How to Test Your AirPods Microphone

If people on a call can't hear you, or your voice sounds muffled or distant, the fastest fix is to test the AirPods microphone directly. Confirm that your device is using the AirPods as its input, watch the input level, then record and play back a short clip. This guide covers those steps on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows and Android, and how to read the result.

Before you start

• Charge the AirPods and the case, then put both earbuds in your ears.
• Connect the AirPods to the device you want to test and close other apps that might be using the microphone, such as call or meeting apps.
• Test in a quiet room first so background noise doesn't hide a real problem.
• If your AirPods are paired with several Apple devices, make sure they are connected to the one in front of you. Automatic switching can move them to another device.
• Update the operating system on your phone or computer. AirPods firmware updates install automatically while the AirPods are connected to an updated Apple device.

Some tests run entirely on your device, such as the built-in sound settings and voice recorder apps. Others depend on an app or service, such as a browser-based microphone test or a test call. Before you use a web tool or a meeting service, check its privacy information to find out whether audio stays in your browser or is uploaded. Don't assume either way.

Step-by-step instructions

iPhone or iPad

• 1. With the AirPods connected, open the AirPods settings. On recent iOS versions they appear near the top of the Settings app. On older versions, open Settings > Bluetooth and tap the info button next to your AirPods.
• 2. Find the Microphone option. Set it to switch automatically, or pick Always Left or Always Right if you want to test one earbud at a time.
• 3. Open Voice Memos, record a few sentences at your normal speaking volume, and play the recording back.
• 4. To confirm the AirPods captured your voice rather than the phone, put the phone on the far side of the room while you record. If your voice is still clear and close, the AirPods microphone is working.
• 5. When you finish, set the Microphone option back to how it was.

Mac

• 1. Open System Settings > Sound, or System Preferences > Sound on older macOS versions.
• 2. On the Input tab, select your AirPods as the input device.
• 3. Speak normally and watch the input level meter. It should rise when you talk and drop when you stop.
• 4. For a playback check, record a short clip in an app such as QuickTime Player or Voice Memos, with the AirPods selected as the microphone.
• 5. Afterwards, switch the input back to your usual device if you don't want the Mac to keep using the AirPods microphone.

Windows

• 1. Pair the AirPods in Bluetooth settings.
• 2. Open Settings > System > Sound and look under Input. Windows may list the AirPods twice: once as stereo headphones and once as a headset or hands-free device. The microphone belongs to the headset or hands-free entry.
• 3. Select that entry as the input device. Speak and watch the volume bar or the microphone test option shown for the device.
• 4. Record a clip with the Sound Recorder app, or with your call app's own audio test, and play it back.

Android

Android connects to AirPods as a standard Bluetooth headset, so it won't show Apple's microphone settings. Record a clip in a voice recorder app or make a test call, and keep the phone across the room as described for iPhone. Some recorder apps always use the phone's built-in microphone, so if the result is unclear, try a call or a different app before blaming the AirPods.

Browser-based microphone test

When the browser asks for permission, allow microphone access. If the page has a device selector, choose your AirPods. The browser may default to the built-in microphone even while the AirPods are playing audio. You can remove the permission in the browser's site settings once you're done.

Check the output

A working AirPods microphone gives a level that moves with your voice and a recording where speech is clear and easy to understand. Your voice should sound close, not as if you were speaking from the other side of the room.

• No movement on the input level usually means the wrong input device is selected or an app has blocked microphone access.
• A level that stays near maximum and sounds distorted suggests the input gain is too high or the environment is loud.
• A thin, slightly muffled sound on a computer is normal in hands-free mode. While the AirPods microphone is active, Bluetooth switches to a headset mode that uses a lower sample rate than stereo playback, so call audio sounds less detailed than music.
• On a Mac, Audio MIDI Setup shows the format the AirPods are currently using if you want to confirm this mode change.

Noise reduction during calls is handled partly by the AirPods and partly by the app you use. A voice memo and a call can therefore sound different, so test with the app you actually depend on.

Common problems and next steps

The AirPods microphone isn't listed or isn't selected

Disconnect and reconnect the AirPods, then check the input device again. In meeting and call apps, the microphone is often chosen in the app's own audio settings, separately from the system setting. Select the AirPods there too.

Only one earbud picks up your voice

If the Microphone option is set to Always Left or Always Right and that earbud is in the case, the microphone won't work. Switch the option to automatic. Then repeat the AirPod microphone test with each side set in turn to find out whether one earbud is at fault.

Your voice sounds muffled or quiet

Look at the microphone openings and grilles on each earbud. Debris can block them. Clean them gently with a dry, soft brush, and don't use liquids or sharp objects. Then test again in a quiet room to rule out background noise.

The problem stays after these checks

Forget the AirPods on the device, pair them again, and repeat the microphone test. If that doesn't help, reset the AirPods. The reset method differs between models, so follow Apple's instructions for yours. If the microphone still fails on more than one device after a reset, the AirPods may need service from Apple.