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AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Test fails with "Unable to classify due to background noise" error.

Hearing test keeps stopping stating it is unable to classify due to background noise. The only noise is me breathing! I've tried four times now and can't get through one ear without the test stopping at 75% finished.


[Re-Titled By Moderator]

iPhone 15 Plus, iOS 18

Posted on Oct 28, 2024 10:18 AM

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Posted on Oct 28, 2024 9:10 PM

Same error - "Unable to Classify" because of background noise. I was in a closet with no noise. Tried 3 times. Left ear completes and right ear almost completes and I get the same error.


Current Firmware 7B19 on AirPods Pro 2. Just updated to iOS 18.1 today. So the software is up to date.

91 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 28, 2024 9:10 PM in response to WL49

Same error - "Unable to Classify" because of background noise. I was in a closet with no noise. Tried 3 times. Left ear completes and right ear almost completes and I get the same error.


Current Firmware 7B19 on AirPods Pro 2. Just updated to iOS 18.1 today. So the software is up to date.

Oct 29, 2024 12:58 PM in response to WL49

Same i have tried at least 7 or 8 times different rooms with doors shut in back of house cant get through the left ear as it keeps failing because of background noise- this last time is said to clean my airpods pro 2 - did that - same result unable to classify due to background noise- pretty sure it is not the background noise

Nov 1, 2024 12:27 PM in response to WL49

I contacted Apple today about this problem. I was transferred two times, eventually getting someone in the Health app support team. First they asked for a screenshot of the error message, so I sent that.


Now they want to gather diagnostic logs from my iPhone, but the link they sent me is not working. They're supposed to call me back Sunday morning to get the diagnostic logs.


They do not monitor these forums, but after being told about the discussion here they said they would "investigate."


I'm guessing the problem is simply in the Health app and that a future update will solve this problem. In the meantime, I would encourage everyone that gets the error to call Apple and report it.


Oct 29, 2024 7:35 PM in response to WL49

I'm having the same problem. Tried many times in different quiet locations.


I tried the suggestion above about setting them to "Noise Cancellation" but it didn't help. I tried other combinations of settings, no go.


I called Apple and they said they hadn't heard about this problem. I was told that the only way to let them know about this bug is to report it on their feedback form, here:


Product Feedback - Apple


Oct 31, 2024 9:10 AM in response to Randyairpods

I tried the earmuffs solution - which is a brilliant idea. For me, the extra noise silencing protection did not work. The system still cannot classify the test results. So, I still think it's just a matter of luck if you happen to get your hearing classified. However, I'm also beginning to wonder if the degree of hearing loss is an issue with getting classified. I know I have hearing loss, particularly in the low frequency range. So, for those of us with hearing loss of various types and severity, the classification system may be tripping up.


I will say that, if you didn't have hearing loss before, you very might following multiple rounds of starting the test and listening to the test calibration music.

Nov 2, 2024 12:58 PM in response to WL49

Same problem, tells me the room is quiet enough to proceed, then won't complete left ear. But I am in a soundproofed recording studio! The noise level can ONLY be my breathing or tapping on the iPhone, and I put IT on a pad to suppress THAT noise. This is the ONLY reason i bought them, and Costco WILL take them back for a few more days. Too bad, the noise suppression is awesome, but not important enough for me to stick them in my ears.

Nov 3, 2024 1:35 PM in response to Paul Schlosser

Update: Today (Sunday) I was finally able to finish the hearting test. Briefly, the last few days were like this:


  1. Last week, many failed attempts to finish the hearing test, just like everyone here.
  2. Friday, I call Apple, end up with someone in the Health app support department. He asked for some info, we get disconnected and he never calls back. Later I get an email "we're trying to get in touch with you..."
  3. I call back, get a different rep. She sends me a link to gather logs from my iPhone. I couldn't get the link to work, so we schedule a call back for Sunday morning.
  4. Sunday morning, no call. I get an email "we're trying to get in touch with you..." I call in and get a third rep. He wants to send me the link for logs again. We waited 30 minutes for the email then gave up, scheduling another call for Monday. Three hours later, the email arrives.
  5. I ran the link for the iPhone logs, and it did something...but I think you have to be on the phone with Support because it ended with a "waiting for support" spinning ball.
  6. I reboot my iPhone, ran the hearing test...and it worked!


So, it appears to be the luck of the draw if the hearing test works or not.


I'm not real happy with Apple Support today. It's clear their call back system does not work (yes, I turned off block unknown callers).


I believe all this hearing test drama is due to either buggy software on the iPhone or buggy firmware in the AirPods Pro 2. I'm sure the next iOS update will include the line "...fixes a problem in the Hearing Test."


AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Test fails with "Unable to classify due to background noise" error.

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