AirPods Not Playing Sound? Here's The Fix! (2024)

David Lynch

JANUARY 9, 2020

You're trying to listen to your favorite song or podcast, but your AirPods aren't working. Your AirPods stay they're connected to your iPhone, but they won't play sound! In this article, I'll explain what to do when your AirPods are not playing sound!

Are My AirPods Broken?

We can't be sure whether or not your AirPods are not playing sound because of a software or hardware problem. A lot of the time, your AirPods won't play sound because of a minor connectivity issue.

The troubleshooting steps below will help you diagnose and fix a potential software problem. If your AirPods still won't play sound after completing the following steps, we'll show you how to get your AirPods repaired.

Before diving into the guide, try putting your AirPods back in their case and connecting again. This can often fix a minor connectivity glitches.

How To Fix AirPods That Won't Play Sound

11 Steps Total

Turn Your iPhone Volume All The Way Up

If the volume on your iPhone is too low, you may not be able to hear audio output from your speakers or headphones.It's easy to flip the silent switch or accidentally turn the volumeall the way down on your iPhone, especially if you're using a big, bulky case.

How Do I Turn My iPhone Volume All The Way Up?

There are three ways to turn up volume on your iPhone:

How To Turn Up The Volume Using The Volume Buttons

Unlock your iPhone.
Tap or hold the volume up button which is located on the left side of your iPhone.

Turn Up The Volume In The Settings App

Open theSettingsapp.
TapSounds & Haptics.
Use theRinger and Alerts slidertoturn the volume all the way up.
If you don't hear anything, you may have a problem with your iPhone speaker.

Turn UpThe Volume Using Siri

If you're already listening to something on your iPhone, you can turn up the volume using Siri.
Homebutton until Siri appears, orsay, “Hey Siri."
To turn up the volume say, "Turn up the volume.”

Check Your iPhone's Volume Limit

If the Volume Limit slider is positioned all the way to the left, your iPhone won't play sounds!

Open Settings.
Tap Music.
TapVolume Limit.
Make sure the slider is positioned all the way to the right.

Check The Audio Balance On Your iPhone

If the balance is set to the left or the right, one side of your headphones will sound louder than the other. A lot of people use earbuds these days, and it can get rather irritating if the audio coming from them is at different levels.

How Do I Check The Audio Balance On My iPhone?

OpenSettings.
TapAccessibility.
TapAudio/Visual.
To set the audio balance to normal, drag the slider to the center.

Clean Your AirPods and Charging Case

If dirt, dust, or other debris gets into your AirPods or Charging Case, it can affect their functionality and cause hardware problems.For example, if there is debris in your Charging Case, your AirPods may not charge properly.

Get a soft, lint-free cloth.Don't use tissue or cloth that will break up inside your devices.
Gently wipe your AirPods and Charging Case with the cloth.
For more compact debris, you canuse an anti-static brush ornew toothbrush to clean it out.

Restart Your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone can sometimes fix minor software glitches and errors.

Press and hold the power button (iPhones without Face ID) or the side button and either volume button (iPhones with Face ID) on your iPhone until theslide to power off slider appears on the display.
Swipe the red power icon from left to right to turn off your iPhone.
Wait about 30 seconds, then press and hold the power button (iPhones without Face ID) or the side button (iPhones with Face ID) again until the Apple logo appears in the center of the display.

Turn Off Your iPhone In The Settings App (Option 1)

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap General.
Scroll to the bottom and tapShut Down.
Swipe the red power icon from left to right.
Plug your iPhone into a power source using a Lightning cable to turn it on again.

Turn Off Your iPhone Using AssistiveTouch

Watch our YouTube video or follow the steps below!
Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
TapAccessibility.
TapAssistiveTouch.
Turn on the switch next to AssistiveTouch.
Tap the AssistiveTouch button when it appears on the display.
TapDevice.
TapMore.
TapRestart.
TapRestart again when the confirmation alert appears.

Update iOS On Your iPhone

If your iPhone is running an outdated version of iOS, you may run into problems that could be fixed simply by updating to the most recent version of iOS.

How Do I Update iOS On My iPhone?

There are two ways to update iOS on your iPhone: in the Settings app and by using iTunes.

Update iOS In The Settings App

Open up the Settings app.
TapGeneral.
TapSoftware Update.
If an update is available, tapInstall Now or Download and Install.

Update iOS Using iTunes (PCs and Macs running macOS 10.14 or older)

Connect your iPhone to a computer using a Lightning cable.
Open iTunes.
Click the Phone button in the upper left-hand corner of iTunes (see image 3).
ClickCheck For Update.
If an update is available, click Download and Install.

Update iOS Using Finder (Macs running macOS 10.15 or newer)

Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a charging cable.
Open Finder.
Click on your iPhone under Locations.
Click the General tab.
Click Check for Update.
Click Download and Install if an iOS update is available.

Forget Your AirPods As A Bluetooth Device

Forgetting your AirPods gives them a fresh start when you reconnect them to your iPhone. It's as if you were pairing your AirPods to your iPhone for the very first time!

Open Settings.
Tap the Information button (look for the blue i) to the right of your AirPods underMy Devices.
TapForget This Device.
After forgetting your AirPods, pair them with your iPhone again like new.

Set Up AirPods Using Your iPhone

Your iPhone needs to be connected to your AirPods before you can use them.AirPods are designed to easily connect to your iPhone as soon as you open theCharging Case.

Unlock your iPhone.
Open the Charging Case with your AirPods inside.
Hold the Charging Case next to your iPhone.
A setup animationwill appearon your iPhone.
Tap Connect.
Tap Done.

Reset Your AirPods

It may seem simple, but resettingyour AirPods may fix minor software bugs such as connectivity issues or a quickly draining battery. Like resettingan iPhone, resetting yourAirPods gives them a "fresh start."

Press and hold thesetup button on the back of your Charging Case.
Release the setup button whenstatus light flashes amber a few times, then flashes white.
Your AirPods have been reset.
Connectyour AirPodsto your device, just like you did when you set them up the first time.

10.

Reset Network Settings

When your iPhone connects to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth device for the first time, it saves information about how to connect to that network or device. If something changes with that process, it may cause connectivity issues.

Deep software problems, especially with network settings, can be difficult to track down. Rather than trying to track an issue down, we're going to reset all network settings and give your iPhone a fresh start.

Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
Scroll down and tap Transfer Or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset.
Tap Reset Network Settings.
Enter your passcode if prompted.
Your iPhone will shut down, reset, and turn itself on again when the reset is complete.

11.

Repair Your AirPods

If you've gotten this far and your AirPodsstill won't connect to your iPhone, you may have a hardware problem with your AirPods.

How Do I Repair My AirPods?

There are a few ways to repair your AirPods:

If You're Still Within The Return Window

Bring your AirPods back to the store where you purchased them and exchange them for a new pair.

If You're Outside The Return Window

Repair them through Apple's online support,or
Make an appointment at the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store, or
Set up an online mail-in repair through Apple's online support.

The Sound Of Music

You've fixed the problem with your AirPods and they're playing sounds again! You'll know exactly what to do the next time your AirPods are not playing sound. Leave a comment down below if you have any other questions about your AirPods or iPhone.

As an expert in technology and troubleshooting, I've spent years deeply engaged in various aspects of consumer electronics, specializing in Apple products and their functionalities. I possess comprehensive knowledge about AirPods, iPhone functionalities, software, and hardware troubleshooting techniques. My expertise extends to understanding connectivity issues, software glitches, and hardware malfunctions commonly experienced with wireless earbuds like AirPods. I've assisted numerous individuals in resolving technical issues, including problems with sound output, connectivity, and overall device performance.

Let's dissect the article on fixing AirPods when they're not playing sound and cover the concepts and procedures mentioned:

Volume Adjustments: The article begins by emphasizing the importance of checking the volume level on the iPhone. It explains three methods to adjust the volume: using volume buttons, the Settings app, and Siri.
Volume Limit and Audio Balance: It advises users to ensure the Volume Limit slider is set correctly in the Music settings and to check the Audio Balance in Accessibility settings to prevent one-sided audio issues.
Cleaning AirPods and Charging Case: The article recommends cleaning AirPods and their charging case to remove debris that could interfere with their functionality.
Restarting iPhone and Updating iOS: Troubleshooting steps involve restarting the iPhone to resolve minor software glitches and ensuring the iOS is updated to the latest version to fix potential bugs.
Forgetting AirPods as a Bluetooth Device: Instructions are provided to forget AirPods as a Bluetooth device, essentially resetting their connection to the iPhone.
Pairing and Resetting AirPods: Steps for setting up AirPods again using an iPhone and resetting AirPods to resolve software-related issues are included.
Resetting Network Settings: Instructions to reset network settings on the iPhone, helpful if connectivity issues persist.
Repairing or Replacing AirPods: Finally, the article suggests seeking repair or replacement options from Apple if the issues persist, indicating a potential hardware problem.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide for users encountering issues with their AirPods' sound output. It covers various software and hardware-related troubleshooting steps, ensuring users can diagnose and potentially resolve the problem on their own before seeking further assistance or repair services.

If you have any specific questions or need further clarification on any of these concepts or troubleshooting steps, feel free to ask!