Airpods is a fine piece of equipment and works especially well if you’re into the Apple ecosystem — with iPhone, iPad, iPod and Mac. However, just like any other gadget, it’s prone to errors and issues. One such increasingly common issue that Airpods users face is with its sound.
Many have complained that their Airpods are connected, but there is no sound, and here we’ve listed 10 ways to fix the issue on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows and Chromebook.
Restart the paired device
First and foremost — the easiest and quickest in this list of fixes — restart the paired devices and then connect to the Airpods again.
While this may sound elementary, restarting your device generally would fix a lot of temporary issues, including bugs and glitches causing the Airpods connected but no sound issue.
Also read: How to customise your AirPods?
Reset the Airpods and reconnect
If the Airpods no sound issue continues to hamper your experience even after trying to charge the Airpods fully, you can try reconnecting them to your device and see if that fixes the issue.
Follow the steps mentioned below to reset and reconnect your Airpods.
- Open your iPhone or iPad’s settings and tap on the Bluetooth option.
- On the next page, tap on the ‘i’ icon beside the name of your Airpods.
- Then tap on Forget This Device and confirm your action by selecting Forget Device from the prompt that pops-up at the bottom of the screen.
Now put your Airpods back in the case and close it for about 15 seconds. Then open the case, press and hold the setup button at the back until you see an orange light, followed by a white light, which indicates that the Airpods have been successfully reset.
Follow the steps mentioned below to reconnect your Airpods.
- To reconnect your Airpods, switch on the Bluetooth of your iPhone, and open the lid of the Airpods case with both the devices in close vicinity.
- You’ll see a setup animation pop-up.
- Tap on Connect and then on Done.
Also read: How to fix ‘AirPods Microphone Not Working’ issue?
Update your device
The bug could also arise due to the old OS version running on the paired device. Update your device and see if that fixes the Airpods connected but no sound error.
Check the Bluetooth connection
Interference with the Bluetooth connection can also cause Airpods to keep disconnecting. Make sure there isn’t any physical hindrance in between your Airpods and the paired device. Also, ensure that the two devices are connected.
Disable Automatic Ear Detection
Automatic ear detection is a boon as it pauses the music if you take off one of the Airpods and automatically resumes the playback once the Airpods are back in the ears. While the feature is quite useful, it can contribute to the AirPods connected but no sound issue.
To disable automatic ear detection, follow the steps below.
- Go to the Settings app on your iOS device,
- Select Bluetooth and look for your Airpods.
- Tap the i button right next to your Airpods name.
- Scroll down to the Automatic Ear Detection option and slide the toggle to your right to enable the option. To disable the option, slide the toggle button to your left.
Remove volume limit
Volume limit on your iPhone, iPad or iPod could be causing the AirPods connected but no sound error.
To toggle the maximum volume on your device, follow the steps mentioned below:
- Open the Settings application on your device.
- Scroll down to the bottom where you will find the Music section alongside other options related to Apple TV, Photos and more.
- Tap on Music and then on Volume Limit under the Playback section.
- The Max Volume slider will appear; adjust it according to your wish.
Check out our complete guide about the Maximum volume limit on iPhone, iPad and iPod here.
You can also check your iPhone’s audio settings using the control centre, which displays if your phone is connected to the Airpod if you’re actively playing back music.
You can also check the same on the lock screen. Ensure that the Airpods are the selected audio device for the app.
Also read: How to fix ‘AirPods keep disconnecting’ issue?
Check Airpods battery level
Low battery or a malfunctioning one could cause the Airpods to keep disconnecting from your iPhone or Mac.
Follow the steps mentioned below to check your Airpods battery on your iPhone or iPad
- Turn on the Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad by swiping up from the bottom of your device’s screen and tap on the Bluetooth icon (refer to the screenshot above).
- Bring the Airpods case (with the earbuds inside it) near to the paired device and flip it open. A pop-up Airpods animation will appear at the bottom of the screen. This will show the battery life of your each Airpods and their case.
Alternatively, you can also check the battery of your Airpods using the Batteries widget on phones running iOS 14 or newer. If you don’t see the battery widget, follow the steps mentioned below to add a battery widget and view the battery of your Airpods.
- Swipe right on the home screen to get to the widgets page.
- Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Edit.
- Look for the Batteries widget and tap on the green ‘+’ sign followed by Done to add it to the widget page.
You’ll now be able to see the battery percentage of your iPhone and all the devices connected to it, including the Airpods.
You can also check the Airpods battery either using a Macbook. Check out our guide here to learn all the ways to check your Airpods battery.
Check if the AirPods are clean?
If you haven’t done so for a while, cleaning your Airpods periodically is a good idea to keep them as good as new and avoid any playback issues, including the AirPods connected but no sound error.
If nothing else has worked up till here, try cleaning your Airpods as the accumulation of dust or dirt might hinder the device’s wireless capabilities.
Also read: Are Airpods Waterproof? Can you use them in the shower?
How to fix AirPods connected but no sound on Mac?
Here are two ways to fix the AirPods connected but no sound issue when using Airpods with Mac. While the steps won’t be the same, you can reset and repair the Airpods and update your OS on Windows and Chromebook to troubleshoot the problem.
Reset and re-pair AirPods
If your Airpods won’t connect and are not charging or connecting properly with your device, then you need to reset them to factory settings. Follow the steps mentioned below to reset your Airpods on Mac.
Step 1: Click on the Bluetooth icon located on the taskbar, then select Open Bluetooth Preferences.
Step 2: Select the Airpods and click on the ‘X’ button on the right.
Step 3: Click on Forget Device on the pop-up window.
Place your Airpods back in their charging case and wait for few seconds. Now open the case’s lid, then press and hold the reset button on the back until you see a white light blinking.
Your Airpods are ready to be paired again.
Set up AirPods on Mac
To set up your Airpods with your Mac, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Click on the Bluetooth icon located on the taskbar.
Step 2: Click on Turn Bluetooth On.
Step 3: Click on Open Bluetooth Preferences.
Step 4: Bring your Airpods closer to the iOS device and open the lid of the case. You’ll see your Airpods name appear in the list. Click on Connect.
Also read: Why won’t my AirPods connect? 4 ways to fix the error
Update your Mac
If you are connecting your Airpods for the first time, make sure your macOS runs on the required system software. While 1st-gen Airpods require macOS Sierra or later, 2nd-gen require macOS 10.14.4 or later.
Follow the steps mentioned below to update your macOS.
Step 1: Click on the Apple icon located in the top left corner of the screen. Then select System Preferences.
Step 2: Click on Software Update.
Step 3: If an update is available, click on Upgrade Now.
Also read: How to know if your Airpods are real?
