AirPod Pro Microphone Call Quality

I’ve managed to solve my own issue by forgetting the AirPods and re-pairing. There is more than one way to pair them and I don’t think the noise cancelling works properly unless they are correctly paired as per the manual. Worth trying. Hope it works for you.

I have had the same problem, came across this answer. I too had initially paired the AirPods Pro through the Settings > Bluetooth interface, leading to the muffled microphones problem. So I did what was suggested: “Forget This Device” by clicking the i button on the right of the Airpod’s Pro listing in Settings > Bluetooth; then with the AirPods Pro in their case near your device, open the lid and follow the onscreen instructions. The microphone quality is now vastly better!

Ok I think I might have solved the issue for the mic within the iPhone.

1. Go to the Bluetooth settings on your AirPods Pro- turn off “Automatic Ear Detection”.
2. Click on “connect to this iPhone”- switch “automatically” to “when last connected to this iPhone”.
3. I also switched my microphone from “automatically switch AirPods” to whichever worked best (record on voice memos to see which one works best)

For Macs tho it’s the same old trick. Can’t have the background noise blocked but at least it’s better than the muffled mic. Go to bluetooth for the AirPods pro - open sound preferences, input- switch Airpod’s Pro to “Internal Microphone”.

Hope this works for y’all!

I had the same problem with zoom, MS teams and google chat. Experimenting before a zoom call, I noticed that the sound only went bad when I switched the input sound source from 'internal microphone' to airpods. Switching back seemed to solve it. This article suggests that it's a problem with the bluetooth algorithm (makes sense) but very surprised Apple haven't created a fix for this yet!

https://audacious.blog/2017/airpods-macos-call-quality-fix/#:~:text=The%20Fix%3A%20You%20need%20to,quality%20takes%20a%20noticeable%20hit.&text=Call%20participants%20sounded%20hollow%20and,sounded%20the%20same%20to%20them.

In order to finally have some reliable data about this problem, I recorded my voice while walking outside, using both my AirPods Pro and a second phone, and made a video with the detail (4 minutes): https://youtu.be/LSy-mserlGE

It seems clear that the issue is real and is not due to an arcane bug or setting (firmware version, transparency mode, forgetting and re-pairing). Noise cancellation drowns out your voice when it's windy, and there is no way to deactivate it. Using your phone when you are outside is currently the only fix I can see.

Finally I got my Airpods replaced,

the problem was in the microphone (they claimed that everything was fine in the beginning and checked them several times I refused to collect them from the reseller and finally they admitted that the Lt Airpod was faulty) , it has nothing to do with the firmware.

Alright, someone else mentioned this before and it seams to work, at least for phone calls (haven’t tested out memos yet). Turn off Phone Noice Cancellation in Settings -> Accessibility -> Audio/Visual.

I called with someone twice and they heard me much better and I was riding a bike in the wind! So I really hope this has done the trick.

With mine, I noticed that taking out either left or right airpod will instantly fix the issue.

It appears to be a Bluetooth issue to me.

If I remove both from the case at the same time and get the "dong" from both ears at the same time, people usually hear me fine. If I get a "dong" from just 1 ear, then they never hear me correctly.

Putting one away and closing the lid, the pulling it back out again will usually fix it. You just have to go back and forth till it works.

They never used to do this, so it must have been either an iPhone update or a firmware update to the AirPod Pro.

Had the same. Luckily I realized it with 40 days left on my 1 year warranty and Apple replaced them with zero hassle. Actually, a very pleasant customer service experience. If it’s too late for you, try updating the firmware. Not all iPhones update firmware automatically and when using the microphone there is a difference in quality with the different settings. Best option: noise canceling and transparency off. Also, to reduce further damage, avoid getting feedback when you have transparency mode on and an AirPod cupped in your hand. Bottom line: if you’re still under warranty, bring them back… Good Luck!

I constantly have phone calls where I can hear the other person perfectly, this includes when the call is routed via my iPad. The MAJOR PROBLEM is that the caller can almost always NEVER HEAR me at all, or they tell me my voice constantly cuts in and out. One friend said maybe you should charge them, when in fact the battery life was fine.

im using AirPod Pro Gen:2 and in New Zealand these cost almost $500.

I’ve just read a reddit thread where some many ppl complained of how defective the microphone’s are on the AirPod Pro and here I see there’s 20,000 people confirming this.

THEREFORE BE WARNED - DO NOT BELIEVE APPLE - AIRPOD PRO’S DO NOT WORK FOR PHONE CALLS

unless your in a quiet room. Their advertising where a person gleefully walks down the street is absolute rubbish and a total lie and basically fake news. I’m a major Apple fan & consumer and I’m extreme upset and embarrassed by this situation and Apple’s total disregard for their consumers.

For anyone experiencing this, there's a good chance the cause is they're fake. Just happened to me.

They even pair, and show in my AppleID devices etc. But handoff between phone and macbook is clunky (needed to unpair from one first, unlike my genuine Airpod Pro 1's which seemlessly transitioned)

The other giveaway is current fakes can't remove the ear tips, and the case can't play the sound from FindMy, see this vid for all differences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_jUsb4GTVo

It's happening to me as well since i bought my Airpod Proc 1st generation. I never pay too much attention to it since i mainly use them as speakers, barely use them to talk or send a voice message, but i noticed every time i try to use the mic it's really hard for the other person to hear me but i thought it was something to do with the other person, not me.

Yesterday i tried to record myself on a voice message many time, an each one of them i barely could hear myself. I did some research and found there is a recall issued that was available up to 3 year after the 1st gen 1 was produced, so its up to oct 2022 since they're made oct 2020.

I went to apple and they said they can't do anything but sell me a new one. But with this experience i don't think i'll go again for another airpod and risk to lose another US270.

So for those still having the issue, if it's a newer version you might have a chance that they replace them, otherwise you'll have to buy a new set of Airpods unfortunately. Not me tho.

I had this problem until I read one of the replies in a forum like this one. It may have been this one. Anyways, the recommendation was to activate voice isolation mode once the phone conversation starts. So I have done that a few times and now the phone just default to voice isolation mode. That has helped.

The microphone service is not as good as I expected still, but I have not returned the AirPod Pro 2 because I have found the sound when I watch a TV show where movie on the iPad is superb. It’s like I’m in a theater and I never go to the theater.

I have to echo the person who said put the microphone into Voice Isolation mode. That fixed it for me. AMAZING difference!

Just add a chat with Apple Chat Support. They asked me to reset my Airpod and it worked

How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro – Apple Support (UK)

I hope it will also help some of you.