- Wondering why your AirPods are buzzing?
- Trying to figure out the cause of your crackling AirPods?
- Learn three ways to fix these issues
- Also, check out our post on How To Find Lost AirPods!
AirPods offer a highly enjoyable listening experience to many modern consumers. However, for all their incredible value for money, they can run into certain performance issues.
Certain AirPod owners have found that their AirPods sometimes produce an odd buzzing noise during use.
This buzzing, crackle, or static can often overwhelm the incoming audio and seriously diminish the usability of AirPods, AirPod Pros, or AirPod Max.
Fortunately, there are a handful of simple measures and solutions that you can adopt to try and stop your AirPods from buzzing.
Read our brief guide on these solutions below.
AirPods Or AirPods Pro Buzzing? Here’s How To Fix It
More often than not, AirPods buzzing can be traced back to a performance or connection issue with the AirPods or your iPhone/playback device. Thankfully these types of issues can usually be solved by resetting the AirPods, your iPhone, or the wireless connection between both ends.
Alternatively, AirPods may sometimes need to be carefully cleaned to remove any possible obstructions in their mechanics that may cause distorted playback.
We’ve put together a short list below of tips for solving your AirPods, AirPod Pros, or AirPod Max buzzing.
Read on to find out more.
1. Check Bluetooth Connection
Whenever you hear your AirPods buzzing, squeaking or making popping sounds, the first thing you should check is the Bluetooth connection.
A faulty Bluetooth connection between AirPods and iPhones can often lead to messy audio playback. Try to toggle the Bluetooth on and off to see if this quickly solves the buzzing issue.
If resetting the Bluetooth connection does not work, try the following steps:
- Head to the Settings menu on your iPhone. Open the Bluetooth section and look for the list of Available Devices. Find your AirPods and click on the info symbol on their label. Select Forget This Device. Once the device has been forgotten, pair your AirPods again.
- Check under your list of Available Devices to see if there are any other paired devices within close range. Turn any other nearby devices off and reconnect your AirPods via Bluetooth.
- If you find yourself in a busy environment like the office or gym, try finding a quiet zone where you can test your AirPod connection with less signal traffic.
2. Reset Your iPhone/ iOS Device
Buzzing AirPods can sometimes be traced back to a runtime issue with your iPhone or other playback devices.
Users can easily reset their iPhones or iOS devices to help stabilize their playback connection and remove the buzzing from their AirPods.
Follow the steps below to reset your iPhone:
- Press and hold the power button on your iPhone for a few seconds. A power slider should appear on your screen that acts as the phone’s on/off switch.
- Push your thumb to the slider and move it downwards to turn the iPhone off. Wait a few seconds for the phone to fully power down before turning it back on
- Open the Settings menu on your iPhone home screen and head to the Bluetooth section.
- Look for your AirPods under the list of Available devices. Make sure that your AirPods have their Bluetooth turned on.
- Pair and connect to your AirPods via Bluetooth and check your audio quality using an app on your phone.
3. Reset Your AirPods
If resetting your iPhone does not solve your AirPods buzzing, you can try resetting the AirPods themselves to remedy the issue.
You will need your AirPods charging case to properly reset your AirPods, so make sure they are on hand.
Check the steps below to reset your AirPods:
- Place both AirPods in the charging case with the lid open.
- Press and hold the setup button for around 15 seconds to begin the reset. The LED light on the case should turn white and then begin to flash orange/amber.
- Open the Settings menu on your iPhone and head to the Bluetooth section. Find your AirPods under the list of Available Devices and click on the info symbol next to their label.
- You should see a dropdown menu appear over your AirPods label. Select ‘’Forget This Device’’.
- Once the device has been forgotten, you can pair and then connect your AirPods from scratch via Bluetooth.
- With the renewed connection and the reset AirPods, test your audio quality using an app on your phone.
AirPods Buzzing In One Ear
There have been several reports from AirPod owners relating to a buzzing or static noise on just one side.
The majority of these reports surround the 3rd Generation AirPod and AirPod Pros.
These reports usually show a buzzing or noise in the right AirPod but may sometimes appear on the opposite earbud.
You can try the following steps to solve your AirPods buzzing in just one ear:
- Open up the Settings menu on your iPhone and head to the Accessibility section. Select your AirPods on the next list and open their Audio Accessibility options.
- Look for the Background Sounds section and turn on the Background Sounds switch. A slider should be present for these Sounds.
- Set the Background Noise type to “Rain” and set the volume on the slider to zero. This will activate a specific noise-cancellation in your AirPods that should fix them buzzing in one ear.
Final Thoughts
Hearing your AirPods buzz for the first time can make you think of painful repair or replacement costs.
Thankfully, there are a handful of quick and simple solutions that you can try to fix your AirPods if they make a buzzing, crackling or static noise.
More often than not, the buzzing issue on your AirPods can be traced back to a faulty connection between the AirPods and iPhone or other devices.
You can reset this connection quite easily and ensure that it is stable to try and stop your AirPods from buzzing.
Alternatively, you can try resetting your AirPods or your iPhone/playback device to stop Airpods from buzzing.
Resetting either end of this connection can sometimes solve runtime or processing issues that may hinder audio playback quality.
FAQ
Can A Low Battery Cause My AirPods To Buzz?
Low battery is not commonly known to cause buzzing in AirPods. A low battery can cause a considerable drop in volume for AirPods, especially if your iPhone uses a Low Power Mode setting.
Before you go, check out our guide to the Best Spotify EQ Settings for AirPods/AirPods Pro!
I’ve tried all possible fixes found online so far. Still getting the buzz/distortion/crackling in the left AirPod (Pro gen 1). Another clue seems to have something to do with the motion sensor within the AirPod. Even just a slight shaking of the head causes a single static crackle. Almost like something were loose inside the unit. But the sound doesn’t seem to be a mechanical movement of something loose. Then, even with the head perfectly still, any sound from my voice has a significant related buzzing, as well. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
having the exact same issue
I have the exact same issue for the last three weeks in my right airpod. the louder the noise outside, the stronger the buzzing. it’s impossible to talk with them on, the buzzing is too strong. I tried resetting them, resetting my phone, cleaning them, and turning on background sound, but nothing helps.
i have the same problem! in same ear. should i go to the apple store?
Same problem as well,even though I’ve had the Air Pods Pro for a couple years now
My Left earbud is also buzzing and have tried to reset them as a fix turning on background noise and sliding the lever to zero. What a waste of $200.00 .I even emailed my closest Apple repair store and not even a return email. I have had to use my 30.00 ear buds and they work fine. I will never buy anymore apple products NO Mac Book Air or Iphones I have had it with Apple Products!
We paid too much for the headset (Pieces of S). They are great when they work. But who knew that buzzing crap would start. I have a family of four, each has AirPods, 3 Airpod pros, and one third Gen. One of the AirPods Pros replace the buzzing 2nd Gen Airpods. . 4 out of 5 started to have a buzzing sound. I’m buying a cheaper pair to see if helps.
These airports are not worth the money. I’m going to buy cheaper, non-Apple ones now.
Having the same issue. Buzzing in left air pod. Lasts about 15 seconds. Happens when I touch or adjust the airpod. After 15 seconds it does go away, but it happens every time. Every suggested fix failed to fix the buzzing noise
Yeeeees! Thank you.
Same here .. it hurts my ears so much .. guess I’ll have to buy new ones but I’m so damn pissed about this
Same problem buzzing in the left ear is so bad they are not useful anymore.
I’m keeping them as a reminder that Apple totally ripped me off .
Yup, left ear buzzing too. Nothing in article worked
I turned off the noise control and the static noise sound stopped.
Noise is back when I set noise control to transparency or noise cancellation.
Same exact issue on the AirPods Pro gen2. One the left buzzing on Transparency mode and Adaptive modes. Noticeable for the quieter musics. Tried software update, airpod reset but not avail so far.
Have had same issue. Thought it was because i got water from my ear in them. Did some trouble shooting… With my phone off (no connection issues, taking the iPhone or any app out of the equation) When I talked the Airpods would buzz in the right ear. Like the buzzing was connected to the mic picking up audio and playing it back…maybe noise cancelation?? Again, nothing to do with the phone…..