Last updated on 5 July 2022
AirPods are great for listening to your favourite sounds, watching movies, or answering calls on the go. However, distorted or muffled sounds from your AirPods can rob you of their benefits. Luckily, you may not need a technician to figure out why your AirPods sound muffled or fix the sound issues.
If you’re wondering, “why do my AirPods sound muffled?” keep reading to identify likely causes of AirPod sound issues and how to fix distorted sounds from AirPods by yourself.
What makes AirPods sound muffled?
Your AirPods may sound distorted for several reasons, which could be technical or non-technical and easy to fix. Some of these reasons are:
Clogged speaker mesh
AirPod speakers are covered with dust-proof meshes to filter dirt out. Yet, dust, ear wax, and debris may clog your AirPod’s speaker mesh and distort your AirPods.
Poor connection to the audio source
Your AirPods may sound muffled due to poor connection to the audio source or interference from other Bluetooth devices.
Your AirPods may need resetting
Sometimes, distorted sounds from your AirPods may be a sign that you need to reset your AirPods.
How to fix muffled sounds from AirPods by yourself
If you feel your AirPods’ sound quality is not good enough, you can try the following quick fixes.
Clean your AirPods to get rid of muffled sound
Cleaning your AirPods can improve their sound quality. However, you need to clean them carefully to avoid damaging your AirPods. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you clean them safely.
- Use a soft, dry cotton swab or Q-tip to clean the speaker mesh. If this proves difficult, soften the dirt with a soft-bristled, dry brush before cleaning with the Q-tip. However, do not use water or other liquids to clean the speaker mesh.
- Gently wipe your AirPods exterior and smart case with a soft, flint cloth dampened with 70% alcohol solution or water, or wipe with 70% alcohol wipes.
- Finally, allow the AirPods to dry before you use them.
Troubleshoot your AirPods’ connection
If the sound from your AirPods remains muffled after cleaning them, you need to ensure that your AirPods are properly connected to the audio source. Follow the steps below to do so.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, or other audio sources to ascertain that your AirPods are connected to the audio source.
- If your AirPods are not connected, select connect to connect them. But if they are connected, turn off the Bluetooth connection for ten seconds, turn it back on and connect them.
- If the problem persists after you reconnect your AirPods to your audio source, it may be due to interference from other Bluetooth devices in your location. To fix this, turn off other Bluetooth devices in your location.
If your AirPods still don’t connect after following the steps above, check out our detailed guide on why your AirPods won’t connect to learn other ways to fix AirPod connection issues.
Reset your Airpods
If your AirPods still sound muffled after cleaning them and reconnecting them with your device, your next best bet would be to reset your AirPods following the steps below.
- Unpair your AirPods from the audio source.
- Put your AirPods back in their smart case for 30 seconds or more.
- Open the smart case lid and press the setup button on the case until the status light turns white.
- Finally, reconnect your AirPods to your audio source.
Conclusion
If you exhaust the steps in this guide and still can’t get rid of the muffled sound from your AirPods, take it to the nearest Apple Store or Apple-authorized service provider for repairs. Also, your AirPods may be permanently damaged and need to be replaced.
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