AirPods Microphone Not Working? How to Fix It

Each AirPod has its own microphone, and by default either one can pick up your voice. When the AirPods mic stops working, the fixes below check four places: the Microphone setting, the microphone mesh, the app's microphone permission and the input chosen on a computer. This guide covers AirPods and AirPods Pro; for other faults, start from AirPods pairing and sound fixes, and for other brands, see one earbud not working.

Why Your AirPods Microphone Isn't Working

Six causes stop an AirPods microphone from picking you up, listed in the order to check them:

• The mic is locked to one side. With Always Left AirPod or Always Right AirPod selected, that AirPod stays the microphone even when it's out of your ear or in the case.
• Debris on the microphone mesh. Apple's steps for a quiet AirPod include checking the microphone and speaker mesh on each AirPod and cleaning away any debris.
• No microphone permission for the app. For a mic that fails in one app, Apple says to check that the app is turned on under Privacy & Security.
• The wrong input on a computer. A Mac or Windows PC lists every microphone it can use, so another one can stay selected, and on a Mac, Bluetooth drops to a lower-quality mode while any app uses the mic.
• A host without Bluetooth microphone support. Nintendo says Bluetooth microphones cannot be used on Switch, and Sony's error CE-109531-9 says a Bluetooth audio device isn't compatible with PS5.
• Out-of-date software or a fault. Update first, and reset only as a last step.

The first three are fixed on the AirPods and your iPhone; the last three depend on the computer, console or software, and the fixes below follow the same order.

How to Fix the AirPods Microphone

Work through the seven fixes in this order: the setting, the mesh, the app, then the computer or console, with a reset last.

Fix 1: Set the Microphone to Automatic

To set the AirPods microphone to automatic, wear your AirPods, make sure they're connected, then:

1. Open Settings and tap the name of your AirPods.
2. Tap Microphone. If it isn't shown, tap Audio & Routing first.
3. Choose Automatically Switch AirPods. Always Left AirPod and Always Right AirPod keep the mic on one side.

On a Mac, choose Apple menu → System Settings, click the name of your AirPods, then click Microphone. With Automatically Switch AirPods, a single AirPod becomes the mic when it's the only one you're wearing. Apple documents this setting on its AirPods and AirPods Pro settings page, and the Microphone steps there don't mention AirPods Max.

Fix 2: Check and Clean the Microphone Mesh

To clean a blocked AirPods microphone mesh, follow Apple's cleaning method:

1. Remove the ear tips (AirPods Pro), then check the microphone and speaker mesh on each AirPod for debris.
2. Soak a soft-bristled children's toothbrush in micellar water that includes PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides. Brush each mesh in circles for about 15 seconds, then turn the AirPod over and blot it on a paper towel. Do this three times in total, then rinse the same way with distilled water.
3. Let the AirPods dry for at least two hours before you put them in the case or use them.

Apple's method covers the meshes on AirPods 3, 4 and 5 and AirPods Pro 2 and 3, including the bottom mic on AirPods Pro 3, and says to avoid cleaning any other areas. Apple also says not to run AirPods under water or use sharp objects on them. The care guide explains how to remove earwax from AirPods.

Fix 3: Check the App's Microphone Permission

To check an app's microphone permission on an iPhone:

1. Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security.
2. Tap Microphone, then make sure the app is turned on.
3. If the app already has permission, or isn't listed, contact the app's developer.

Apple lists these steps for a microphone that doesn't work in one specific app.

Fix 4: Test the Mic on a Call

If people can't hear you on calls, check that you haven't muted yourself: during a call, a single press on the stem of either AirPod mutes or unmutes you on AirPods 3, 4, 5 and AirPods Pro. In apps like FaceTime, you hear a sound and see a message saying whether the microphone is on or off. Apple's Voice Memos test (record, then play back the memo) is written for the iPhone's own microphones; Apple gives no separate AirPods mic test on the pages we checked. If callers hear wind or background noise, AirPods 4, 5, Pro 2 and Pro 3 support Voice Isolation: on an iPhone or iPad, open Control Center during the call, tap FaceTime Controls, then select Voice Isolation.

Fix 5: AirPods Mic Not Working on a Mac

To use the AirPods mic on a Mac, choose it as the sound input:

1. Choose Apple menu → System Settings, then click Sound in the sidebar.
2. Click Input, then select your AirPods in the list of input devices.
3. If sound quality drops, quit any apps that use the AirPods mic and close Sound settings. If it's still reduced, click Control Center → Sound, select the Mac's internal speakers, then reselect your AirPods.

Bluetooth has two modes, and Apple explains that audio quality stays reduced while the microphone is in use. If the AirPods aren't set up on the Mac yet, see how to pair AirPods with a MacBook.

Fix 6: AirPods Mic Not Working on a Windows PC

On Windows 11 or Windows 10, select Start → Settings → System → Sound, then find your AirPods under Input, where Windows lists your connected microphones. To test the AirPods mic, select > to the right of the AirPods to open the Properties page, then select Start test and speak normally. Apple describes AirPods on non-Apple devices as a Bluetooth headset: "You can't use Siri, but you can listen and talk." The setup steps for AirPods on a Windows laptop cover pairing.

Does the AirPods Mic Work on Game Consoles?

The AirPods mic doesn't work on Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2: Nintendo's pairing pages for both consoles state "Bluetooth microphones cannot be used", although game audio still plays through paired AirPods. PlayStation 5 goes further: Sony's error page CE-109531-9 says a Bluetooth audio device isn't compatible with PS5 consoles. The console guide explains how to connect AirPods to an Xbox.

Fix 7: Update, Then Reset Your AirPods

Update the AirPods first, and reset them only if the mic still fails. AirPods firmware updates are delivered automatically while your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi. Apple says a reset also resets any custom settings you've made, so set the Microphone option again afterwards. The AirPods soft and factory reset steps cover every model.

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Still not working?

1. Try the next fix: if one side has no sound at all, see AirPods working on one side only.
2. Reset your AirPods: How to Reset AirPods (you'll need to pair them again afterwards).
3. Contact Apple Support: support.apple.com/airpods.
4. Check repair or warranty options: AirPods service and battery options.

Started after an update? Check the Update Tracker for known issues, or check what the latest AirPods update changed.

Related AirPods Problems

Sound that drops to low quality during computer calls is the Bluetooth mode change covered in Fix 5 and in How to Connect AirPods to a Mac. Noise cancelling relies on the outer microphones too: Apple warns that blocked or covered microphones can cause squeals, chirps or feedback, which AirPods Noise Cancelling Not Working covers.

AirPods Microphone: Quick Answers

Noise cancelling questions are answered in AirPods Noise Cancelling Not Working.

How can I fix my AirPods if only one works?

Put both AirPods in the case for 30 seconds, open it near your iPhone and check that each one is charging, then test the silent AirPod in your ear with the other one in the closed case. If an AirPod still isn't working, Apple says to reset them; AirPods working on one side only has every step. If one side is only quieter, check that the Balance slider in Settings → Accessibility → Audio & Visual is in the middle.

Why does one AirPod suddenly stop working?

A flat AirPod is the first thing Apple's steps rule out: they start with a fully charged case and a check that each AirPod is charging, then confirm the AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad. If the silence started right after an update, use the Update Tracker line above.