Level 1

35 points

AirPods Pro Ear Tip Fit Test fail (seal is actually good on both sides)

Ear tip test for me got passes on both ears straight away and multiple times with both medium and large tips on first couple days after I got them

However, since then, the left consistently fails the test when I check despite the left bud being just as sealed as the right one with identical sound as the right whether ANC/transparency/off selected. Medium and large tips have same result - left fails the tip test every time. Tried un-pairing from iPhone, resetting the pods the setting up again, but no different.

My thoughts are a glitch in the code for the ear tip test that goes wrong after a few days and a future release will solve.

Contacted Apple Support yesterday who had agreed they have seen reports of this already. They got me to send them a full set of logs from iPhone for analysis then will get back to me once their engineering team takes a look.

Very happy with product generally and no problem with function or sound quality.

But something to keep an eye on...

iPhone XS Max, iOS 13

Posted on Nov 8, 2019 8:30 AM

Top-ranking reply

indybeats

Level 1

28 points

Posted on Dec 17, 2020 10:35 AM

I can confirm the Loctite Fun-Tak solution worked for me. I now have the good seal on Fit Test for first time since week 1 of owning them. I had the same deal as a lot of people on here - the fit test worked for the first few weeks, then failing each time I've tried since then. (I've had them about 3 or 4 months now). I picked up some Loctite Fun-Tak and went to work.

It was a trial and error, as I didn't know how much I had to press and pull, I used the magnifier on iPhone to check my progress. I finally ended up with a 100% clean sensor screen, and the fit test started working. What I found best was covering the sensor with the putty, apply some pressure, and quickly rip it off (like a stuck band-aid). I also did some rapid-fire dabbing as well. A combination of those techniques cleared the crud out. (note: don't press so hard that you get putty stuck in the grooves... I did that at first but was able to get it back out).

For a comparison, like I mentioned above, I used the Magnifier tool on iPhone to view a "before" and "after". Note that you can't see any of this with the naked eye, you really need to magnify it. Here's a before and after. (The "before" looks pretty gross - the grooves are filled with dead skin, oil, wax, whatever it is). The "after" shows them very clean. I shower every day and wash my ears out just like everybody else, but this shows it may be time to start Q-Tipping each day as well, to further my effort in keeping the AirPods clean.

Before: Note the crud stuck in the sensor grooves/dimples, and also around the perimeter:

After: Note the entire sensor is clean:

For those of you doing the "suck out the crud" method, after seeing this you may think twice about that now :D

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116 replies

Feb 1, 2021 12:19 PM in response to tmcmorrow

That's just the thing, all of the ones in this thread worked when they were brand new. Only stopped working after having them for awhile. There's no hardware issue when they work brand new. To me it's faulty test software. I don't sweat it though, as the sound is great despite the fit test failures. I can clean the mesh on mine and the fit test starts working again. I've just learned to get that mental block out of my head, and clean them once in awhile.

Dec 28, 2019 10:19 AM in response to Bumbeen

This is ridiculous but this actually worked.

Good seal for both on day one. Left started to fail on week two. Tried replacing tips and adjusting ad nauseam, to no avail. Today both failed. Checked this thread, checked that MacRumors link, sucked out both pods multiple times, and now I get a good seal on both again. Bass seems to have improved too. For a few minutes there’d be occasional clicking though—I’m guessing that’s just the vents adjusting after the thorough sucking.

Ridiculous. I’m happy though

Apr 28, 2020 12:54 PM in response to TCampbell76

Have your AirPod Pro ever passed the ear tip fit test? If they used to but not anymore, try using something like Blu-Tack (I used Loctite Fun-Tak) on the inward facing microphone mesh. I described that in a few comments above. I agree there's definitely a design issue with the AirPod Pro. A user shouldn't have to resort to cleaning the microphone mesh with a ball of sticky Blu-Tack or sucking on them.

Bumbeen

Level 1

21 points

Dec 27, 2019 9:05 AM in response to Dell_K

You have to suck out the vents. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airpod-pro-ear-tip-fit-test-not-working-not-the-only-one.2208392/page-16?post=28096174#post-28096174

solodb

Level 1

4 points

Aug 20, 2020 8:04 PM in response to Changren Yong

I did have some Blue Tack and tried your solution, both L & R AirPod Pros are now passing the Ear Tip test again, Thank You!

Nov 26, 2020 8:12 AM in response to Dell_K

Someone said in here to Suck out the vents. Mine works now

Feb 1, 2021 12:58 PM in response to tmcmorrow

You should have given the Blu Tack (or another similar product) a try. It works much better in removing wax/debris on the microphone mesh than sucking on them. Depending on how often I use my AirPods Pro, I do this about once a month or every two months.

Dellski

Level 1

8 points

Nov 26, 2019 11:43 AM in response to 86hawki

I had a brand new set sent to me in exchange for the first.

Wasn’t to do with the silicone tips.

Apr 26, 2020 10:10 AM in response to Dell_K

I have noticed that the Ear Tip Fit Test is OK if you strongly push the EarPods inside the ear, during it, until completion.

So, the air pression seems to be relevant.

Anyone else ?

Feb 1, 2021 12:20 PM in response to Changren Yong

Clearing my ears through pushing air out while holding my nose, trying different ear tips, resetting the AirPods, sucking lightly on the affected AirPod to try and remove debris.

Dellski

Level 1

8 points

Nov 23, 2019 1:56 AM in response to MrBill3

New ones delivered on 19/11 and have been faultless so far. Ear Tip Test passing on both sides with medium or large tips fitted. Been doing the test every day, just to keep tabs.

There was a fault with my original pair and the left never did sound right.

But problem sorted for me. Will reply again if they go wrong....

J_dv

Level 1

4 points

Jan 2, 2020 4:48 PM in response to Dell_K

something similar happened to me.

I bought the airpods Pro a week after they came out. I used them for about 3 weeks and both ear fit test started failing. I tried all the different tips but never got a good seal. After a couple of days trying I took them to the apple store. They ran a few test at the genius bar and decided to replace both airpods.

The new airpods worked fine for about 3 weeks again and now the left airpod is failing the test again regardless the size of the tip.

The sound quality is still good and they work fine besides that problem. I am starting to believe it is more a bug than an actual technical issue.

I got apple care so if it gets worse I’ll take them to the store again.

very happy with the product if it wasn’t for this small issue

ktula

Level 1

24 points

Apr 29, 2020 2:29 AM in response to TCampbell76

If you have access to it, try using Blu-Tack - in my case Loctite Fun-Tak - on the inside-facing microphone mesh on both ear buds. Ever since I started doing this, I haven’t had a failed ear tip fit test.

ajsim

Level 1

8 points

Dec 27, 2019 8:22 PM in response to amosfromberkeley

I returned mine. Do the same. I don't need a falling device!

Aug 18, 2020 8:20 AM in response to palurie

See the Blu-Tack comments in the thread. It's been working for me consistently for the last 2 months.

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AirPods Pro Ear Tip Fit Test fail (seal is actually good on both sides)