AirPods Pros making crackling static noises

After a second chat with Apple Support, they are replacing both of my ear buds. They should be here tomorrow. My fingers are crossed that this won’t happen again, but given the seemingly lack of information about this makes me wonder if there is a true fix. I hope the truth comes out eventually.

I have my airpods pro since 4 weeks now and the left airpod is making a static crackling noise now when in transparency or noise cancellation mode. It does not do it when I turn the functionality off. It is very annoying to have this constant noise when in conversation or listening to music. I have tried to reset - unpair and re-pair but without any change

Hi Audrey. This exact issue LITERALLY just happened to me minutes ago. I placed the AirPods back in the case for about 10 seconds and placed them back in my ears. Fortunately, the static from the left AirPod ceased. Nervous because I just had to have the Right AirPod replaced last week via Apple Support due to an issue with the outside mic causing cracking whenever I spoke, moved my jaw or had wind hit my right ear. Good luck and let us know if you get a resolution.

I had the exactly same problem on my right side Airpod pro about 1 month ago. Reset, re-pair dont solve it. I had to send in for replacement. Apple replace another one for me after 10+ days I sent in.

Now, My left side having same exact problem. I called in and they ask me to send in to shop for a Physical check. Problem now is the shop already closed due to Government's COVID-19 directive until 14 April or maybe will get extend longer.

Unfortunately, due to Apple's Policy in my country. They cannot do the "mail-in service" meaning they send a replacement to me first, make a hold charge on my credit card. I send back to them, once they check and confirmed is the real problem. They will release the CC hold.

I hope Apple can implement the "mail-in service" in my country due to COVID-19 situation. But as of now, i stuck with ONE faulty Airpod pro.

I have read all the comments on how to fix this problem and I have also reset my AirPods Pro more than once trying to fix this annoying problem. For being $250 you think they would try to fix this problem as soon as possible.

As a workaround for when you are moving or eating, you can turn off cancellation and ambience. On the BT config of your phone you can set the long press on the airpods to circle between the three modes (Cancellation, Ambience, Off)

For me with the last update, the problem improved greatly. I can usually make the crackling disappear by shifting with the piece a little bit. Though the issue isn't gone completely.

The same stuff happens to me in my left bud. I didn’t try to blow into the AirPod though. Is there an actual way to fix this or are we gonna have to wait it out? I know I’m a little late to the conversation but I still need my AirPod to not do this. It gets on my nerves and they are way too expensive to be having this dumb of an issue.

This was the solution for me. Worked like a charm the only thing I added was actually putting the AirPod Pro up to my ear and sucking air through the holes. (I used a piece of tape instead of the tacky stuff).

i am having the very same issue. i just tested it while reading a few of these to see if i can fix it. it only happens when i'm noise cancelling or transparency mode. it almost sounds like the internals are shaking around with a few clicks per second. quite a few people are having this issue and i'm not sure if maybe it's just a faulty pair or if they're all doing it.

People need to stop trying software fixes for the clicking/popping issue. It is hardware. Get it replaced by Apple.

It's a known fault and people I have spoken to at the Apple store said others have been replaced with the same issue.

This needs to be pinned.

Hello sudir240. Apple replaced my right AirPod Pro under their 1 year warranty for no cost.

I had to provide a credit card to ensure that I sent the faulty one back (they provided a shipper that could be reused and had a prepaid label). I would have been charged $99 if I didn’t return the defective AirPod within a week.

I did the same. It was my left AirPod Pro. They sent me a new one the next day and held $99 credit card fee incase I didn't return the old one. It was easy and my new one doesn't have the crackling static noise. I do have AppleCare on the AirPods Pro but I don't think that mattered because this was covered under original warranty.

For me, it depends on what pod I take out of the case first. It started with my left pod, I turned off automatic ear detection and put the left back in the case and then put it back in my ear; still had the popping. Next I took them both out, closed the case, reopened and put the left one in first; the right one started popping. Then I put the left one back in the case, and the right one stopped popping. When I put the left one back in it started popping again. Ultimately, I can only listen with one pod in at a time. The last one to come out of the case is the first one to pop. Eventually they both start popping.

i also have the same crackling/popping sound in my AirPods pro. it only makes the sound in noise canceling and transparency. it pops/ crackles when i move. if i stay still the crackling isn't bad but when i walk it is almost unbearable. i contacted apple about it and they said to reset the AirPods fully, remove them from my devices, and set up like new AirPods. i did this and it is still happening. because this problem only happens with transparency and noise cancelation could it have something to do with the microphone in the AirPods? its really irritating to hear this when i am moving around doing stuff.

Luckily I had AppleCare. Apple is sending me a new left EarPod. They put a hold on my credit card until I return the faulty one.

I did my communication with Apple through chat. They made me run all kinds of tests on them first. Locate the serial number on the inside top of the lid. It is TINY print. You can also get the serial number from your iPhone. Settings, General, About, AirPods.

They will have you unpair and re-pair and test on both transparency and noise cancellation modes.

Good luck.