AirPods make it easier than ever to make a phone call when you are on the move. This is more important now than ever with the sometimes overwhelming speed of life. They aren’t perfect, however, and are still prone to some irritating problems. Many users ask themselves: why can’t callers hear me on my AirPods?
Callers can’t hear you on your AirPods if the microphone is clogged with lint, dust, and debris. They won’t be able to hear you on the other end if your firmware is out of date and you’ll need to update it. Check your settings and enable the microphone on your AirPods if callers can’t hear you when you talk.
Sometimes, all that you need to do is update and restart your iPhone for callers to be able to hear you on your AirPods. You can easily mute yourself if you touch your phone screen while you are on a call with your AirPods. Follow along as we explore why callers can’t hear you on your AirPods and see what you can do to fix the problem.
Why Can’t Anyone Hear me on my AirPods?
The main reason that callers can’t hear you on your AirPods is that your Bluetooth connection is poor. You may not have a Bluetooth connection at all and nobody will be able to hear you in that case. Audio and microphone problems can also occur if your AirPods are damaged and or outdated.
They also may not be able to hear you if the microphone on your AirPods is dirty and or clogged. This is a common problem if you store your AirPods somewhere other than their official case. Lint, dust, dirt, and debris can easily clog the microphone on your AirPods.
Nobody will be able to hear you if your microphone isn’t enabled on your AirPod’s settings either. This can easily happen if you have multiple pairs of AirPods and forget to sync them when you swap them out. Callers won’t be able to hear you if you accidentally mute yourself on your phone as well, so make sure to check the screen.
How do I Fix my AirPods Mic?
You can typically fix your AirPods mic in the settings on your iPhone or by syncing them again so they are connected. Physical solutions such as cleaning them may help callers hear you on your AirPods, but that’s often the last resort unless they are dirty. Let’s take a look at the best ways to fix your AirPods mic so that callers can hear you.
Update Your Phone
Smartphones commonly require updates to operate at full capacity. Your AirPods may not work to their fullest potential if your iPhone is behind on the latest update. Pull up the settings menu on your iPhone and look for the “Software Update Available” tab at the top.
Otherwise, you can scroll further down until you reach “Software Update”. Your phone will only let you update to the latest software if you are connected to Wi-Fi. Either plug your phone in or charge it before you update the software or else it may not work. Reconnect your AirPods and see if they work after you update your phone.
Sync Your AirPods
Sync your AirPods again if callers can’t hear you when you speak. This is the easiest fix and will work most of the time if there is nothing seriously wrong with your AirPods. Simply place your AirPods back in the case for 1-2 minutes.
Remove the AirPods and reconnect them to the Bluetooth on your phone to sync them. This works most of the time and doesn’t indicate that there is a physical problem with your AirPods.
Related: Why Do AirPods Pick Up Background Noise?
Enable Microphone
The microphone on your AirPods will only work if you enable it in your iPhone’s settings. Click on the “Bluetooth” tab in your settings and scroll until your find your AirPods in the connected devices. You can select which AirPod has the working microphone.
Select which AirPod you want to use as a microphone and make sure that it is fully charged. Sometimes, users misplace their connected microphone AirPod if they have several pairs. You can make it easier on yourself if you select the “Automatically Switch AirPods” option so that one of them always works as a microphone.
Charge Your Airpods
AirPods cannot work at peak performance if they are close to dying, especially if they are older. It rarely takes longer than 20 minutes to charge your AirPods unless they are outdated. Place your AirPods in the case and connect them to a power source with a USB-C cable.
You should be able to get up to 20 hours of talking time when your AirPods are fully charged. If you don’t get that much time, it could suggest that something else is wrong with your AirPods. Otherwise, your AirPods may simply be outdated and aren’t able to hold a charge for as long.
Related Read: Can Reset AirPods Be Tracked?
Update Your Firmware
Your AirPods cannot work as intended if the firmware is out of date. It only takes between 5 and 30 seconds to update the firmware on your firmware in most cases. Firmware updates are typically automated, but that’s not the case for everyone and can lead to confusion.
That is because your AirPods must be in their case or near your iPhone that is connected to the Internet. Enter the settings menu on your iPhone if the updates fail to install on their own. Click on “General”, select “About” and find your AirPods on the list.
It will tell you what version of the firmware you have whether it’s out of date or not. This will tell you whether or not you need to update it. Update the firmware if it is out of date, and if not, it indicates that something else is wrong with your AirPods.
Unmute Yourself
It’s all too easy to accidentally mute yourself when you’re on the phone with somebody. The screen on an iPhone is large and sensitive so it’s easy to accidentally press the mute button when you are on the phone with a caller. Users often accidentally press the mute button when they put the phone in their pocket.
Check the call screen when you are on the phone if callers cannot hear you when you use your AirPods. Toggle the mute problem if callers cannot hear you and see if that fixes the problem. If not, that means that you need to run through other solutions such as syncing your AirPods or enabling your microphone.
Related Read: How To Fix Muffled AirPods
Where is the Mic Located on AirPods?
The mic on your AirPods is located at the end of the stem just underneath the earbud. Sometimes, callers cannot hear you if your AirPods are in your ear at a weird angle. AirPods are designed so that the microphone should point directly at your mouth.
Callers can’t hear you if the microphone is pointed away from your mouth because of the position of the AirPods. Each AirPod has a microphone and both of them are located in the same place.
Clean Your AirPod Microphone
You can clean your AirPod microphone with a cloth as long as it isn’t covered with lint. Lint is the most common reason for an AirPod microphone to get clogged, so you don’t want to make the problem worse. Luckily, you can buy lint-free cloth directly through Apple, and that is the most reliable option.
Gently rub the cloth over your AirPods and inspect them with your phone’s flashlight to see if they look obstructed. Never use liquid or else you may break your AirPods if it seeps through deep enough. You will immediately notice a distance once you clean your AirPods in both clarity and performance.
Related Read: Why Are My AirPods So Quiet?
Which AirPods are the Best for Calling?
The Apple AirPods Pro are the best for calling because of the volume and clarity they provide. Compared to previous generations, the sound is much more crisp and clear for the listener on the other end. This can help avoid communication gaps and it makes it much easier to talk on the phone.
Older models of AirPods still hold up, but they aren’t as strong by now. The battery life on AirPods significantly diminishes after 2-3 years of heavy use. It may be time for you to update to a set of AirPods Pro if you want to improve the battery life and clarity of your phone calls.
