or distorted, you may require one of the following remedies to modify it.

How to Fix Muffled Sounds in AirPods

The sound quality of the AirPods often has issues, the most prevalent of which is a muffled or diminished sound. It is quite probable that dirt is the primary source of this distortion, and that the dirt is located inside your AirPods themselves.

Even if you clean your ears on a daily basis, the open fissures in your AirPods can eventually get clogged with ear wax, debris, or pocket lint if you do not store them correctly or clean them on a regular basis. This is true even if you clean your ears every day.

Cleaning Your AirPods

If you want the sound quality of your AirPods to remain high over the long term, it is advised that you clean them every three to six months. Cleaning your AirPods can also help prolong their lifespan, allowing you to get many more years of usage out of them.

Since keeping your AirPods clean should be a part of a routine maintenance routine, you should start with this step before going on to any other options. You may rapidly clean your AirPods by following these simple instructions in the order given:

1. Wipe Down Exterior with a Microfiber Cloth

This step will give you a basic clean while also ensuring that the outside of each unit is as clear of stray particles as is physically feasible. Additionally, it will assist in preparing the AirPods for a more in-depth cleaning, which will be discussed in subsequent phases.

You need to do this step regularly, even after each time you use anything. It will not do any damage to the AirPods and will, over time, prevent some dirt from accumulating on them.

2. Clean the Speaker Ports

Using this method, you will be able to clean the crevices and remove any buildup that has occurred on the speakers. Because the indentations are rather tiny and difficult to access, it is imperative that you make use of the appropriate equipment.

The following are the instruments that you will need to begin cleaning the crevices:

• Q-tip made of microfiber material
• Toothpick
• Towel made of paper
• Cleaner for the screen (such as an optic cleaner for DSLR cameras)
• If you don’t have screen cleaner, you may use rubbing alcohol (at least 90 percent strength).
• Optional compressed air or a portable air pump of appropriate size

Once you have all of your supplies prepared, you can begin the process of thoroughly cleaning your AirPods by following these instructions. It is recommended that you carry out each step of the procedure on a single earbud at a time.

• One end of the Q-tip should be sprayed with screen cleaner or rubbing alcohol. This will make the wax and debris that has accumulated in the cracks easier to remove. The units may also be helped to become more sanitary by using rubbing alcohol.
• Distribute the cleaner around the surface of the grill: Make sure to apply the cleaner with the Q-tip to every portion of the earphone that has a black mesh grille (there are three of these). Since these are the locations from which the sound emanates, they will be the ones most negatively impacted by the accumulation of muck. Take care not to exert an excessive amount of force in these locations; the grill is only a mesh screen and is easily damaged.
• Allow the alcohol to do its function: It won’t take the alcohol more than a few seconds to break down the wax and grime accumulation on the surface.
• To eliminate the accumulation, you may use the toothpick: Now is the time to make use of the toothpick in order to carefully remove the loosened buildup from each and every crevice. For the most effective removal of crud from the toothpick, you may use a paper towel to clean it.
• Repeat the wiping process using a towel made of microfiber: After you have determined that all of the buildup has been eliminated, you may use your microfiber cloth to eliminate any remaining particles that may be present. If you spritz a little bit of screen cleaner or alcohol onto this cloth, you will increase the amount of dirt that it can pick up.
• Compressed air should be used for additional effect: You may use a compressed air canister or another tiny air spraying equipment on the dry earbud to clear dust and debris from behind the grill. This can be done if you have one of these devices. This step is not required, but it does provide the potential for further benefits.
• Allow them to completely dry out: After you have finished cleaning a unit, you need to make sure that it is totally dry before using it again. Place them on the table in such a way that the majority of the speaker is facing down; this will guarantee that any moisture that may have gotten inside moves outward, preventing it from harming the earbud’s inner workings.
• Repeat the previous step with the other earbud: When you have finished doing this to both of your AirPods, you will immediately be able to see how much cleaner they are. This will be the case whether you have one or both AirPods. It looks nearly exactly the same as if you bought a brand new pair!

3. Clean the Charging Case

You have undoubtedly also noticed that the charging case has accumulated quite a bit of dirt and pocket lint as a result of everyday usage. This is something that you have probably observed. You will want to make sure that the case is spotless and all set to receive your freshly washed headphones before you place the AirPods back inside of it.

The procedure for cleaning the case is quite similar to the cleaning procedure for the AirPods, and the procedures are as follows:

• Screen cleaning should be sprayed onto a Q-tip, and then the tip should be used to spread the cleaner around the casing anywhere there is buildup or grime.
• Make use of the toothpick; doing so will eliminate any surplus accumulation. Be careful to get into all of the teeny-tiny gaps where the case was put together, as well as the inside of the mold where the AirPods are kept.
• Wipe the screen with a cloth made of microfiber, and if required, apply more screen cleaner to the cloth. Check that the casing has been completely dried out.
• Utilize the compressed air to remove the last traces of dirt from the components that are particularly difficult to clean.

Make Sure You Have a Stable Bluetooth Connection

Sometimes cleaning your AirPods won’t fix the issues you’re having with them, even if you do it many times. You should still do this routine maintenance work nonetheless, but there are also some additional measures you may take to remedy the sound problems you’re experiencing with your AirPods.

Data may be sent over relatively small distances using Bluetooth technology. Because of its very low power consumption, it is an excellent choice for both Apple’s AirPods and third-party accessories like wireless headphones.

Sound that is distorted or cracked is often the consequence of a Bluetooth connection that is unreliable. Because this is the sole method by which AirPods may connect to your electronic device, it is very important to check that the connection is performing as it should. If it isn’t, the problem is probably caused by Bluetooth interference, particularly if you have other Bluetooth devices in the immediate area.

It is essential to have an understanding of the factors behind this Bluetooth interference as well as the solutions available to address it.

Disable Nearby Bluetooth Devices

In the high-tech world of today, it is possible that many of us are using more than one Bluetooth device at the same time. These devices may include printers, speakers, keyboards, or even additional wireless headphones. Check to ensure that these gadgets are either unplugged or turned off.

It’s possible that this won’t fix all of your problems, but for others, it’s worked like a charm to get rid of the issue once and for all. You should go to the following step, however, if you have already attempted this remedy or if you do not have any additional devices operating in the first place.

Toggle Bluetooth Off and Back On

Bluetooth is an example of a wireless radio frequency that, similar to Wi-Fi, is susceptible to having connection issues. It’s possible that you only need to reset the connection on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to get things working again. In order to reset your Bluetooth, please follow the procedures below:

• Launch the Control Center on your phone, or on your computer, launch the Menu Bar.
• Make sure that Bluetooth is completely turned off.
• Keep counting for about ten seconds.
• Once this period of time has passed, activate Bluetooth.

This repair may be able to help restore your Bluetooth connection in some circumstances. In the event that it does not, you will need to do a reset on your AirPods by following the on-screen instructions.

A Note about Bluetooth Issues on Mac Computers

Depending on the age of your Mac and the version of OS X it is running, the Bluetooth feature on certain computers might be particularly temperamental at times. There is a good chance that the issues you have with external devices are caused by the devices themselves; but, it is also possible that the issue is caused by your Mac.

The Bluetooth functionality of your Mac may be damaged; the following are some troubleshooting procedures you might try:

• As we’ve said in the previous section, the quickest and easiest option is to simply turn off and then back on the Bluetooth device in question.
• Take out any USB devices: Apple has noted in earlier support materials that having USB devices connected to your computer might occasionally cause Bluetooth to become unresponsive. If you have any USB devices plugged into your computer, you should remove them. When you disconnect these devices, the Bluetooth problems will sometimes go away on their own.
• Remove any files that might be corrupted: Data corruption is a common cause of Bluetooth problems, and removing possibly damaged files will help. Due to a problem with the system or a file, this does occur on occasion, despite the fact that it is not a very typical occurrence. In the event that this does occur, the simplest approach to repair the issue is to delete those files and let macOS to generate some brand new copies of them on its own.
• Resetting the Bluetooth module on your Mac should be your very last choice since after this step is complete, you will need to reconfigure all of your Bluetooth devices (not just your AirPods) in order for this step to take effect.

Reset your AirPods

Resetting your AirPods might fix several difficulties that you may be experiencing with your headphones. In addition to the possibility of improving the sound quality, reports indicate that it has also resolved concerns with the battery life of earlier versions.

Remember that after your AirPods have been completely reset, they will need to be repaired to either your iPhone or Mac, or another device of your choosing.

• Using the Setup Button to Reset: To begin, you will need to press and maintain pressure on the setup button. On the reverse side of each AirPod is where you’ll find this button. Continue doing this for about a minute and a half.
• Keep an eye out for a white LED that flashes: The indicator light on your case will start off white before changing to any other color. After then, it will display a series of amber blinks. At long last, it will stop pulsating and return to its white state.
• Connect your AirPods to the device you’re using: You will be able to re-pair your AirPods with your iOS device (iPhone, iPad, or Mac) as soon as the white light begins to blink rapidly.
• Take in Something to Listen to: After you have successfully linked your headphones with your smartphone, you should try listening to anything on your device; if this has resolved your sound problem, great! If not, you may need to check for updates on your iOS device.

Check your iOS Device for Updates

It is possible that you may not have the most recent version of iOS loaded on your device if you are having problems connecting to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod when attempting to do so. Apple publishes significant upgrades to its iOS on a regular basis (about once a year), and these improvements often come along with a new version of the company’s operating software. The most recent significant iOS upgrade, version 13, was published in September of this year (2019).

If you are still using an older version than this one, it is imperative that you upgrade your smartphone to guarantee that you are constantly running the most recent version of the iOS. This is particularly important if you like utilizing a variety of other Apple goods.
As long as your AirPods are linked to a device that is running the most recent version of iOS, you should ensure that they are constantly kept up to date. Check the version of iOS that you are using if you have any reason to believe that this is not the case.

• Launch the app and choose Settings.
• Navigate to Settings > General > About.
• The version number may be found on the About page, to the right of the item that says Version.

If the most recent version of iOS is not installed on your Apple device, a message should appear in the Settings menu informing you that you need to upgrade. If you do not have this update, you should contact Apple so that they can assist you in troubleshooting the issue.

Even if you believe that your AirPods functioned normally on a previous version of iOS, you are not benefitting from the most recent changes that Apple may have issued that impact your headphones directly since you are using an older version of iOS. Because these fixes are often only implemented in the most recent version of iOS, if you are using an older version of iOS, it is possible that this update will not be applied to your headset.

It is important to bear in mind that upgrading the iOS might be the only method to resolve the problem you are experiencing, especially if you possess a device that has been jailbroken or have an older device that is no longer supported. If it turns out that an update is not going to be released, it could be time to ditch that antiquated gadget in favor of something that can keep up with your needs in the not too distant future.

What if the AirPods Are Still Muffled?

Even after giving your AirPods a thorough cleaning and re-establishing a connection to Bluetooth, you may still notice that one of them plays a lower volume or has a sound that is more muffled than the other. There is one advice that is a little bit different from the others that a lot of people swear by, and it’s the one that’s popular among fans of Apple and AirPods.

They recommend that sucking on the AirPod that is experiencing the issue might help clean up any lingering loss of hearing. If you want to do this action with your mouth, you should absolutely scrub your teeth and gums completely before beginning. Also, ensure that they are completely dry before using them.

What Do I Do if None of these Fixes Work?

We recognize that having superb sound in your AirPods is vital for folks with a busy life who are often on the run. If you are still encountering troubles, it may be time to call the pros.

If you have arrived to this stage in the post, you may already have done all in your power to remedy your AirPods’ sound difficulties. Get in contact with Apple Support or visit your nearest Apple store to troubleshoot.

If there is still a warranty on your device, Apple may be able to repair or replace a broken item for free or at a low-cost. Due to the strong demand for Apple’s AirPods, you may have problems receiving a replacement if a new version has just been introduced, thus some waiting may be necessary.