why does my iPad Air 2 make loud pop noise randomly, when touching the screen, closing smart case cover, placing cursor in input text field?

Here's the latest on my end: I have been able to reproduce the pops pretty regularly when using a messaging app of any sort (Facebook Messenger, LINE, etc.), and so I recorded it with my iPod Touch (yes, I still have one) in order to guarantee that someone at the Apple Store can hear what I'm talking about; it's super clear when wearing headphones.

So this leads me to believe that it is some sort of software issue, as someone pointed out either here or in another thread. I turned "Adjust Volume with Buttons" on but it still happens. It's almost as if the keyboard clicks are playing at a different volume from notifications or message-sending sounds, and the combination of both causes the keyboard click to come through SUPER loud. It's strange that you say you don't get this on 8.1 with your original iPad Air. I think I'll point the guy at the Apple Store toward this thread while I'm at the store (I'm trying to get this documented in their system so they can keep kicking it up the chain in person in addition to our work online here) and see what they suggest.

I'll update this again when I get back from my appointment.

This is encouraging news....actually the first I've read saying you can get the popping sound through headphones so hopefully it is a software issue. if you could point this thread out to apple staff in store that would be great so we can start getting the issue more widely known. Please keep us posted on your visit to the Apple Store.

Just to be absolutely clear, a *recording* of the popping sound comes through clearly on headphones. I haven't been able to get a popping sound on headphones using the iPad itself. In fact, the keyboard noise is super quiet on my headphones. My guess is the headphone jack mixes the sounds differently, and may be on a separate output from the speakers. Thoughts?

MY thoughts are that i have contacted apple support about this issue.. october 25th.. No answer from them yet.

this one is going back on the 13th day.. I can get another one anytime they are ready.

it's a hardware bug, to me.. doesn't matter what it turns out to be.. I'm not saying it cant perhaps be fixed by software... But if you read all the posts, and pick out the common theme, it is.

iPad Air 2 random pop noise

i have 3 other ipads (prior models of course) that have never had this problem.

the other ipads have 8.0 and 8.1.

I Have tried all the mentioned resets, settings changes, and aligned my ipad using astrology (not).

i wish i could install 7.1.2 on the air 2. To prove the point, lol...

all in all, if you can live with the POP, you know it's an issue that will have to be fixed quickly, so keep your new device if you love everything else about it.

Okay, I got back from the Apple Store not too long ago. Since they had extensive notes from the last guy after we nuked it and started over, they said they will just exchange it. He didn't listen to the recording I made but sounded pretty confident that this is a hardware issue, saying he had seen it crop up on earlier versions of the iPad as well. As he agreed that something is probably up with the speaker, I would suggest you all squeak about this loud enough in person to get a replacement ASAP. E-mails and calls can all too easily fall down a black hole with companies as large as Apple. I made the guy aware of these posts, but I'm not sure how much one Genius can do as far as kicking this issue upstairs. Honestly while this particular guy was super helpful, there were enough other people in the store to give me the sense that he had 5 other people in line and I had to get processed as quickly as possible.

The store near me didn't have my 128GB cellular configuration in stock so in 1-3 days I should be able to report back and let you know if I have a brand new model that doesn't pop.

GGood work!!

i am waiting to hear from apple just how wide spread the problem is..

oof course, I'll post it here if and when I hear something 'official'.

Bought my original Air Pad 2 128gig WIFI only on Thursday the 23rd and noticed the random popping noise every once in a while. Some days it did not make the noise. Sometimes it made the noise when touching the screen and once or twice it made the noise just sitting on my desk. It was very infrequent, but I was still concerned that there was a problem after paying a lot of money for it. Called Apple support on the 29th and they suggested I do a full restore. Apple support said they did have notes about other people with the problem. I restored the iPad and about an hour after the restore the noise happened again. Just once. Apple support called back on the 30th as a follow up and said I could do an exchange. Since the Apple store where I bought it was only a short drive I took the iPad back to the Apple store yesterday, 10/31, for an exchange. Took most of the evening to do the restore with all the music and movies I had to put back on it. This morning I used iTunes to move some icons around on the home screen and then ejected it. I put it down on my desk to check some of the apps. About 2 minutes into checking apps when I touched the screen I got the popping noise again. I am traveling for the next few days and am going to see how "bad" the noise problem is. I really don't want to do a refund, but I think I just might when I get back if the problem keeps happening. I like the iPad Air 2 very much after using my iPad 2 for 3 and a half years. I am hoping it is a software issue that will get a fix soon. If not I just might ask for a refund then wait and see if I repurchase another one after I see there is a solid fix.

Thanks for the updates guys that really will help the rest of use. I've had two as well that both do the pops. I'm not going to do another exchange the ipad I have right now is perfect besides the pops. I think it's a driver problem for the speakers.

It is nice to hear that they acknowledge the problem at least. Interesting to see how this situation starts to develop.

Mine will pop when I touch the screen sometimes. No discernable pattern. Sounds a bit like static discharge but there is no spark or shock between me and the iPad. Its just a loud 'pop' coming from the speakers as far as I can tell. Definitely a bit disconcerting after the price paid for this thing.

We are not engineers, when you move the ipad it has motion sensors in it we really don't know what's happening software or Hardware wise. and the fact its so intermittent is very odd and does make it hard to gauge. I suggest people contact Apple and report the issue try and get to a senior level tech or, that's the only way they will get a fix or if you are not happy return the devise within the time frame. Mine goes for days not popping, then will randomly do it, popped using Siri and the home button last night. All I can do is contact apple as I have no idea what's going on.

I got my hands on the 8.1.1 beta one and have it loaded I'm my iPad. I'll report back and let you guys know how it goes over the next couple of days if it stops the pops.

Hey Danggas,

If you are a developer, would you be able to formally submit the popping as a possible software bug for the air 2 in iOS 8.1 to apple?

I just found the update and downloaded on to my iPad with iTunes. It's very easy to do there are YouTube videos that will show you how if anyone would like to try.