How to fix AirPods Pro 3 noise issues?

SOLVED

I had an unbearable high pitched squeal in the right side when I used ANC or transparency. I tried:

• Changing tip size
• Software updates
• Changing in ear detection settings
• Resetting them and repairing them
• Cleaning them. They were new anyway.
• If I turned off ANC or transparency then it was fine but I wanted that feature of course.

In the end I got them replaced within the 14 day period and lo and behold… the replacement had the exact same issue. ****.

Why? It must be me then. I actually discovered I had a lot of ear wax build up within my ears affecting the AirPods ANC performance. It didn’t affect AirPods Pro 2 for me but the new design of the AirPods Pro 3 must be such that it is affected with the ear wax build up in my ears.

I got my ears cleared out and SOLVED! Fixed! No software or firmware issue needed. Just needed to clean out my ears. Give it a try yourself.

My success story

I use a lot of fans at my home. And thus I started to see a pattern. Humming starts (and then stays regardless of changing conditions) always if I put on AirPods within air moving area. It seems even light wind fools sensors. Noise level seems to be irrelevant.

So after doing any voodoo for resetting humming noise that works for you (in my case leaving them in a case for some time was enough; others pointed thorough cleaning, de- and re-pairing, hard reset etc.) just try to put them on where air stands still. After that it becomes fully resistant to a wind.

Worked for me every time (and humming ALWAYS started if I forgot the rule and put them on in a windy area).

It’s ridiculous for flagship headphones for $250 but here we are. Hope it works for you too.

This has been documented by a multitude of users.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirpodsPro/comments/1nqf02b/new_airpod_pros_3_have_static_sound_in_left_side/

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/1nr9bux/my_opinion_on_airpods_pro_3_from_an_airpods_pro_2/

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirpodsPro/comments/1nl2fem/ocean_static_noise_with_airpods_pro_3_anyone_else/

Apple has not responded to any of this in the public domain other than giving folks replacements; for every user on these forums a replacement has NOT resolved the issue (because it's likely a design failure or a firmware issue across the board for people with specific ear shapes and/or hearing sensitivities). I have inquired whether people with units manufactured in Vietnam vs. India vs. China can confirm whether the issue persists, and there is no clear pattern, meaning that it's likely universal (if we assume the same microphones are being sourced to each unit).

My working theory is that the anti-wave pattern being generated in the AAP3 is overly aggressive changing the noise floor envelope which is very audible to a large subset of customers -- this is how they are able to achieve their purported 2x ANC of APP2 over APP3 claim. If we assume this is not a sourcing / manufacturer defect in the microphones (which we cannot rule out), we need confirmation from Apple that the ANC anti-wave pattern is in fact generating an audible white noise / hiss / low-fan air wooshing that users are experienceing. At this point, Apple not even acknowlding this in the open (but in their Genius Bars repeatedly) is gas-lighting consumers.

The clear way to replicate the audible noise is to enable off-mode and toggle between that and noise-cancellination; as soon as you toggle on noise cancellation mode, you will hear an air-wooshing sound (to different degrees deppending on your ear shape and/or sensitivity); prior APP2s DO NOT yeild this audible noise when in noise cancelling mode because the ANC anti-wave pattern and/or microphones employed are dialed in appopriately for all.

People should continue to add comments to this thread.

I (possibly) found a solution/explanation!

I’ve experienced this exact issue as well immediately after buying my new AirPods Pro 3, and after doing a lot of testing, I found something that (at least for me) completely solves the issue temporarily and pretty much confirms this is a software issue. I discovered it completely by accident.

Here’s what I tried:

In the AirPods settings on the iPhone, I ran the Hearing Test (Settings ➝ Your AirPods ➝ Hearing Test). You need to be wearing your AirPods to do this.

When you start the test, the AirPods automatically turn off noise cancellation.

If you had ANC enabled before starting the test, it normally turns back on once you finish or cancel the test.

However, you can’t cancel the test right away, you have to continue until you reach the part where it asks you to “tap when you hear a tone”.

Once you reach the “tap when you hear a tone” part, you can cancel the test. As soon as the test stops, ANC automatically turns back on, but this time the static/hissing noise is completely gone.

The catch:

If I change the AirPods mode (ANC ➝ Transparency/Off ➝ back to ANC), the static/hissing immediately returns. Running the Hearing Aid Test again removes the hissing again until the next mode switch.

So right now, running that test seems to act as a temporary workaround that removes the white noise until ANC gets cycled.

I’d be really interested to know if anyone else can reproduce this, because it strongly points to a software bug rather than a hardware issue.

Simba__ wrote:

I (possibly) found a solution/explanation!

I’ve experienced this exact issue as well immediately after buying my new AirPods Pro 3, and after doing a lot of testing, I found something that (at least for me) completely solves the issue temporarily and pretty much confirms this is a software issue. I discovered it completely by accident.

Here’s what I tried:

In the AirPods settings on the iPhone, I ran the Hearing Test (Settings ➝ Your AirPods ➝ Hearing Test). You need to be wearing your AirPods to do this.

When you start the test, the AirPods automatically turn off noise cancellation.

If you had ANC enabled before starting the test, it normally turns back on once you finish or cancel the test.

However, you can’t cancel the test right away, you have to continue until you reach the part where it asks you to “tap when you hear a tone”.

Once you reach the “tap when you hear a tone” part, you can cancel the test. As soon as the test stops, ANC automatically turns back on, but this time the static/hissing noise is completely gone.

The catch:

If I change the AirPods mode (ANC ➝ Transparency/Off ➝ back to ANC), the static/hissing immediately returns. Running the Hearing Aid Test again removes the hissing again until the next mode switch.

So right now, running that test seems to act as a temporary workaround that removes the white noise until ANC gets cycled.

I’d be really interested to know if anyone else can reproduce this, because it strongly points to a software bug rather than a hardware issue.

I noticed this some time ago

DonDzonson wrote:

I tried without eartips, it seems a bit less noise, but still hear it.

In my airpods I hear this noise in every mode contact, adaptive and noise reduction. It only disappears at the moment when I'm starting hearing test, after theese questions aboiut age, and health the noise disappears

but in my the noise appears after test, and this happens regardless of the mode, albo on ANC off. But if there is the way when this noise disappears, so this is probably the issue that can be solved by hardware

I'm having this same issue in my AirPod Pro 3 right earbud. It's most definitely and issue with the ANC, whether in noise cancelation mode, adaptive or transparency the problem persists. However, when you turn this function off, the high pitch/feedback sound goes away. I have an appointment with Best Buy tomorrow to replace them but not sure at this point if I should even bother since a lot of folks getting replacements are having the same issue. My current firmware vesrsion is Beta 8B14c and same for the case. Not sure if I should get a refund or wait to see if they fix it with a firmware fix.

Update: the new firmware does have the option “off”, only with the listening mode switched on. That option is to be found way down at your airpod settings.

when “off”, no white noise or squeeling etc. Three other modes (transparant, adaptive, anc) still have the white noise (bloodflow?).

squeeling briefly reappeared when anc responded to something “squeeling” nearby, and disappeared when the outside noise was gone. Didn’t hear it while cycling outside.

it seems that airpods microphones are constantly measuring outside sounds when not in “off” mode. The microphones are very sensitive, and i think they generate the white noise sound.

for other users here; when in off mode, do you still hear white noise?

I finally took my AirPods Pro 3 to BestBuy after opening an Applecare ticket. I explained to Apple support all the troubleshooting I did and they said to take it to Apple or BestBuy and have it replaced. BestBuy ran the diagnostic on the earpods and they both came back fine. The did agree to go ahead and replace the right one since that was the one I was having issues with. After receiving the replaced earbud and getting it paired up successfully, the right earbud is now working just fine. I urge all of you who are still dealing with this issue to use the Apple Feedback tool to report this. Apple support does not read forums and most are unaware of the issue. If we want Apple to address it and fix it, then we need to use the feedback tool so the information can get to them. Here is the link for those that need it.

Feedback - AirPods - Apple

Hey Guys. I think I found out what this is and / or how to "fix it". I bought the latest generation Airpods Pro Model Number A3064. They worked well for a couple days only to have this exact issue pop up. It seemed to only be an issue with the left one but nothing I tried fixed it. I went into this forum and tried much of what people seemed to try with no luck. Made sure I had the latest software, did a hearing test etc.

In the end, what fixed it was deceivingly simple. Basically just put them back in the case and wait a few minutes? How many? Not sure but that seems to reset them eventually but not right away.

What causes it? It seems to me that when you wear your Airpods, and then take them off but not put them in the case, the AirPods are trying to still figure-out the environment and adapt. If your environment is particularly quiet, they seem to want to amplify sound more than they should, causing the circular audio loud beep issue.

TLDR: Prevent this by putting them back in the case when you are done with them; Fix it by putting them back in the case, closing the case and just letting it sit there for a few minutes (say 5?).

Good luck and I hope this saves you going into the rabbit hole and it works.

By the ‘changing modes didn’t help’ did you also use then “off” mode? That works for me. No squealing, no white noise at all. The other mode i use is “transparant” while cycling, and then the white noise is back (background). When i put in the eartips firmly, i do not have any squealing. By firmly, i mean put them in with minor force, afcourse painless, and when in twist them a bit and leave them be. This helps quite a bit.

second question is it the right ear piece of left? Mine is the right one. It sounds a bit ‘off’ when on a mode other then ‘off’. The ‘off’ mode works perfectly, but people buy these for the anc mode ofcourse..

OK this happened again now to my wife and what I posted above did NOT work but MAYBE this will work for you as it did for her airpods. Just clean them with a cloth or whatever means apple recommends. That made it go away when nothing else worked. Apple really should post something more official here as we're otherwise just all posting what works for us and looking confused...

I posted this to another tread but I don't know how to link here to that tread so here it is again:

I had this problem too and it was especially bad on a flight I took the day I bought my AirPods 3. I contacted Apple Support through Chat and was told after they did a diagnostic analysis of them to reset my AirPods. I went through that process and I have noticed 2 things. First, the sound seems better but I have not and will not be on an airplane any time soon so I cannot say that they work as they should in that situation. Second is the removal of the ability to turn off the ANC. There were originally 4 choices "Off", "Transparency", "Adaptive", and "Noise Cancellation". After the reset "Off" was gone. My AirPods 3 now have Firmware 8A357 which the Apple site says is the latest.

I hope this helps but I am not sure if the issue is really fixed.

I've gone trough all of this and the problem remains.

But other than most of you around here, after listening and trying a lot I came to the conclusion that the cause simply lies in the way the SW amplifies certain frequency ranges into much more bass and much more high frequency than APP1 and APP2.

I suggest the DA-conversion in the APP3 is rather "noised" and this is then amplified. I compared that to a lot of other earphones, headphones and sound sources so that I can say the white noise sticks with the APP3 and only with that ... no matter which BT-device is the sound source.

This goes so far that especially old analogue recordings with some white noise are painfully noised when listening with the APP3. A very analog sound.

But you summarize correctly that to much of white noise is clearly audible in any of the 4 sound modes with any sound source ... even off. It's still noteworthy to mention that the noise vanishes shortly sometimes when switching apps or sound modes.

My summary: It's probably the - in comparison - limited performance of the DA-conversion or limits of the used BT-mode.

I had the squeeling sound before latest firmware upgrade (older version had the 4 modes , 4th being “off”. Latest firmware doesn’t have that option anymore). Sofar they don’t do the squeeling sound anymore. But i’ll keep on testing them. So users that experience the squeeling sound , please try the firmware upgrade. Might help you.

The white noise in my case is very low, to the point that i am not sure if i hear my blood streaming, as my ears are closed ofcourse. I do have (tiny bit) tinnitus so that may confuse me aswell.

If you do the audio test, the white noise disappears for a brief moment, gets back and disappears again. It must be software related.

For me (tinnitus) the white noise is bearable, but that’s no excuse for the noise being there!

If you turn off the noise cancellation, the white noise, squealing, and cracking disappear because the noise cancellation is not working. However, that makes the AirPods Pro comparable to regular headphones that can be purchased in any electronics store for $20. That so many problems are not worth $250 😢 In my case, both headphones make white noise, and it¡s unbearable. I recall using my first-generation AirPods Pro to sleep at night due to noisy neighbors, and now I can barely use them to listen to content. I'm going to try a factory reset to see if it's related to my paired device (M1 iPad) or the hearing test I mentioned a few messages ago. But if this situation continues, I will return them to Amazon and try a new pair.