Airpods (3rd Gen) stop working when jogging - Any fix?

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Airpods (3rd Gen) stop working when jogging - Any fix?

My third generation airpods consistently stop playing audio when I use them while running. I am playing the audio from my Apple Watch (Series 6) and it happens using any audio player, including Spotify and Apple Music, whether downloaded audio or streaming. The music usually will continue to play if I am standing still, but as soon as I start running, it stops playing and does not restart unless I stop, take the Airpod out of my ear, and put it back in (which only works sometimes, and even then it again stops shortly after I start running). Any ideas on how to remedy this, or do I perhaps have a defective pair of AirPods?

Posted on Feb 10, 2023 11:31 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

kamote0628

Community Specialist

Feb 12, 2023 4:34 PM in response to coconoir

Hi coconoir,

We appreciate you reaching out to us.

If the issue is only happening when you run, please test if the issue persists if you disable the Automatic Ear Detection feature.

To disable the Automatic Ear Detection feature, please follow the steps below.

"With your AirPods in your ears and connected to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Alternatively, you can go to Settings > AirPods.
Tap the More Info button next to your AirPods in the list of devices.
Disable Automatic Ear Detection."

You can use the article below as a reference.

Change the settings of your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Apple Support

If the issue persists while the Automatic Ear Detection feature is disabled, it may help if you reset your AirPods.

How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Apple Support

Take care!

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Answer 2

ManJor

Community Specialist

Mar 5, 2023 4:10 PM in response to coconoir

Welcome back coconoir,

Just to confirm, when this occurs, if you go to Settings > Bluetooth, do the AirPods still show connected prior to removing and reinsertion? This can help us isolate the behavior to the AirPods themselves, Bluetooth, or the Apple Watch, since each one could be the result of the behavior you're experiencing.

Additionally, are your AirPods, iPhone and Apple Watch all on the latest firmware version? For both your iPhone and Apple Watch, you can check that in Settings > General > About on the respective device. For the AirPods, check out: About firmware updates for AirPods - Apple Support

Let us know the results, and we'll go from there.

Cheers!

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Answer 3

hc1111

Community Specialist

Mar 6, 2023 12:29 PM in response to coconoir

Thanks for the reply, coconoir.

You mentioned using an Apple Watch and noticing this issue when paired with the watch; let's make sure you have automatic switching disabled as it could be causing the AirPods connection to change the device it's playing audio from. Use these steps to check from your iPhone:

1. With your AirPods in your ears and connected to your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Alternatively, you can go to Settings > [your AirPods].

2. Tap the More Info button next to your AirPods in the list of devices.

3. Tap Connect to This iPhone [or iPad].

4. Tap When Last Connected to This iPhone [or iPad].

5. To turn on this feature again, tap Automatically.

To turn this off on other devices: Switch your AirPods to another device - Apple Support

Does that seem to help with the connection or does it persist?

All the best.

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Answer 4

coconoir Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 5, 2023 2:00 PM in response to kamote0628

Hi there. Thanks for the suggestion. I disabled the Automatic Ear Detection feature and the issue persists. What has potentially helped is turning off the bluetooth on the Apple Watch after I've started playing music from the Watch and it has stopped playing. Then I turn the bluetooth back on and reconnect to the Airpods. Not sure if that is a reliable fix, but it has worked.

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Answer 5

coconoir Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 6, 2023 9:32 AM in response to ManJor

Yes, the AirPods show as connected prior to removing and reinsertion. All products are up to date with software.

The Watch plays music on non-Apple branded bluetooth headphones--I have tried 2 other brands and they both work. It is only the Apple AirPods that do not work.

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Airpods (3rd Gen) stop working when jogging - Any fix?

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