Custom Transparency Mode automatically turns itself off when I connect my AirPods Pros 2nd gen

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Level 1

21 points

Custom Transparency Mode automatically turns itself off when I connect my AirPods Pros 2nd gen

I use my AirPod Pros as a substitute for my hearing aids (this has been approved by my audiologist, and has my audiogram installed in the accessibility settings), and I use the expanded transparency mode menu (Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Headphone Accommodations > Transparency Mode > Custom Transparency Mode) to increase amplification, reduce background noise, and boost conversation range.

These features are things I rely on to function for my day-to-day interactions and work (I work in film and tele, hearing comprehension is pretty important to do my job), but every time I put them on the Custom Transparency Mode has turned itself off so I have to go through those five menus to find the setting to turn it back on again. Every time.

I have factory reset and unpaired my AirPods four times so far to no avail.

This happens on all my connected devices (iPhone 12 Mini, 14 Pro Max, 11” iPad Pro 3rd, 4th gen iPad Air, watch Ultra, 2012 MacBook Pro running Mojave).

I have contacted Support, they seem to think that turning off Transparency Control on the arm of the AirPods will fix it, and it did for one connection, before the problem continued. It seems to be consistent when I connect after being disconnected for longer than 20 minutes. It’s also occasionally disconnecting the Custom Transparency Mode while it’s still actively paired with the device.

Is anyone else having this issue, or have any solutions? I feel like my issue is pretty niche

AirPods Pro (2nd generation)

Posted on Jul 21, 2023 1:21 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ViKween Author

Level 1

21 points

Jul 30, 2023 6:58 AM in response to ViKween

After repeated phone calls and visits to Apple, we’ve decided that there is something faulty with the pair of AirPods Pro 2nd gen that I purchased as this does not happen on my AirPod Pros 1st gen.

I have returned them with the intention of repurchasing them when I receive my refund (they were purchased online, this delay is standard procedure).

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Answer 2

Dec 9, 2023 12:24 PM in response to Rich Love1

Problem Solved:

MAKE SURE ADAPTIVE MODE IS NOT ENABLED ON ANY DEVICE.

This was my experience:

I have four Apple Devices.

MacBook Air

Mac Mini

iPad

iPhone

Adaptive mode was enabled on my iPad.

I think that happened with a recent iOS update.

If I am using my iPhone with AirPods Pro 2 in transparency mode and then switch to my iPad,

The iPad was switching my AirPods to adaptive mode.

Most of the time you don't even realize that has happened.

Then when you switch back to your iPhone, it cannot switch back to transparency mode.

Sometimes it is very difficult to get it back into transparency mode.

I normally need to switch the speaker output to iPhone and back to AirPods Pro 2.

Then I can re-activate transparency mode on the iPhone.

Very frustrating.

But if I change my iPad to use Transparency instead of Adaptive, it switches between the iPad and iPhone leaving transparency enabled.

The only other thing I needed to do was keep the iPhone from sleeping unless I push the sleep button.

For some reason, if you leave the AutoLock setting set to Automatic, it will turn off transparency when you put the iPhone to sleep.

With AutoLock set to Never, I can push the sleep button on the iPhone and transparency will continue to work on the AirPods.

To re-iterate... Look at your AirPod settings on all of your Apple devices and make sure they are set to toggle between Transparency and Noise Cancellation. (Not Adaptive mode)

Rich

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Answer 3

ViKween Author

Level 1

21 points

Oct 1, 2023 6:21 PM in response to Jas From Kennewick

Hey Jas, I ended up returning and buying a new pair (because it was within the return policy period). But the issue has reappeared with the 17.0.2 update, I’m hoping that a reset will correct it, but it completely wiped not only my Transparency Mode settings, but also my Custom Audio Setup settings, which was beyond frustrating.

Did the issue start with one of the iOS17 updates for you too?

If you have the access, take them into a Apple Store to run diagnostics (the more people with this issue that do this, the more information R&D has to figure out wtf is the causing this issue).

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Answer 4

Dec 7, 2023 10:25 AM in response to Rich Love1

I have noticed that transparency turns off intermittently when there is an abnormal background noise.

Even just setting a glass down on the table can trigger it.

I may have found the fix.

It has only been about 5 hours of testing but transparency has not turned off yet.

Fixed by Setting the level of Ambient Noise Reduction in Headphone Accommodations.

It is off by default.

I just moved the slider to approximately 25%.

So far so good.

Rich

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Answer 5

ViKween Author

Level 1

21 points

Oct 3, 2023 7:55 AM in response to Bradolder

Hey, I am frustrated that you were also having the same problem but I’m also kind of happy that you’re having the same problem because it shows that it’s not an isolated issue.

I have also had multiple tech-support conversations since 2020 about this issue and I spent an hour and a half on the phone with an accessibility specialist last night and it turns out that this is actually something that they recognize is a problem, there has been enough people filing reports (ie calling Apple Support) about it, that there is a team that is actually working to isolate and solve this problem.

From what I understand they do not have a clear idea of what specifically is causing this issue, as my transparency mode inconveniences do not have an obvious pattern, but they are actively looking into it!

This is going to sound redundant, and the same old same old, but the more of us that keep calling support with the specific issue, the more information they are going to have to pass onto the engineers to solve this problem. (But also, as explained to me yesterday, accessibility features aren’t as widely used as the general OS features, so they take a little bit longer to recognize and fix the bugs because they don’t have as much information coming in. Does that make sense?)

So yeah, summary is that they are aware and they are working towards a solution (I would appreciate if it was resolved sooner rather than later, but at least there’s hope).

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Answer 6

Dec 8, 2023 9:18 AM in response to Rich Love1

PS: The other thing that causes transparency to turn off is when a phone call comes in and RoboKiller blocks it as spam.

I have seen that happen many times now.

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Answer 7

Dec 7, 2023 7:36 AM in response to Jas From Kennewick

Exact same issue here.

I have spent hours on the phone with Apple support in three separate phone calls.

Took my 2nd Gen Airpods to the Genius Bar and they found nothing wrong.

Those are the 2022 version of 2nd Gen Airpods.

So I purchased the new 2023 version and no help.

Same symptoms.

Keeps disconnecting transparency mode.

I am also hard of hearing and the Airpods were a great solution until Apple broke this with iOS Updates

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Answer 8

Oct 1, 2023 5:38 PM in response to ViKween

I’m having the exact same issue you are having. My AirPod pro 2nd gen are setup with the custom transparency mode enabled, then after a short period, the transparency mode disable by itself. The sequence to reestablish the 5-steps custom transparency mode is a pain.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

AirPod Pro model A2698

Airpod Pro version 6A301

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Answer 9

Oct 2, 2023 12:26 AM in response to ViKween

VIKween, your advice to take them to an Apple Store to run diagnostics is a good start to troubleshoot the AirPod Pros and the Transparency Mode automatically disabling in my case. I do use my Air Pod Pros primarily as a hearing aid function. The Trasnparency Mode disabling issue started before iOS17 roll out, but with this new update the disabling has gotten more frequent. The random nature of the disabling makes it impossible to pinpoint what the root cause. Example, I have Left & Right air pod pro in my ears, walk into adjacent room in my house while leaving iphone in the room I departed. Transparency Mode becomes disabled with the distance gap that just occurred. I've also had the Transparency Mode disable while the iphone is in my shirt pocket (no distance gap). I really enjoy the AirPod Pros in Transparency Mode. The sound produced by the Airpods vs my $7,000 reSound hearing aids doesn't compare. I won't share my long story of hearing impairment here. I just wish Apple would leave a good thing alone regarding the successful working Accessibility features.

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Answer 10

Oct 3, 2023 7:22 AM in response to ViKween

I am having this same exact issue as well and have also had a few times in which my AirPods will shut off transparency mode mid conversation randomly. It is very frustrating as I use them for my hearing aids as well (when they work, they work better than my OTE hearing aids). I’ve contacted support, disconnected and reconnected, to no avail so far.

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Answer 11

ecrawfo2

Level 1

8 points

Feb 24, 2024 8:39 PM in response to ViKween

Every new update is met with 'issues'. It's the only consistency with Apple.

The current issue includes my 2nd Gen AirPod Pro constantly switching to transparency mode on my MacBook Pro, no matter how many times I change to noise cancellation. I went under Bluetooth settings and unchecked transparency mode as an option for the Air Pod Pro but it still switches over. Apparently, ambient noise is more important to Apple.

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Answer 12

alauppe

Level 1

8 points

Mar 9, 2024 5:30 AM in response to ViKween

Same situation for me too. As much better as the AirPod Pro Gen2 is than $3500 hearing aids, at least an OTA update isn't likely to break the hearing aids. I haven't worn mine in a year, but may have to dig them out after this.

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