Why Are My AirPods So Quiet on Full Volume?

Airpods have become popular and essential devices owing to their advanced audio quality. Despite being convenient, they’re prone to some performance issues.

One of these issues is that they can go quiet even at full volume. This would be a huge concern, especially if they were louder before.

This article is for you if you’re asking, why are my AirPods so quiet on full volume?

Read on to find out the reasons behind this issue and time-tested remedies to fix it.

Why Are My AirPods So Quiet on Full Volume?

Your AirPods are quiet on full volume because the speakers are covered.

There are several reasons for this, but mostly it’s due to the accumulation of earwax, sweat, and dirt, which block the speaker mesh, even when the volume is set to maximum.

There are several reasons why AirPods can turn quiet on full volume. Let’s look at them and their solutions:

Dust, sweat, and earwax 

Most Airpods are built with an opening on their back that lets in dirt, earwax, sweat, and dust.

As time goes by, this debris builds up and blocks the speakers. If you use your Airpods while working out, sweat can get inside the speakers, dry up and cause a buildup.

Solution

For this issue, the remedy is cleaning up the Airpods. Follow the steps below to avoid further damage:

• Check the corners of the Airpods for buildup, then clean immediately. You can clean them yourself or take them to an Apple shop for professional cleaning.
• Since these are electronic devices, you can’t use water or soap for cleaning as they can cause permanent damage to the speakers. Use a dry soft toothbrush, a cotton swab, or a microfiber fabric to remove any buildup. 
• While cleaning, be gentle to avoid pushing the debris deeper inside the mesh speakers. If the dirt is stubborn, use isopropyl alcohol to slightly dampen the cotton swab or cloth before wiping out the dirt. 
• Avoid using sharp objects like needles or toothpicks to force the buildup out since they can poke the Airpods’ mesh. 
• Suppose you use Airpods every day and clean them two times weekly. Ensure that your ears are clean whenever you want to wear them to prevent ear wax from getting inside.

Low power on the connected device

Since AirPods don’t have a volume control feature, their audio volumes depend on those of connected devices, such as iPads or iPhones.

When these devices are on low power mode, most of their settings, including volume output, are limited.

This will affect your Airpods volume even if their battery level is 100%.

Solution

For this issue, you need to manually switch off the low power mode on the connected device. This involves the following steps:

• Find the device’s settings
• Select battery option
• Turn the low power mode feature off

To prevent further interruption, consider fully charging the connected device.

Low battery 

When your Airpods volume is low, for example, below 10%, they can malfunction. The low battery automatically lowers your Airpods’ volume level.

To check the volume, put your Airpods in their charging case and open the lid next to your iPad or iPhone.

If using a Mac, check the battery level by clicking the Bluetooth icon from the menu bar.

Solution

The remedy for this is quick and only involves recharging your Airpods. Do this by either charging them via the charging case or connecting the charging case to a power source.

Airpods charge fast, and you can continue using them within a few minutes. Recharge your Airpods for about 10 to 30 minutes if using a charging case.

The connected device’s software is outdated

Although rare, your Airpods can go quiet if the connected device has firmware and virus issues.

Outdated firmware prevents them from getting new updates and causes malfunctions, including playing audio at low volumes.

Solution

To resolve this problem, update the connected device’s software by using the following procedure:

• Go to the device’s settings and find the “General” option
• Select and click the “Software Update” option
• Tap the “Update Now” option

Restart your device if you can’t find the “Update Now” option.

To do so, press the device’s power button and tap the restart option. This will automatically turn off and on your device, upon which you can reconnect the Airpods.

This will help eliminate software bugs and fix glitches.

The headphone safety feature is turned on

Using a device like an iPhone or iPad may regulate your Airpods’ volume to protect your ears from loud audio.

This feature reduces your Airpods volume when it reaches a certain limit, and it may sound low to you.

Solution

To fix this issue, turn off the feature by following the steps below:

• Open the connected device’s settings
• Choose “Sounds and Haptics,” then tap the “Headphone Safety” option
• Turn off the “Headphone Notification” tab to prevent the device from automatically lowering your Airpods volume. 

This is a permanent feature in some regions, and turning it off won’t remedy the issue.

Sound Check and Equalizer settings are turned on

If you’re using your Airpods with another device, there are sound settings that can alter their volume.

Equalizer (EQ) monitors frequency by regulating the volume settings, while Sound Check adjusts the volume after every song.

Turning on these audio settings can make your Airpods quiet even on maximum volume.

Solution

Check whether these settings are turned on and turn them off. To do so, follow the steps below:

• Find the connected device’s settings
• Select Music, then tap “Sound Check”
• Turn off Sound Check 
• Click EQ from the music option and turn it off 

The Noise Cancellation mode is turned off

This feature eliminates background noises to enable you to hear only the audio on the Airpods.

When turned off, your Airpods may sound quiet if there’s loud background noise.

Solution

• On your connected device, press the volume control.
• Select the “Noise Control” option and Tap “Noise Cancellation” to switch the feature on

Connection errors

Airpods can go quiet due to connection issues. These include Bluetooth connection errors caused by software bugs, connection interference, and an out-of-range device.

When Bluetooth connection is disrupted, your Airpods can go quiet.

Solution

If you encounter this issue, unpair and pair the connected devices by following the steps below:

• Find the device’s setting and select Bluetooth
• Locate the “i” icon next to your Airpods name
• Tap the “i” icon and click the “Forget this Device” option
• Turn the Bluetooth on and off
• Once your Airpods appear among available devices, connect

Damaged Airpods’ hardware

Airpods have a motherboard that connects all hardware parts.

Your Airpods may be quiet because the hardware is damaged. This damage is caused by power surges, overheating, physical impact, and water contact. 

They also have a circuit board that ensures a smooth flow of electricity through all the device’s electrical parts.

When these two parts are damaged, your Airpods system fails, affecting their audio performance, and leading to low or no volumes.

Solution

To fix this issue, you may need to take your Airpods to a service center where a technician can check and fix damages on the motherboard and circuit board.

The process is costly, and most people prefer buying new AirPods to repairing them.

If you buy, choose Airpods rated IPX water resistant because they aren’t affected by water splashes or moisture.

Earlier Airpods lack the water-resistant feature, and the hardware can damage from slight exposure to moisture or water splash.

FAQs

Final Thoughts 

Many people are facing audio performance issues with their Airpods, including them going quiet even after turning on full volume.

Although the most common reason for this is debris buildup, several other causes exist. 

While you can fix most of these issues, some need expert solutions from a technician, and others will require you to get a new pair of Airpods.

When the above remedies don’t help, it’s advisable to contact Apple or schedule an appointment with them, and they’ll help fix the issue or give you a replacement.