Why is the volume on my AirPods so low?

Hello Lea_codreanu,

Thank you for reaching out to Apple Support Communities, and we'll be happy to help in any way we can. We understand you're having issues with the volume of your AirPods. Try the steps here to see if they resolve the issue: If your left or right AirPod isn't working - Apple Support

"If there's low volume in one AirPod

If your left or right AirPod isn't playing any sound, or if the volume is too quiet, follow these steps:

1. Check the microphone and speaker mesh on each AirPod. 
2. 
3. If you see any debris, clean your AirPods using the guidelines in this article, and see if that fixes the issue.
4. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Balance, and make sure that the balance is set in the middle."

If the issue persists, try the reset here to resolve the issue: How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Apple Support

We hope this helps.

Cheers!

I don’t think that is the problem because I have 3rd gen air pods that I got last year and even after cleaning they still do not work. The side speaker works but not the main one so people next to me can hear my music but I cant.

After one year of airpods 3 gen volume is very low

I have the exact same issue. I tried all the steps above and the volume is still very low. If there is any background noise at all the AirPods 3rd are barely audible for me. Very disappointing

i have exactly the same problem

what is the solution?

I needed this tip from lexicon444...total resolution with Airpods back to normal!

This comment from lexicon444 that I haven't seen anywhere else solved my issue

I'd reset my Airpods as per every other article on the interwebs multiple times, cleaned the outside wax build up etc. etc. etc.

When I gently sucked air through it was completely blocked and following the advice above cleared out the blockages which then allowed the diaphragm to vibrate properly (assuming that gunk on the diaphragm was what was causing it to not vibrate properly).

A few minutes later I'm listening to Airpods that sound like they used to when I first got them instead of throwing them in the bin.

What is suggested above should be part of Apple's help articles.

Kudos to you lexicon444 my Daughter will massively appreciate it when she get's them on her birthday!

This worked like a charm THANK YOU!!

I had the same issue and was able to greatly improve the volume following the steps below. Keep in mind, I am in no way a certified Apple repair technician. I don’t know if the steps will somehow damage my AirPods, but it worked for me. Use these steps at your own risk.

Basically, it came down to ear wax blocking the mesh speaker cover. You can use a brush or other objects to wipe it away, but this does not clear the wax that is deep within the mesh. I found this out by putting my mouth over the end of the AirPod and gently sucking. I noticed that there was almost no airflow Coming through the mesh. So, I took a Q-tip and doused it with rubbing alcohol. While holding the mesh towards the floor, I generously rubbed the mesh with the soaked Q-tip, and then took a dry Q-tip to wipe away the alcohol. I did this a few times to make sure it was thoroughly clean. Again, I placed my mouth over the end of the AirPod, and gently sucked to remove any excess alcohol, and to see if the airflow had improved: it had! Considerably I might add. While they may not be as loud as they were when I first purchased them, they are much better than before using the alcohol.

I hope that helps some of you guys out there.

This issue has been faced by many individuals but this is not something that can't be fixed, with right solutions applied it can be easily fixed, There could be several possible reasons why your AirPods are so quiet, and some here are some ways to fix them.

1. Turn off Low Power mode on your iPhone.
2. Turn off “Reduce Loud Sounds” on your iPhone. This feature sets a maximum volume limit, which can make the AirPods sound too low.
3. Check the microphone and speaker mesh on each AirPod. If you see any debris, clean your AirPods
4. Reset Your AirPods.

But if none these solutions worked then visit this detailed guide that covers 9 ways to fix AirPods volume problems that are too quiet. I hope this helps you solve your problem.

I had the same issue with the volume sounding very low when listening to Apple Music on my AirPods. I tried everything and couldn’t figure it out. I finally solved my issue which was the Sound Check setting in Apple Music. Turning this setting off increased the volume significantly.

This totally worked for me! I was skeptical about sucking on the airpod 😅 but it was indeed clogged. Once air started going through proper sound came back! This is definitely a design flaw. Airpods gen 1 do not suffer from this issue.

Brother/Sister, Skeptical at first, thinking this is the most stupidest way to resolve the sound issue but gave it a try and my oh my it certainly saved me from spending a bomb on BOSE QC Ultra. Thank you so much, cheers!!

For me, the fix is to reset my AirPods 3. After reset my AirPods, sounds is back to normal (Loud and clear)

1. Put the AirPods in their case,
2. Close the lid
3. Then wait 30 seconds.
4. Open the lid
5. Then press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds, until the status light flashes amber, then white.

My third gen did the same thing. It was extremely low for both headphones. I just got the 2nd generation that apple discontinued this year and they are much louder smh. I’m going to stick with those much better quality..

This seems to be an ongoing problem but evidently with different causes. My AirPods 2nd Gen suddenly went quiet when I updated my iPhone 15 Pro Max to 18.1.1 but only when I play music. Alert sounds are normal. I got back some volume after turning off Sound Check and turning the EQ off then back on. They still don't sound as loud as they were, but it's better. I've always had Sound Check on, so I'm not sure what changed in regard to the system.