iPod Volume too quiet using AirPods with Nano

[Bakerwrites]

I have just tried my brand new AirPods (love them by the way), with my iPod Nano (7th Gen), and while they pair up just fine, the volume is too quiet to be listenable anywhere but a totally silent room.

What are the chances that we will get a software update on the Nano to resolve this issue, or are us iPod users just too niche to worry about anymore?

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I bought a used nano to use with my Airpods, as this would be the perfect running setup for me. Sadly, like you, I've discovered that I can't hear the music. I'd love an update to the nano, but I fear we're just out of luck.

 

[Bakerwrites]

This has been fixed with the latest AirPods firmware update, which is a fantastic surprise.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

This has been fixed with the latest AirPods firmware update, which is a fantastic surprise.

Has it?! Oh man, I can't wait to get home to run now! Thanks!

 

[KuRi]

did it work?

 

[Macman123456]

This has been fixed with the latest AirPods firmware update, which is a fantastic surprise.

Sorry but still experiencing a very quiet nano on full volume with the latest Airpods firmware.

 

[varunsanthanam]

did it work?

I can confirm that AirPods running 1.5.1 firmware will work with the 7th generation nano. However, to find out what firmware my AirPods were running, as well as update them, I used an iOS device. Not sure if/how this can be accomplished with an iPod nano.

 

[Macman123456]

I can confirm that AirPods running 1.5.1 firmware will work with the 7th generation nano. However, to find out what firmware my AirPods were running, as well as update them, I used an iOS device. Not sure if/how this can be accomplished with an iPod nano.

Actually it's 3.5.1 but when I tried it a couple days ago the volume was really low on full volume from the nano. Today it works fine and the software version is the same. Happy now! Ultimate lightweight jukebox for working out.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

It definitely has not fixed the issue for me. My nano is on 1.0.4 (I just restored it this morning) and the Airpods are on 3.5.1. I've unpaired and repaired. Everything. ):

 

[Macman123456]

It definitely has not fixed the issue for me. My nano is on 1.0.4 (I just restored it this morning) and the Airpods are on 3.5.1. I've unpaired and repaired. Everything. ):

OK I'm back again. Volume is back to being low again. Seems intermittent. BTW when it's loud it's not as loud as the Airpods sound when using my iPhone. It appears we still need some tweaking of the software on either the nano or Airpods or maybe both. Really wish this would work.
[doublepost=1487351982][/doublepost]

OK I'm back again. Volume is back to being low again. Seems intermittent. BTW when it's loud it's not as loud as the Airpods sound when using my iPhone. It appears we still need some tweaking of the software on either the nano or Airpods or maybe both. Really wish this would work.

Read on another post to try another Bluetooth device so tried my cheapo Android tablet and they are super loud and sound great. Com'on Apple let's fix this issue I'm guessing with the nano.

 

[darensanborn]

It definitely has not fixed the issue for me. My nano is on 1.0.4 (I just restored it this morning) and the Airpods are on 3.5.1. I've unpaired and repaired. Everything. ):

I'm seeing the same thing as well. Airpods are on latest firmware, Nano has all updates, volume still really quiet. It's barely useable outside.

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[zaaach48]

I'm seeing the same thing as well. Airpods are on latest firmware, Nano has all updates, volume still really quiet. It's barely useable outside.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Perhaps the old bluetooth version on the Nano doesn't support newer Bluetooth devices well?

 

[sunapple]

Apple.com lists the 6th gen iPod touch as the only iPod compatible with AirPods (and BeatsX too).

Apple TV 4 and iPhone 5 are the oldest compatible devices from their categories. It's probably the W1-chip which needs iOS 10 (iPod touch 5G / iPhone 4s run iOS 9)?

Anyway, the AirPods could have worked with the Nano as a simple bluetooth headset like on Android as it would seem to me. Maybe the bluetooth hardware from the Nano is limited, don't have much experience with it. Interesting that the thread starter said his worked again...

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

When I first got the Airpods, I chatted with an Apple rep and they said that they would work with the nano in the same way any other Bluetooth set would. I'd lose the functionality that the W1 chip provides, but it would work. And while that is technically true, it doesn't help much.

 

[JonnyRotten]

When I first got the Airpods, I chatted with an Apple rep and they said that they would work with the nano in the same way any other Bluetooth set would. I'd lose the functionality that the W1 chip provides, but it would work. And while that is technically true, it doesn't help much.

Same here.
They "work" but as we've all stated, the volume when using the AirPods is pretty low.
Funny thing is, if you plug the wired Apple earphones into the iPod, it's super loud so why can't it be the same when using the AirPods?

 

[Happy Days]

Same here.
They "work" but as we've all stated, the volume when using the AirPods is pretty low.
Funny thing is, if you plug the wired Apple earphones into the iPod, it's super loud so why can't it be the same when using the AirPods?

I found the solution. Turn bluetooth off and back on again. No idea why it works, but it does.

 

[bakaru]

I found the solution. Turn bluetooth off and back on again. No idea why it works, but it does.

Hi i have the same problem but disbling bluetooth doesnt work for me.
The solution is turning off the ipod nano till the apple appear and try again pairing the air pods. It Works for me ¡¡¡¡

 

[mdwsta4]

Bringing this post back from the dead. I recently purchased a 7th gen nano specifically to use with airpods. Running the latest firmware on airpods (3.7.2), have tried resetting the ipod, cycling bluetooth, and unpairing, but nothing improves the volume. Has anything changed in the past few months or is there another fix I haven't stumbled upon yet? Was really hoping to use this combo to work out.

 

[Macman123456]

I have just tried my brand new AirPods (love them by the way), with my iPod Nano (7th Gen), and while they pair up just fine, the volume is too quiet to be listenable anywhere but a totally silent room.

What are the chances that we will get a software update on the Nano to resolve this issue, or are us iPod users just too niche to worry about anymore?

[doublepost=1501810196][/doublepost]Well like you I thing the Nano 7 is pretty cool with it's size, capacity and bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately now that the nano is discontinued any future software updates to it probably aren't going to happen. It's too bad since the problem it's with the Airpods but the Nano. I say this because the Airpods work great with other bluetooth players I've tested. What's weird is I was able to get the Airpods/Nano combo to play loudly a few times but not consistently. There's just some bug that needs to be fixed...

 

[SierraNevada]

With built-in BT, it's really dumb that we need to be running around like this, but on another forum a user commented on using a separate BT transmitter with his iPod Shuffle, which seems to work. It's cheap enough, and relatively small so I might give it a try. Unfortunately in size it's like carrying two Nanos at the same time, but it might be the only viable option for use with AirPods. This is an Amazon link: https://tinyurl.com/y8qxz4up

Frustratingly, I also have a new pair of Beats Solo Wireless headphones and they work just fine with the Nano...of course they have a built-in amplifier and volume control, which seems to be the difference. But I was really hoping to cut the cord and have a bare minimum setup with the Nano and Airpods.
Apple giveth, and Apple taketh away...we're at their mercy, unfortunately!

 

[mdwsta4]

Here's that thread
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/hacked-my-shuffle-to-use-with-airpods.2061071/#post-24914297

 

[ernstr]

Hi i have the same problem but disbling bluetooth doesnt work for me.
The solution is turning off the ipod nano till the apple appear and try again pairing the air pods. It Works for me ¡¡¡¡

[doublepost=1513959460][/doublepost]This DOES work... Thanks! Reset the iPod Nano (that is when the apple appears) and pair again.

 

[pizzapizza]

I found the solution and it's really really really work: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7803460?answerId=7803460021#7803460021
I have not an iPhone, so i do all with my Macbook Pro

-At the step.7: Don't adjust to 100% volume, 70% is fine.
-Step.8: (If you using a Macbook ) press and hold option key + click on speaker icon -> Choose "Internal Speakers".


-After step.11: press physical play button on the ipod for shuffle playing. Then enjoy
Try agian if the first time doesn't work.

P/s: If you hear crackling sound, don't worry, just turn off bluetooth then turn on again.

 

[ernstr]

I found the solution and it's really really really work: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7803460?answerId=7803460021#7803460021
I have not an iPhone, so i do all with my Macbook Pro

-At the step.7: Don't adjust to 100% volume, 70% is fine.
-Step.8: (If you using a Macbook ) press and hold option key + click on speaker icon -> Choose "Internal Speakers".
View attachment 765736

-After step.11: press physical play button on the ipod for shuffle playing. Then enjoy
Try agian if the first time doesn't work.

P/s: If you hear crackling sound, don't worry, just turn off bluetooth then turn on again.

[doublepost=1528679782][/doublepost]Can you please put all the steps... it is not clear what are steps 1 to 7 and then 9 and 10.

Thanks!

RE

 

[pizzapizza]

[doublepost=1528679782][/doublepost]Can you please put all the steps... it is not clear what are steps 1 to 7 and then 9 and 10.

Thanks!

RE

The original post by HelloDMo:

I had this issue as well. Here's what fixed it for me ultimately:


Background: I have a theory that both the Nano and the AirPods store a "default" volume level for each other. The initial connection is usually too quiet, because people rarely listen to their music at max volume on their iPhones. The iPod Nano doesn't seem to adjust the volume of the device, as much as it boosts sound output instead. Working with this theory, I decided that if I can get the AirPods to increase their "default pairing volume", then I could get things working again. So, in that vein, I started to pair and unpair the AirPods until I could get things working again properly.


So here are the steps I used that ultimately worked. It should be noted that I'm still a little shaky on these, as it sometimes seemed to work and sometimes not, but the magic bullet seemed to be resetting the iPod Nano.


1. Delete the AirPods bluetooth entry from the Nano.

2. Turn off Bluetooth on the Nano.

3. Reset the Nano by holding the home button and the lock button for a while until the Apple Logo appears.

4. Reset your AirPods entirely by holding the button for 15 seconds.

5. Re-pair your AirPods with your iPhone.

6. Open the music app on the iPhone and play some music.

7. Turn the volume ALL THE WAY UP. (Yes, I know this hurts, but you can do it for a second.)

8. Switch playing from the AirPods to playing from the iPhone, but keep the music running until the AirPods are disconnected.

9. On the Nano, turn on Bluetooth.

10. Put the AirPods back in their case, and hold the back button for 2-3 seconds until the white light starts blinking.

11. Pair the AirPods with the Nano.


I'm not sure why, but after doing this a couple of times, everything started working fine, and volume levels were what I expected. I'm hoping the volume levels stay proper for the long term. We'll see. Yes, this is a long, drawn out process, but it seems to work, and now I have properly loud AirPods on a Nano, which makes me happier than you can imagine.