AirPods Pros making crackling static noises

I've had mine since they came out and I noticed today that in transparency or N.C a distortion will come through. Is this the pop and crackling? I notice it is mainly with lower frequency sounds. It doesn't affect the music. Just outside noise. If the sound is loud enough, it will get the left one to distort also. I've also had a problem where when I take them out or go to put them in, I'll hear loud beeping, almost like a circuit board. Is any of this fixable? I think it's ridiculous that you pay $250 and get problems like this.

This seems to be an on-going problem. I am on my second pair because the first caused me considerable pain on a flight during takeoff and landing.

My second pair is now buzzing in my left ear. I wonder if the mics cannot handle very loud noises and maybe get damaged. I walked by loud construction today and now I am having issues.

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😔

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

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 went through 3 sets too with the same issue. I finally ended up with the hen 2’s which I never had an issue with.

It would be Amazing if 13.4 does solve this issue. There’s NO excuse for the fix to take 5 months!

Also a musician here - vocalist - I get the feedback as well in my AirPods Pro in the right bud when I speak in certain frequencies with transparency mode on. I called Apple and they weren’t interested in helping. $250 is high and I’ve only had these a few months. Got them to talk on for work and now they’re practically unusable.

Bought my Pros in December 2019. Crackling started a few weeks ago in the left bud and is now perceivable in both. I initially thought I had water in my ear and that the weird cracklings sound was caused by the tips squeaking against my ear canal. Then I shifted to thinking that maybe I got them wet and the sound is due to water being on the speaker driver. It’s driving me crazy so I contacted Apple support.

Apple support told me to unpair, cradle them for 30 seconds, reset, then re-pair. Didn’t work. Due to the world being on lockdown from the virus, I couldn’t take them in to Apple, so the agent told me to take them to an authorized service center, which for me was my local Best Buy. Went to Best Buy today to get them replaced. Geek Squad agent said they don’t swap them but need to send them in to Apple. She continued to explain that this process will take 6-8 weeks. Ugh!

I rely on these for work as I’m on the phone all day long - now more than ever. So I thought I should check out the forums tonight. Never in my thought process did I think that this issue could be so prevalent. I’m shocked. What’s happened to Apple? I love these ear buds (when they work), but to see the dates on people’s threads going back for months is concerning to me. I thought Apple products are nearly flawless once they hit the market? Isn’t that the rationale behind their prestige and justification for erring on the side of higher priced?

I read someone’s comments regarding the noise happening while in ANC or Transparency Modes, but not occurring when they are off. I tried this and my situation is the same. When the buds are in ANC mode, without anything being played, I can softly tap my finger on the bud (both) and the crackling sound occurs. When I turn ANC off and then tap the same way, the crackle is gone.

Not sure what to do now. I guess I’ll keep ANC off when I make calls, but this is less than ideal as I use these a lot while driving.

Mr Cook, please have your team solve this issue with urgency. I’m counting on you guys to do what you do best - make great products that are consistently reliable.

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

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.

That this issue is showing up as solved says it all. 1.5K or so people have so far come to this thread to say they have the same problem.

Ive only noticed the crackling in my right pod when on phone calls. I’m always in transparency mode. I haven’t noticed it with music which I almost always listen to in NC mode. What is weird is, my ear hasn’t changed and the right ear pod has gone from having a good seal under Apples ear test, to not having a good seal. I know the seal is the same and I’ve tried all three tips and get the same bad test result. Do others have similar test failure after initially having a good seal too?

With all due respect, these measures might make a difference to some, but this seems to be an inherent hardware flaw For many on this forum. Including me.

given that multiple people are saying that replacements have the issue is there is a real concern that we have wasted £250 on a defective product.

the advice given by Apple is frankly laughable. I hope that my replacements don’t have the issue and the problem is limited to a certain production run. But that is starting to feel unlikely

The cracking has nothing to do with the cleanliness . The link above from MARCIN89, showed a filthy case for the “AirPod”(not AirPod pro) being cleaned. Basically an Ad for the putty someone probably used to get hits on YouTube and get paid.

I’ve had my left AirPod pro go bad, followed by my right, then the replacement Left. Apple’s way to deal with me for the third AirPod failure was to send me a brand new AirPod, without asking me to send back my current ones. A nice gesture you may say? Why wouldn’t Apple want the defective product sent back so that they can figure out the problem? Unless they already know the problem and don’t want to admit to it. I am reluctant to open the new ones and experience the same thing. Anyone interested in a brand new AirPods Pro?

I have the exact same issue. It started this week.

Whenever I call or listen to music, I start hearing the weird sound on the right airpod only. It gets worst when I touch it, every single time my finger touches the external part of the airpord, there is this interference like sound.

I called apple, we did the troubleshooting steps including resetting and disconnecting from the phone/device but it happens no matter where they are connected. The same issue occurs if I use an iPhone, Macbook, iPad or even an android device.

For me it's a hardware related issue but they are asking me to take the airpods to an apple store. In Mexico we are in phase 3 of the pandemic and most stores, like the apple ones are closed! I do have an apple care and I'm deeply disappointed because I'm not getting a solution.

After I got both sides replaced. The replacements started to fail. After contacting Apple about this, instead of replacing them again they sent me brand new ones. We'll see how long these last before the same problems appear. What's most concerning is that they didn't ask me to return the defective ones. Which makes me think they are completely aware of the problems but don't want to recall them.