Airpods Pro - Noise cancellation not working anymore

[phl92]

Hello,

I bought the Airpods Pro in 2020 October in sale, and even though I always had little issues with them (not connecting smoothly between iPhone and Macbook M1 Air) I have now an other issue:

Noise Cancellation does not work anymore. I don't really know when this stopped working (could be several weeks) and I remember one "accident" which happened with my left earpod: I dropped them on a hard ground and stepped with shoes on it. It was quite harsh but the airpods took no damage from it (appearingly), even though I noticed a minor lost of volume of the left earpod since then. (very minimal maybe 5%).
Could this cause the total lost of the noise cancellation functionality??

 

[bigshot]

There are microphones on the sides that are dedicated to noise cancelling. Google to figure out where they are and how to clean them. See if that helps. If it's from being stepped on, it's time to get new.

 

[usagora]

When you say "noise cancellation does not work anymore", what precisely do you mean? When you press and hold on the stem of the AirPod to switch to noise cancellation mode, does it even make that little tone to confirm the mode has been switched? Or does pressing and holding the stem simply not work at all? If the latter, have you tried switching modes from your iPhone instead of one of the AirPods?

P.S. If you can sense a 5% loss in volume in one ear, your ears are better than mine!

 

[phl92]

I tried to clean the mic stems on the side and everywhere, without any change. I did not yet try to use also special Iso prop Alcohol to get better results, but I will buy some in a pharmacy next days.

usagora: When I press the button to switch the mode, it works. I mean I hear the switching sound, and also the "Transparency mode" is working! This is what makes me sceptical about "dirty" mics. If the mics would be dirty, and therefore ANC would not work, why are the mics working well when using the Transparency mode??

It is just that between the "off" and "Noise cancelling" mode there is no difference. I also deactivated the airpods yesterday from all my devices... made a reset.. and nothing changed.

 

[usagora]

usagora: When I press the button to switch the mode, it works. I mean I hear the switching sound, and also the "Transparency mode" is working! This is what makes me sceptical about "dirty" mics. If the mics would be dirty, and therefore ANC would not work, why are the mics working well when using the Transparency mode??

According to Apple, there are actually 2 mics that work in conjunction for ANC, so perhaps it's only the "inward-facing microphone" that got damaged, so that ANC is not working properly, yet Transparency mode (which only uses the outward mic) is.

In any case, I have a feeling you're just going to have to replace them.

 

[phl92]

According to Apple, there are actually 2 mics that work in conjunction for ANC, so perhaps it's only the "inward-facing microphone" that got damaged, so that ANC is not working properly, yet Transparency mode (which only uses the outward mic) is.

In any case, I have a feeling you're just going to have to replace them.

Hmm that you "just" have to replace them ... thats a "just" around 200€ replacement ... not so easy

 

[phl92]

Or do you mean I have any point of guarantee or whatsoever?
I didn't even buy them directly at the Apple store but in a tech shop in my town. Is there any chance the local Apple store will help me if not bought in house?

 

[usagora]

Hmm that you "just" have to replace them ... thats a "just" around 200€ replacement ... not so easy

All I meant was I don't see any other viable alternative. They're not defective, since you acknowledged that one was stepped on (on a hard surface), so they can't be replaced under warranty, and I can't imagine a repair would be cheap or even possible. You don't have the extended warranty (AppleCare) on them that covers accidental damage, do you?

In any case, it wouldn't hurt to have them looked at by Apple, but it doesn't sound promising given your description.

 

[Night Spring]

Or do you mean I have any point of guarantee or whatsoever?
I didn't even buy them directly at the Apple store but in a tech shop in my town. Is there any chance the local Apple store will help me if not bought in house?

I think Apple lets you buy just one AirPod if you lose or damage one, I think at about 1/3 the cost of buying a whole new set. And yes, the Genius Bar would help you access your product and let you know what options you have, no matter where you bought it.