First day of use and out of nowhere I start getting a high pitched noise from my left AirPod. The sound comes when either changing listening modes, or adjusting it in my ear. Others have had this issue and even when getting a replacement pair it does it again. Software bug or warranty?
Through further experimentation and other feedback on the Apple community I think I have figured out the common issue and HAVE A TEMPORARY FIX until Apple resolve this.
I have been experiencing the issue 2 hours+ into a bike ride. Another user mentioned moisture, and they experience it after a shower – that got me thinking. The new silicone/foam ear tips create an excellent insulated seal between the hot moist inner ear canal and the external dry / colder air. This is especially true for those on Plane flights where the airconditioned cabin is dry and generally colder than the temperature within in the ear. This temperature difference, moisture on one side and excellent seal with hydrophobic coatings is the perfect trap for condensation to form.
There are two layers of mesh together – one black on the AirPod and one white on the Air tip. My hypothesis is that water vapour is hitting this colder mesh surface and forming microscopic condensation which is trapped between the two mesh layers and interfering with the sensors that are driving the ANC systems.
I experimented on a 5-hour bike ride in the weekend. After 2 hours the noise started so I removed the air tip, wiped the black mesh part of the AirPod, with a microfibre cloth dried inside my ear with another cloth, waved them around in the air to dry out, put the ear tip back on and the issue went away! I followed this procedure every hour for the remainder of by bike ride and this fixed the problem! Not ideal but at least it is a temporary fix until Apple figures this out…
Others have also reported rotating the ear tip 180 degrees provide a fix – I think this is because in doing so they have released the moisture / dried the mesh which may have been minor at that stage – nothing to do with the rotation, but rather just the act of removing / drying and putting back on...
Hello guys. This is clearly a bad design issue. It does not work well in all people. In my case the same AirPods work perfectly in a friend of mine, but for me were totally useless, it seams that is the shape of my ear. Which means bad design.
Me too! Had my Gen 3 for around a month, worth the upgrade from the Gen 2, but now have this issue. Be taking back my Gen 2’s from the wife, and taking these back to Apple
I’ve had 2 brand new pairs, both screeching/whilstling. So disappointing had my pro 2s for ages no issues
Ended up returning the APP3's and got the APP2's instead. Zero issues with the 2's. Took weeks for Apple to issue my refund for the 3's though, which is even more disappointing...
I'm having the same issue, just booked an appointment at the near Apple Store.
I had same issue today. First time using my new AirPods 3 pro and very high pitched sound during flight. Luckily I had my old pair I could switch to and no issue with them. Disappointed as the fit and sound quality had been awesome prior to this.
I’m experiencing a similar problem, it makes this horrible high pitched sound almost like a microphone feedback. It’s only the left Airpod. Bought it through Amazon in South Africa. I only noticed this issue after the recent update, not entirely sure it’s the cause, I’ve seen posts about similar issues dating back before the update.
I have the same exact issue. I get a very loud painful high pitch sound in the left air pod. I actually exchanged them once already and after about a day of use, it started happening again on the new pair. I haven't taken them on an airplane or been at a high altitude, so at least in my case, I don't think that's the issue.
This exact thing happened to me too in the left Airpod and it was brutal in my ear i thought i had blown an eardrum. It happened with the noise cancellation on. This is totally unacceptable for a 300$ product. The noise cancellation is the only reason i bought these.
On a flight right now - OMG that screeching is painful! Mine occurred in right ear.
Placed in Adaptive mode… so far that’s working. Unfortunately hearing chatter around me a bit which is annoying that I cannot use noise cancellation. - came back to edit immediately because screeching occurred in Adaptive mode. 🤬
AND it occurs in Transparency mode as well.
If flight next week gives same results they’ll be returned. I’ll instead use first generation with short battery life. Argh.
I have the same problem. Bought them the day before yesterday. Now in an aircraft, only problems with high pitch noise. Impossible to listen to music,
to watch movies. Shame on Apple. I never had issues with version 2. Why I bought version 3???? Another problem: Incan not return them since I am for some month know in a different country.
just to add to this. It happens every time I take them out. If you put them in your hand and close your hand it sounds like crickets. I can’t even wear a hood or beanie with them in. And I definitely can’t go to sleep with them in. I tried that and I woke up to the loud ringing noise. It was very annoying…
Thanks. That’s promising to hear. I just got back from traveling by air. Trip going it was horrible. Return trip not quite as deafening and once positioned in ear just perfectly I was able to use. I may change the ear piece out for another size but not sure which since every size passes the “test”. I likely won’t travel for a couple months so … not sure if I should return or hope for the best. You’ve given me some hope at least 😁
I just want to contribute to this with an observation if that is okay!
While I do not have any issue with mine, I am noticing that majority of the issues that have been mentioned have the common factor of people who have been on flights/planes with them, I have not (which helps towards that point, maybe?)
Do you think that or something related to that could be the cause?
@Venomismypoison, for what it's worth: mine wasn't limited to planes. It started with just loud environments (gym, mall, and planes), but then eventually started doing it in almost all environments, except like absolute quiet.
High pitched noise on AirPods Pro 3
