AirPods are connected but no sound? Try these fixes

AirPods might show that they’re connected to your device, but you can’t hear any sound from them—even though your device says they’re the active output. This usually means the Bluetooth connection is working, but the sound isn’t going to your AirPods like it should.

One of the main reasons for this is the Automatic Ear Detection feature not working right, which can pause the audio if your AirPods aren’t correctly detected in your ears. Other possible reasons include old firmware, wrong sound settings, or a quick Bluetooth problem.

Troubleshooting Prerequisites

• Make sure your AirPods are clean—dust or debris can block the sound output.
• Put both AirPods in your ears before testing the sound.
• Check that audio balance is set to the center position for your AirPods.

We’ll start with simple solutions before moving on to fixes specific to your device (iPhone, iPad, TV, Android, or Windows computers).

1. Reconnect the AirPods with Your Device

If your AirPods and device are out of sync, you may not get any sound. Simply re-connecting often fixes this.

1.1. Put the AirPods into Their Case

1. Remove your AirPods and place them in their case.

   

2. Wait about a minute, then put them back in your ears and check for sound.
3. If there’s still no sound, put the AirPods back in the case and connect the case to a charger.
4. Wait another minute, then test the AirPods again.

1.2. Disconnect from the Device Menu

For Samsung TV:

1. Go to TV Settings > Sound > Sound Output > Bluetooth Speaker List.
2. Disconnect the AirPods and reconnect them to see if sound is restored.

   

1.3. Connect Through Control Panel (Windows Only)

1. Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
2. Double-click AirPods, and near the Music and Sound option, click Connect. Check if sound works now.

   

2. Restart the Problematic Device and Other Connected Devices

Sometimes, an error on your device (like your iPhone) or interference from other connected devices (such as an Apple Watch) can cause this problem. Try restarting everything.

1. If the problem occurs in a specific app (like Spotify), force close the app and re-open it.
2. If that doesn’t help, power off your iPhone and wait a minute before turning it back on.

   

3. After restarting, reconnect your AirPods and check for sound.
4. If the issue isn’t fixed, power off other connected devices (like your Apple Watch) or enable Airplane Mode to avoid interference. Then test the AirPods again.

3. Update the Problematic App, Device, and AirPods

If your app, device, or AirPods firmware is out of date, they may not work well together. Make sure everything is up to date.

3.1. Update the Problematic App

1. Open the App Store or Google Play Store and search for the app with issues (like the Tiles app). On Windows, update via the app or its website.

   

2. Update the app, then restart your device.
3. Reconnect the AirPods and check if you have sound.

3.2. Update the Device’s OS or Firmware

1. Charge your iPhone, back up your data, and connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

   

3. Update iOS if an update is available, then restart your phone.
4. Connect the AirPods and see if sound returns.

3.3. Update AirPods’ Firmware

1. Connect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
2. Place the AirPods in the charging case and connect the case to a charger.

   

3. Wait a few minutes to allow your device to update the AirPods automatically, then test them again.

4. Change the Output Device in the App

Sometimes, your device’s audio is set to AirPods, but the app is sending sound elsewhere. Make sure you select AirPods as the output within the app.

1. Open the Control Center and press or hold the Music tab.
2. Select AirPods from the output options and check for sound.

   

3. If not, pick a different output device, then switch back to AirPods to refresh the connection.
4. If that still doesn’t work, try uninstalling apps known to cause conflicts (like the Tiles app) and test again.

5. Re-enable Bluetooth or ‘Forget’ AirPods

AirPods rely on Bluetooth, so if Bluetooth isn’t working right, the sound won’t play.

To fix this, turn Bluetooth off and on, or remove (“forget”) the AirPods from your device and pair them again. On iPhone:

5.1. Disable and Re-enable Bluetooth

1. Go to iPhone Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Turn off Bluetooth, wait about a minute.

   

3. Turn Bluetooth back on and reconnect your AirPods.
4. If that didn’t help, also turn off Bluetooth on other paired devices (such as an Apple Watch) and see if sound returns.

5.2. Forget All Bluetooth Devices

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the i icon next to AirPods, select Forget This Device.

   

3. Repeat for all paired Bluetooth devices, then restart your iPhone.
4. Pair your AirPods again and check if both earbuds work.
5. If not, try disabling Wi-Fi temporarily and check if this resolves the issue.

6. Change Audio Settings for AirPods

When your AirPods settings don’t match your device, you may not get any sound. Adjust these settings as follows.

6.1. Increase the Volume on the TV

1. After connecting your AirPods to the TV, swipe up on the AirPod stem or double-tap it.

   

2. This can adjust the volume—sometimes, the initial volume is set to zero for safety, especially on non-Apple devices.
3. If there’s no sound, lower the volume to zero and then increase again.
4. Try reducing the TV’s volume to zero, then increasing it to maximum, to confirm the connection.

6.2. Disable Automatic Ear Detection

1. Go to iPhone Settings, open your AirPods settings.
2. Turn off Automatic Ear Detection. (You can also find this under Settings > Bluetooth > AirPods > Automatic Ear Detection.)

   

6.3. Disable Noise Cancellation

1. Open iPhone Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the i icon next to your AirPods, then set Noise Control to Off.

   

3. If sound still doesn’t work, set Noise Control to Transparency mode and test again.

6.4. Increase Volume Limit Level on AirPods

1. Go to Settings > Music on your iPhone.
2. Open Volume Limit and either turn it off or set it to maximum.

   

3. If this solves the problem, adjust the volume limit down until you find a comfortable level.

7. Disable Absolute Volume (Android Only)

The Absolute Bluetooth Volume feature can sometimes cause trouble with AirPods on Android. Turning this feature off may restore sound.

1. Open Settings on your Android phone > Developer Options. (You might need to enable Developer Options first.)
2. Scroll to Networking and turn off Absolute Volume.

   

3. Forget the AirPods in your Bluetooth settings (as described earlier).
4. Pair your AirPods again and test for sound.

8. Change the Audio Settings of the TV (TV Only)

Incorrect TV audio settings can stop your AirPods from outputting sound even when connected. Adjust the TV audio settings as follows.

8.1. Change the Audio Format

For Samsung TVs:

1. Open Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > Digital Output Audio Format.
2. Select PCM and test the AirPods.

   

8.2. Change Audio Output

For Samsung TVs:

1. Go to Settings > Sound > Sound Output.
2. Select another output device (like TV speakers), then switch back to AirPods.

   

8.3. Increase Headphone Volume in TV Settings

On Hi-Sense TV:

1. Go to TV Settings > Sound > Advanced Settings > Headphone Mode > Headphone Volume.

   

2. Increase the volume all the way up, then test the AirPods.
3. If still no sound, reduce the volume to zero and gradually increase it to maximum.

8.4. Disable Anynet+

On Samsung TVs (may be labeled as Anynet+ or something similar on other brands):

1. Go to Settings > General > External Device Manager.
2. Turn off Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) and test your AirPods.

   

9. Set AirPods as the Default Audio Output Device (Windows Only)

If AirPods aren’t your default playback device on Windows, you might not hear any sound.

1. Right-click the speaker icon on the taskbar and open Sound Settings.
2. Scroll down and select More Sound Settings.
3. Under the Playback tab, right-click AirPods Hands-Free AG Audio.

   

4. Select Set as Default Device and click OK.
5. Repeat for the Recording tab. If there’s still no sound, try disabling Hands-Free AG Audio in both tabs.
6. Set AirPods Stereo (see here) as your new default device and test the sound.

10. Reset AirPods to Factory Defaults

If there’s corrupted firmware, resetting your AirPods can fix sound output issues.

1. Put your AirPods into the case and close the lid. Wait 30 seconds.
2. Open the lid and place the AirPods in your ears.
3. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
4. Tap the info icon next to the AirPods, then select Forget This Device.
5. Confirm and restart your iPhone.
6. Place the AirPods back in the case (leave the lid open).
7. Press and hold the Setup button.

   

8. Keep holding until the light flashes amber, then white.
9. Reconnect your AirPods to your device and check for sound.

11. Reset the Problematic Device to Factory Defaults

If your device itself is stuck in a malfunctioning loop (for example, after a failed update), restoring its factory settings may solve the sound problem.

1. Back up your data and charge your iPhone.
2. Unpair AirPods from your iPhone.
3. Go to Settings > General > Reset.
4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.

   

5. Confirm and wait for the device to reset. Set up as a new device—don’t restore from backup right away. Pair your AirPods and check for sound.

For Windows PCs or Macs, you may need to reinstall the operating system. For TVs or other devices, follow the instructions to reset to factory defaults.