If you find your AirPods 3 microphone not working, we’ll show you how to resolve this issue.
Microphone on AirPods 3 not working? While they’re generally reliable earbuds that rarely cause any trouble, AirPods can and do stop working from time to time. One kind of problem that’s not unusual is when the microphones seem to stop working, keeping you from making calls or speaking commands to Siri. Thankfully, most of the problems you will typically encounter with AirPods 3 microphones are mundane and have simple fixes. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to fix AirPods 3 microphone, step-by-step.
1. Make sure your AirPods are sufficiently charged
Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest: your AirPods 3 mic not working may just be a consequence of the AirPods not being charged enough. Before you do anything else, open up your AirPods case while holding it close to your iPhone and check the charge. If the battery level is low, it may interrupt the microphone’s functioning. Simply return them to the charging case and charge your AirPods for a while until they have enough battery power to work normally. If possible, charge them for at least 15 minutes before trying again and check if that solves your microphone issues.
See also: AirPods 3 Not Charging? Fix! )For AirPods Case Too!)
2. Put the Airpods in the case and try again
Another quick and easy fix for the AirPods 3 microphone not working is to reconnect your AirPods to your device. All you have to do is put both earbuds in their charging case, close the lid, then take them out again. This will reconnect your AirPods to your device. Test your Airpods microphone again, and see if the issue has resolved itself.
3. Clean Your AirPods’ Microphone
Before trying more involved solutions below, check to see if your AirPods’ microphone looks clogged or dirty. As you continue to use your AirPods, the microphone holes may accumulate some grime inside them. That can stop the microphone from working or make you sound muffled. Where is the mic on AirPods 3? You can find the AirPods 3 microphones at the end of the AirPods’ stems. Follow these steps to clean the AirPods 3 microphones.
Spray a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol—don’t get it too wet—and dab away on the microphone holes to the bottom of the AirPods to loosen any gunk. Then, pry out any particles with a toothpick or a pair of tweezers.
When doing this, be careful not to damage the mesh grill covering the microphones.
Once you’ve finished cleaning your AirPods, reconnect and do another AirPods mic test.
4. Restart Your Apple Device
Believe it or not, this simple trick can solve a million problems with your AirPods, not the least of which is running into a situation where the mic doesn’t appear to work. If the AirPods aren’t behaving properly, simply restarting the device you’re trying to connect your AirPods to can be the answer for how to fix the AirPods 3 microphone. You can restart your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Shut Down.
5. Check the microphone settings
If you are having trouble with the microphone on only one AirPod (for instance, the microphone on your right AirPod works fine, but the left AirPod’s not working), the problem may be found in the AirPods’ settings. Check the active microphone setting for your AirPods to determine if it’s configured to use both mics.
Before you perform the steps below, put the AirPods in your ears so they are connected to your iPhone. The steps below won’t work if your AirPods aren’t currently connected to the iPhone.
Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
Select Bluetooth.
Under My Devices, tap the Info icon next to your AirPods.
Tap Microphone.
Make sure Automatically Switch AirPods is selected.
Now try using your AirPod mic again and see if the issue is resolved.
6. Reset & Reconnect Your AirPods
If you are still experiencing the problem of AirPods 3 microphone not working, it might be time for a more drastic though still fairly simple measure. If your AirPods have a corrupted connection to your phone, it might be possible to fix that problem by removing the AirPods from your iPhone entirely and then re-pairing it as if they were brand new. It sounds like an extreme measure, but only takes a few moments.
Start by putting AirPods in their charging case and closing the lid. Open the charging case, but leave your AirPods inside.
Now, start the settings app on your iPhone and tap on Bluetooth.
Tap the info icon next to AirPods.
Tap Forget This Device.
Confirm Forget Device.
Confirm Forget Device again.
Keeping the lid of your AirPods’ charging case open next to your iPhone, tap Connect and follow the on-screen instructions.
When your AirPods are reconnected to your iPhone, tap Done.
Now you can try your microphone again.
Repair or Replace Your AirPods
If none of the fixes above worked, your AirPods may be damaged. If you have a habit of dropping your AirPods, you may have also ended up damaging the microphones. Contact Apple Support or book an appointment for your AirPods at the nearest Apple Store for repairs or a replacement.