AirPods Connected but No Sound? (Here’s the FIX!)

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Writer, Apple

Over the last decade, Farhad has gained hands-on experience with smartphones, laptops, accessories, wearables, printers, etc. If he's not writing, you can bet he's trying to keep up with the latest technology. He oversees coverage of iPhone, iOS, and Apple Watch for Gotechtor.

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It’s frustrating when your AirPods are connected but have no sound as you cannot enjoy your favorite music streaming service.

There are many reasons why this may happen, though. Fortunately, this can be an easy problem to fix, providing you know what to look for.

We’ll go through all the possible reasons why your AirPods are connected but won’t play audio and how to fix the problem.

Why Are AirPods Connected but Have No Sound?

Your AirPods might be connected but have no sound for a few reasons. The volume limit and audio balance might be set to off. Perhaps this is why your AirPods don’t sound loud enough for you to hear them.

It’s not just that. There are other reasons why your AirPods may have no sound, even if they’re connected.

  • AirPods Bluetooth connection with the phone is disconnected.
  • AirPods don’t have enough battery.
  • Outdated AirPods firmware or iOS.
  • AirPods have a hardware problem.
  • AirPods don’t fit well in the charging case and don’t charge.

How to Fix AirPods Connected but Have No Sound

If your AirPods are connected, but there’s no sound, you need to reset and repair your AirPods. To re-pair your AirPods, go to Settings > Bluetooth > Info > Forget This Device. Then, hold the back button for ten seconds.

Please do not panic if your AirPods still have no sound. There is a list of other proven steps to resolve this issue.

  1. Reset AirPods
  2. Disable Automatic Ear Detection
  3. Remove Volume Level Limit and Audio Balance
  4. Update iOS
  5. Reset Network Settings
  6. Clean AirPods
  7. Charge AirPods
  8. Contact Apple Support

Here are all the tips that will help you fix your AirPods connection problems. Try these tips in order until you find the one that fixes your problem.

Check out this article if you have problems with one AirPod not working for step-by-step instructions.

1. Reset AirPods

Resetting AirPods solves many minor issues, including no sound problem. To reset your AirPods using iOS, follow the steps below:

1. First, put AirPods in their Charging Case.

2. Close the lid, wait 30 seconds, and open the lid.

3. After that, go to Settings.

iPhone Settings App
Go to Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Then. select Bluetooth.

Bluetooth in Settings app
Tap on Bluetooth. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

5. Tap on “i” next to AirPods name.

iOS Bluetooth information icon
Select the “i” icon. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

6. Next, select Forget This Device.

Forget This Device
Tap on Forget This Device. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

7. Go back to your AirPod (make sure the lid is open).

8. Press and hold Setup Button for at least 15 seconds.

9. The white light becomes a flashing amber light, and it’s done.

10. Finally, reconnect AirPods to iPhone/iPad/iPod/Mac/Android device. 

2. Disable Automatic Ear Detection

Sometimes Automatic Ear Detection causes trouble in AirPods. Users report the AirPods are connected, but there’s no sound! Turning off this feature may solve the problem. Follow the steps below:

1. First, head to the Settings menu. 

iPhone Settings App
Go to Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. Select Bluetooth.

Bluetooth in Settings app
Select Bluetooth. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Then, tap on the “i” icon next to your AirPods name.

Bluetooth i Icon
Tap on the information icon. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Finally, disable Automatic Ear Detection.

Disable Automatic Ear Detection
Disable Automatic Ear Detection. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Remove the Volume Level Limit and Audio Balance

Turning on the Volume Level Limit on iPhone or iPad may cause trouble. If your AirPods are connected but have no sound, this could be the reason.

This feature allows you to control the volume limit, so it can’t hurt your ears. It is disabled by default, but check to ensure it’s not turned on by mistake. 

To set audio balance:

1. Tap Settings.

iPhone Settings App
Head to Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. Following that, scroll down and select Accessibility.

Open Accessibility in Settings app
Choose Accessibility in Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Scroll down and go to Audio/Visual.

Audio and Visual in Accessibility
Tap on Audio/Visual. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Next, choose Balance Left or Right.

Balance in accessibility
Change Balance. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

To remove the Volume Level Limit, follow the steps below:

1. Go to Settings.

iPhone Settings App
Head to Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. Then, choose Sounds & Haptics.

3. Select Headphone Safety.

Headphone Safety
Select Headphone Safety. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. After that, disable Reduce Loud Sounds.

Loud Sounds
Disable Reduce Load Sounds. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Update iOS

Apple releases around 10 iOS updates a year on average, and we recommend updating your iPhone as soon as possible.

If your iPhone runs an old version of iOS, there might be bugs and problems. So, if you want to prevent these types of issues, update your iPhone or iPad right after the update is released. 

Here’s how to check for available updates:

1. First, head to the Settings app.

iPhone Settings App
Go to Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. After that, select General.

General Menu in Settings
Select General. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Select Software Update.

Software update in General menu
Choose Software Update. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Check if there’s any new version available or not. 

5. Reset Network Settings

If your AirPods are connected but still have no sound, it’s time to reset your iPhone’s network settings.

There may be some connectivity issues, and resetting network settings may solve these problems.

Before starting the process, keep in mind that resetting network settings will remove all Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi networks, call settings, and all other settings. To reset network settings, follow the steps below:

1. Choose Settings.

iPhone Settings App
Go to Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. After that, tap on General.

General Menu in Settings
Tap General. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Hit Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Select Transfer or Reset iPhone. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Then, tap on Reset.

Reset in Transfer or Reset iPhone
Choose Reset. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

5. Choose Reset Network Settings.

Reset Network Settings in iphone
Select Reset Network Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

6. Finally, enter your passcode and let the process finish.

6. Clean AirPods

When you use your AirPods for quite a time, dirt and debris may block the mesh, and no sound will come out.

clean AirPods kit
Tools for cleaning AirPods. Herby Jasmin/Gotechtor

If you clean your AirPods regularly, it won’t happen. Use a clean cotton swab, an AirPods cleaner kit, or a clean, lint-free anti-static fabric to clean every part of your AirPods carefully. 

7. Charge AirPods

Low battery on AirPods may disrupt functionality, and it may cause low or no sound when you want to listen to music.

AirPods Pro charging
AirPods Pro Charging. Herby Jasmin/Gotechtor

Bring your AirPods close to your iPhone and open the lid. There will be a pop-up that shows the Charging Case and the AirPods battery level.

If there’s not enough battery, plug your AirPods into their charger, and wait at least 2 hours to fully charge them. 

If you have charging issues, follow the steps in this guide to fix it when one AirPods is not charging.

8. Contact Apple Support

If none of the abovementioned solutions solve your problem, you might need to contact Apple Support for further help.

They will help you with repairing or replacing your AirPods. Sometimes something is wrong with your hardware, and you can’t solve it with DIY solutions. Apple Support is what you need in this case. 

Final Thoughts: AirPods Connected but No Sound

As you can see, fixing connected AirPods with no sound isn’t that difficult.

In many cases, network connectivity issues, AirPods low battery, outdated operating system, or hardware issues may cause this.

Try the fixes below or take your AirPods to the nearest Apple Store for help to solve your AirPods sound issues.

  1. Reset the Bluetooth on your phone.
  2. Use the “Forget This Device” feature to reset your AirPods.
  3. Restart your phone.
  4. Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
  5. Turn off all nearby Bluetooth devices.
  6. Clean your AirPods and charging ports.
  7. Turn off Automatic Ear Detection.
  8. Fully charge your AirPods.

I hope this assisted you in fixing your “AirPods connected but no sound” problem. In case you fixed the problem with any other solution, please do share it in the comments section.

Writer, Apple

Over the last decade, Farhad has gained hands-on experience with smartphones, laptops, accessories, wearables, printers, etc. If he's not writing, you can bet he's trying to keep up with the latest technology. He oversees coverage of iPhone, iOS, and Apple Watch for Gotechtor.

Farhad Pashaei

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