How to Fix AirPods Are Connected But No Sound

Are your AirPods connected, but no sound is coming out?

Whether you want to splurge on some nice tunes or watch some movies, it can be annoying when you find out that there’s no sound coming out from your AirPods. 

This is a common issue for iPhone users. Usually, it’s due to improper device configurations. 

However, it can also be due to third-party applications, faulty software, or Bluetooth connection problems. 

Today, we will show you what to do when there’s no sound coming out from your AirPods. 

Let’s begin!

1. Restart Your Device. 

Before changing anything, we suggest restarting your device if you encounter problems with your AirPods. This should ensure that the problem is not caused by the connected device. 

Restarting your device allows it to reload system resources and clear corrupted data from the memory. 

This effectively resolves any errors that occur on your system during use. 

If you are using an iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, or later, here’s what you need to do: 

1. Hold the Volume Down and Side buttons until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ prompt appears. 
2. Now, drag the slider to the right and wait for 30 seconds. 
3. Press the Side button afterward to turn on your device. 

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For older models, follow the steps below: 

1. Locate the Power button on your device. 
2. Hold the button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ prompt appears.
3. Drag the slider to the right and wait 30 seconds before turning on your device. 

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For iPads without a home button: 

1. First, press and hold either the Volume button + Top button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ prompt appears. 
2. Now, drag the slider to the right until your display shuts off. 
3. Lastly, wait for at least 30 seconds before turning on your iPad. 

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For iPads with a home button: 

1. On your device, press and hold the Top button until the power slider appears. 
2. Drag the slider to the right until your display turns black. 
3. Finally, wait for at least 30 seconds before restarting your iPad.

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On Macs, here’s what you need to do: 

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, choose Restart from the drop-down menu. 
3. When prompted, click Restart again to confirm your action. 

Reconnect your AirPods afterward and check if the problem is solved. 

Related: How to Fix AirPods Pro 2nd Gen Case Battery Drain

2. Charge AirPods. 

When your AirPods don’t have enough battery charge, it may not function properly. 

You can experience all sorts of issues, from low volume to no sound at all. Sound distortion and connection problems can also occur when your AirPods are running low on battery. 

Due to this, we recommend charging your AirPods if it’s not playing sound from your device. 

Make sure that the charging case has enough battery, and leave your AirPods in the case for 15-20 minutes. 

3. Check for Connection Conflicts. 

If you have all your Apple devices nearby, make sure that your AirPods are connected to the right device. 

Possibly, your AirPods are connected to your Mac, and you are trying to play music on your iPhone or vice versa. 

To avoid problems, disable the Bluetooth on your other devices to ensure that your AirPods connect to the current device you’re using. 

Additionally, check if there are nearby appliances that can interfere with Bluetooth, like ovens, video cameras, cordless phones, or microwaves. 

4. Clean Your AirPods. 

As you use your AirPods, dirt, and ear wax can accumulate in the speaker grills. This can prevent sound from coming out, explaining why you can’t hear anything. 

To be sure, check your AirPods speaker grills. Grab a microfiber cloth or cotton bud to remove any debris in the speaker grills. 

You can also try sucking on the speaker grills to remove debris that accumulated inside. 

Be sure to place a clean cloth on the grill before sucking it to prevent dirt and debris from going into your mouth. 

5. Check Your Settings (iPhone/iPad). 

If you are connecting your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad, check your settings to ensure everything is set correctly. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad. 
2. Now, go to General > Accessibility. 
3. Tap on Audio/Visual. 
4. Scroll down and find the Balance Slider. Ensure that the slider is in the middle. 

5. Return to the main page and tap on Sound & Haptics > Headphone Safety. 
6. Turn off Reduce Loud Sounds.

7. Restart your iPhone/iPad.

Try playing music on your device afterward to check if the problem is solved. 

6. Disable Automatic Ear Detection.

Automatic ear detection is a feature that automatically stops music when you remove your AirPods. This can cause issues if your AirPods don’t fit well in your ears. 

To avoid problems, we suggest disabling this feature if you don’t really need it. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. First, open Settings on your iPhone. 
2. Tap on Bluetooth and select your AirPods. 
3. Look for Automatic Ear Detection and disable it. 

Once done, try using your AirPods to check if the problem is solved. 

Related: How to Fix Red Exclamation Point Error on AirPods Pro

7. Update Your Device. 

There might be a problem with your device’s software that is related to Bluetooth connectivity or sound output. 

Check if there are available updates for your device and install them to patch bugs and errors. 

For iPhone/iPad users, here’s what you need to do: 

1. Open Settings on your iPhone. 
2. Navigate to General > Software Update. 
3. If there’s a new iOS version available, tap Download and Install. 
4. Once the new software is ready, follow the prompts to install the update. 

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If you’re using a Mac, follow the guide below:

1. In the upper left corner of your screen, click the Apple icon to open the Apple Menu. 
2. Now, click on System Settings. 
3. Inside settings, navigate to General > Software Update. 
4. If a new version is detected, follow the prompts to install the update. 

Connect your AirPods afterward to check if the problem is solved. 

8. Reconnect Your AirPods. 

If you still experience problems with your AirPods, we recommend unpairing them and then pairing them back. 

This should refresh the link between your devices, ensuring that your AirPods are connected properly. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Put your AirPods in the charging case and close the lid. 
2. Now, wait for 30 seconds. 
3. After that, put your AirPods on your ears. 
4. Go to your device and navigate to Settings > Bluetooth. 

5. Tap on More Info beside your AirPods and choose Forget This Device. 

6. Put your AirPods back in the charging case and close the lid. 
7. Press and hold the Setup button for 15 seconds or until the status light on the case turns amber and then white. 

Reconnect your AirPods to see if it’s now playing sound from your device. 

9. Visit the Apple Store. 

If none of the solutions above worked, we suggest bringing your device and AirPods to the nearest Apple Store. 

There might be a problem with your AirPods or the device you are connecting it to. 

• Faulty AirPods battery/speakers
• Defective Bluetooth radio on AirPods/iPhone/iPad/Mac
• Corrupted firmware or software. 

You can check if your device is still covered by warranty before visiting the store so you know your options. 

That ends our guide for fixing your AirPods if they are connected, but no sound is coming out. 

If you have questions or other concerns, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it.