AirPods Pros making crackling static noises

I had this issue with 2 different pairs that I bought from Apple. I figured I’d try one last time and bought a pair from Costco’s website. I’ve had these for a few weeks now. So far, so good.

I also noticed that Apple released a new firmware update for the AirPods and then took it down a few days later because of issues. I can’t remember for what. They are really slacking😔

Recently I’ve started hearing a popping noise on left ear, only happens during noise cancelling or transparent modes.

I can make it sound when i do touch the left airpod or play some music.

Anyway, reseting didn’t help. Need to try the cleaning, if will not work i guess need to go to Apple store to get some help.

Looks like FW issue, version 2C54 is buggy?

Someone written at another place that Apple stopped pushing this update, if it is true the ones who has it will have buggy pods until resolved. I wonder if Apple will provide a way i can choose whether i want an upgrade or not. Apple is very silent about it.

I have the same issue, except it is in the left earbud. The right one was replaced under warranty by Apple 2 weeks ago because it was distorting when I talked or cleared my throat. After that was replaced, the left one starting buzzing when I walk. And I have the same experience as you. If I turn OFF noise canceling AND transparency mode, the buzzing is gone. Of course that is not what I paid $250 for, right. I am going to get Apple to replace this left bud now

I’ve had my third pair for 6 weeks with no issues till now. My last 2 did the same thing. Interestingly, I occasionally cleaned them with alcohol. My friends at work have had theirs from day one and never cleaned them

with alcohol and never had an issue🤔 am I going crazy? Is perhaps, the alcohol breaking down the speaker material? Anyone else with this issue cleaned theirs with alcohol? Oh, and I got these at Costco online and I’m returning them and going back to Gen 2’s. 👍

It happened something strange now: I had this problem on the right earbud, but I got used to it. Then I wanted to try to replace it, and the support sent me a new earbud.

The thing is: after I’ve paired the earbuds, I noticed that the new (right) earbud perfectly blocks external sounds, but there’s something wrong with the left one, because it seems that external sounds are still capable of passing trough.

Before I didn’t notice this thing, and now it is driving me crazy. Is it possibile that noises aren’t completely cancelled because of some microphone problems and that I didn’t noticed it before because this problem affected the original pair of AirPods? I think I’ll contact again the Apple support.

Exact same issue here, but in the left ear AirPods Pro. I confirmed that turning off cancellation/transparency gets rid of the clicking/ticking noise. For me, if I kept my head still, the clicking wouldn't happen, but any movement would cause a click-click-click. I describe it as clicking or ticking, not crackling, because I think crackling is more of a white noise/indistinct frequency thing. This sound was quite consistent in frequency — at first I thought it was just popping sounds in my neck or ear!

Wow! Thank you for letting me know. That rules out me causing the issue 👍. For the first time in my life and I can’t believe I’m doing this but I’m going to buy the Samsung Buds Plus when they come out next week. I keep hearing Great things on many YouTube reviews! Today I just picked up the PowerBeats Pro to hold me over till next week!

I bought the Samsung Buds 2018 before my first AirPods V2. The new ones are supposed to be better, but they were an extremely underdeveloped product compared to the Airpods, especially for an iPhone owner. They stay in and sound great, but they would disconnect, not water resistant, battery drain issues, none of the features work with ios. That's why I initially switched to AirPods V2, which have worked flawlessly.

I'm on my 3rd failing set of AirPods Pro (APP). All 3 sets have experienced a popping/clicking sound in one of the earbuds during Noise Cancellation or Transparency modes after a few weeks. All 3 have been updated to the latest firmware and I'm certain 2 of the failure times did not correlate to a software update. I have luckily never dropped any of my APP, cleaned them

with any chemicals, or gotten them wet. The popping/clicking continues even if the tips are removed, but it stops when I turn off Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes. I called Apple support again and they confirmed that this is a known APP software related issue and asked me to wait for an update. My guess would be that noise cancellation and transparent listening are the main reason for the Pro's $100 price premium. If this problem is software related, Apple should have quickly implemented a software update, but 3 months have passed. If the problem is hardware related, Apple should offer refunds or replace them with an updated product and extend the warranty period.

Mine has started with the same problem in the left ear.

The interesting thing is that the clicking happens when it's tapped, or more consistently when I am on the bus.

The windows on the bus shake producing a pressure wave which is in time with the clicking nose. I can see the window flexing which matches the clicking even if there aren't bumps.

I usually sit on the left side of the bus next to the window which is also the clicking side.

I wonder if this repeated pressure from the window has in some way damaged the external microphone. It *should* be able to handle this type of normal usage, but that is one observation I have made.

It could also just be a coincidence.

I have an appointment with Apple in a few days so I will see what they say.

I am also having this issue. These are way to expensive to not work properly. Is there a fix yet? Reconnected to my phone and still doing. Cmon apple. If your products start being crap I’m replacing all of my personal and business products with something that actually works like it’s supposed to. Also fix the parental controls on devices because they’re crap.

3 months in and it seems they have no clue what the **** is wrong. Same situation here - right earpiece starts popping/crackling sounds whichever ANC mode is switched on. Apple Support told me to wait for a new SW update. When asked about a possible release date, they have zero idea. Sure, I paid $250 for a pair of ANC earpieces so I could use them in plain mode, no ANC 😄

This was happening on my left ear with the Airpod Pro. Popping every time I had transparency or noise cancellation on. No popping when it was turned off. I contacted Apple Support and they suggested removing the tip and seeing if it was still going on. It worked with the tip off. They suggested new tips, or trying one of the other sizes. (Tips are not covered by AppleCare)

The noise changed from my first post. For a while, the popping went away completely. For the past couple of weeks, I've been getting distortion in my left ear with certain frequencies. It happens both when I talk and when there's outside noise. Took them to Apple. They said the same thing as other people have been posting: wait for a software update. The guy also said they had no AirPod Pros in stock to switch them out with. He also tried to tell me it might be that they're not fitting in my ear correctly. I'm a musician and wear in-ear monitors and hearing protection all the time. They fit just fine. I also did the fit test on the phone when I originally got them and the phone confirmed it. Here's hoping a software update will finally fix this thing!