Custom Transparency Mode not showing up

Check Settings > Bluetooth > [your AirPods] … tap the circled “I” on the right and be certain your AirPods are identified as a Pro model.

This temporarily solved my problem with Transparency mode disappearing.

My iPhone thought my Airpods Pro were connected but they were not.

Switching from AirPods Pro to iPhone and back again fixes it.

1. Swipe down from top right of iPhone screen and tap on the Airpods icon.
2. Switch from Airpods Pro to iPhone.
3. Switch back to AirPods Pro

But why does that keep happening?

I have iPhone 12 Max and iOS 17.0.3

And does Settings > Bluetooth > [your AirPods] identify the AirPods as connected?

Perhaps the AirPods would benefit from a reset. This explains how.

How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Apple Support

Are your AirPods Pro in your ears? Are they connected to your iPhone?

Do you see this in Control Center when your AirPods are connected?

I’ve been thinking about this, reviewing the thread above, and I just noticed something.

Compare your screenshot to mine. Do you notice another glaring difference aside from mine showing Transparency Mode?

Check the difference in the “Play Sample” row! Mine is blue and tappable. Yours is gray and so presumably not able to function. Why? I don’t know, but the cause is likely the same as the transparency issue.

Your post caused me to try this. I have an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 16.6, with AirPods Pro 2nd generation.