Why Are My AirPods So Quiet? 10 Fixes (Including One AirPod Louder)

Both AirPods quiet, or just one?

• Both quiet → usually a setting (Headphone Safety, EQ, Low Power, the app’s own volume) or dirt on both meshes.
• One AirPod louder than the other → usually earwax on the quieter bud, or the Balance slider is off-center.

Check which with the left/right headphone test before you start.

1. Clean the speaker mesh

Earwax on the black or grey mesh is the #1 cause, especially when one bud is quieter. Use a soft, dry brush (a clean soft toothbrush works) and gently lift wax away; for stubborn build-up, Apple suggests a cotton swab and a dry, soft-bristled brush, and removing AirPods Pro ear tips to rinse the tips only with water. Never push anything through the mesh or run the buds under water. Full method: how to clean AirPods safely.

2. Check Balance

Settings → Accessibility → Audio & Visual → Balance. Drag the slider to the exact center. If one AirPod is quieter, this is the second most likely cause.

3. Turn off Reduce Loud Audio

Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Headphone Safety → Reduce Loud Audio. If it’s on, iPhone caps headphone volume at the decibel level shown. Turn it off or raise the limit.

4. Check the Music EQ and Sound Check

Settings → Apps → Music → EQ: set it to Off (the “Late Night” and “Small Speakers” presets reduce perceived loudness). Sound Check also lowers loud tracks — turn it off to compare.

5. Turn off Conversation Awareness & Personalized Volume

On AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 ANC, Conversation Awareness drops volume when you speak, and Personalized Volume adjusts it based on your environment. Open Settings → [your AirPods name] and toggle them off to test.

6. Raise the volume in the app and the source

Spotify, YouTube, Netflix and podcast apps have their own volume or normalization settings. Spotify’s “Volume normalization” set to Quiet makes everything softer.

7. Reset your AirPods

Put both AirPods in the case, close the lid for 30 seconds, open it, then press and hold the setup button (or double-tap the front of the case on AirPods 4) until the light flashes amber, then white. Reconnect them. This fixes many volume mismatches.

8. Recalibrate the battery and firmware

Charge both buds fully and keep your iPhone up to date — firmware updates install automatically while AirPods are charging near your iPhone. A low-battery bud can behave oddly.

9. Dry them if they got wet

Water on the mesh muffles sound. Dry them for at least two hours, then play the AirPods water eject sound. Are yours rated for water? See are AirPods waterproof?

10. Test on another device

Pair the AirPods to another phone or a laptop. If they’re quiet everywhere after cleaning, the driver may be damaged — Apple can replace a single AirPod.

How to make AirPods louder (safely)

• Use a better seal: try a larger ear tip size (Settings → AirPods → Ear Tip Fit Test on AirPods Pro).
• Turn on Active Noise Cancellation so you don’t need as much volume.
• Use Headphone Accommodations (Settings → Accessibility → Audio & Visual) to boost soft sounds.
• Remember: listening at high volume for long periods can damage hearing.

Frequently asked questions

Why is one AirPod louder than the other?

Usually earwax on the quieter AirPod’s mesh, or the Balance slider in Accessibility settings is off-center. Clean the mesh and center Balance.

Why are my AirPods so quiet all of a sudden?

Most often Reduce Loud Audio, an EQ preset, or Conversation Awareness. Check those settings, then clean the mesh.

How do I make my AirPods louder?

Turn off Reduce Loud Audio and EQ presets, clean the mesh, get a better ear tip seal, and use Headphone Accommodations.