AirPods Max Wired connection does not work

I had this issue when trying to use these with my PS5. What corrected the issue for me was a slight adjustment of the ear cups themselves (tilt either inwards or outwards depending on how they fit to your head). It’s almost as if the ear detection software doesn’t recognize I’m using them even though they’re plugged in.

This, by no means, is a permanent fix as I typically have to do this anytime I plug them in, which never seems to happen when I use them wirelessly.

BrianDiaz19 Said:

"AirPods Max Wired connection does not work"

-------

Re-Pair the AirPods:

1. Unpair: Restart or unpair AirPods with iPhone - Apple Support
2. Next... Pair: Connect your AirPods and AirPods Pro to your iPhone - Apple Support

Hey there, BrianDiaz19!

Thanks for stopping by the Apple Support Communities. We understand that you aren't getting any audio while using your AirPods Max with a wired connection to your iPad. You've come to the right place to get help!

We would recommend going through the Apple Support article Set up AirPods with iPad - Apple Support to make sure you've got the AirPods Max connected properly, specifically paying attention to the "Connect AirPods Max with an audio cable" section.

"Note: Make sure that the Headphone Jack Adapter is connected to your iPad, not your AirPods Max."

If the issue persists, please contact Apple directly here:

Get Support

Cheers!

I went to an Apple Store today and was told that it was a firmware problem. The sympathetic store employee had no idea if or when it would be fixed. As far as I can tell, Apple hasn’t officially acknowledged the problem. Thinking about bringing the Max’s back, as I just purchased them.

so got my airpods max back from service center and again it does not work. Then went to apple store just to try the apple cable and it worked. So conclusion is that only apple cable works for the airpods, also the apple support mentioned that the only third party cable brand that works for the airpods pro max is Belkin.

It does work if you use the right Apple cable. Get the lightening to analog plug and it will work. Really.

Couldn't get my new Air Pods Max to work with generic lightening to 3.5mm cables, but now seems to work fine with Apple's $39 cable.

This is all very frustrating! I purchased these with the intent to use them on the plane and was told they could connect with a wire seemlessly. However I was not able to get any sound to play using them in wired mode. I tried resetting the headphones, turned Bluetooth off on my other devices so they wouldn’t try to connect to those and several different cables and nothing worked. Seems like a waste of I can’t connect on the airplane since this was my main reason for purchasing. Please help me know what I need to do to make them work in wired mode.

For a $500 headphones, you need to go back to your engineer and tell them to patch the problem ASAP! Not telling us to just contacting apple support. It just supposed to work as a wired headphone when you plug in a 3.5mm Jack like any other wired headphones (beats, Sony, etc.). Just go and fix this and tell us when there is a patch coming for it.

I am having this exact problem. While wired I get no sound connecting my AirPods Max to my 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX. I am a video editor and need my AirPods Max to be in sync while editing. This requires a wired connection which is not working so basically my $500 headphones I purchased to edit video are useless for editing :/

Sitting on an airplane with my $500 headphones that don’t allow for wired playback. Such a joke. Apple needs to fix this and also offer refunds to anyone who bought them, these headphones are useless.

Same problem with my iphone. No sound when wire connected, although the iphone shows that the song is playing and volume indicator is high. Tried using with different iphone, different airpod max's, and even different adaptors. Went to apple store, and after they failed to remedy, I was told that it is likely a firmware issue.

Dear Apple. This is not acceptable! I was struggling to buy the AirPods Max because I already own AirPods 3 but I wanted to use them for music making and video cutting without latency. They worked ONCE! After that no sound through the cable with lightning to aux adapter. It is already an insolence to not ship the lightning to audio cable (not mentioning the lack of a power plug and me laughing out loud when I saw the "Smart" Case. Really? It is smart enough to turn off my headphones but can't do what it is supposed to be: Protect my 479€ headphones? Open from all sides. *Facepalm*) Now I had to spend 38€ for a cable that should have been included (gold plated with diamonds on it for that price) to find out it won't solve my problem when it arrives tomorrow. 500€ spend for nothing since I already have AirPods 3. What happened to your quality assurance department? If my company would treat our users this way when we release our software we would lose them one by one. I am an Apple fan and have everything from MacBook Pro over iPhone 13 Pro to iPad Air (many devices over many years). But you soon have to realize that you can't rest on the success and "years ahead idea" of the first and following iPhone(s). You became a company like every company out there. Only profit no big innovations anymore. I still like your products but my love fades away.

Now go and fix this issue ASAP!

Reading the above threads and dates, I am amazed that Apple engineers haven't fixed this very real problem by now! If I can't connect the AirPods Max to the airplane audio, and take advantage of the phenomenal noise cancellation, then I am very unhappy I bought it. I am also concerned about the head rest for the device: without any protection, I think the little "hammock" will break down sooner or later. This problem of lack of wired connectivity to an audio outlet is serious since so many of us travel. Apple has really let us down. Resetting my AirPods Max corrected the lack of audio connection using the USB C to Lightning cable between my iPad Pro and the AirPods Max, but resetting did NOT fix the audio connection with the the 3.5 mm audio to Lightning to AirPads Pro. And I agree, I was very disappointed in the frailness of the Apple 35$ cable. This whole situation is way below Apple's reputation and what I had a right to expect for $550, and $35. Is anybody from Apple listening???? We should all write all the reviewers and let them know the problem we have all had. I guess I am going to need to buy a Blue Tooth adapter for audio for when I fly in order to use my AirPods Max on a plane. When I spoke to Apple support and explained how bad this was, they refunded my $35 for the cable without my having to take all the trouble of sending the cable back. Initially I wasn't going to mention the refund, but I think Apple owes it to all of us who bought their malfunctioning and falsely advertised cable.

I hate that these headphones do not work with either the apple lightening to aux adaptor or with the apple lightening to 3.5mm cable. The ONLY way to use these very expensive headphones with a 3.5mm connection is to buy a Bluetooth to 3.5mm adapter like the “AirFly”. I have enough connections and cords to carry as is, now this is not just another thing I have to buy in order to fully use these expensive headphones, but takes up more space in my carry on. Extremely disappointed.