Greetings! The iPhone can be used in many different ways - a smartphone after all! If you want to play - play, call - call, listen to music - listen! True, in some cases, music lovers may be in for one unpleasant surprise - different volume levels of the left and right “ears” when listening to music through connected headphones. Somewhere quieter, somewhere louder. This is such “joy”.
It would seem that if the headphones do not work correctly, then they need to be changed and there are no other ways out of this situation. However, there is no need to rush; we will always have time to throw the item away. Let's better try to get by with other, less radical ways to solve the problem. Yes, it may not always work... but it's still worth a try!
Are you ready? Begin!
How to easily increase the volume on AirPods
The overall volume of your AirPods is controlled by whichever device is playing the sound. So if you're playing music or podcasts on your iPhone, changing the volume on that phone will change it on the AirPods as well.
There is one exception when using AirPlay. If you're streaming video from your iPhone to Apple TV, changing the volume on your phone has no effect. Instead, you must change it on Apple TV using the remote or an app.
This is especially easy to forget when you use Siri to change the volume. When you bring up Siri on your AirPods and ask it to turn up the volume, it will do so, but it's really just relaying instructions to the original device.
When something is playing, you can ask Siri to change the volume
Siri can also ask this device how loud the music is. Say, “Hey Siri, how loud is it?” and he will answer with a number that is a percentage of the maximum possible volume. You can also say, “Hey Siri, turn the volume down to 50%,” or simply “Hey Siri, turn the volume down.”
Device contamination
It is possible that there is no glitch in iOS as such. In some cases, the cause of the problem lies in the fact that the connector is dirty in vain. In this case, the connector contacts begin to close, and the specks touch the sensitive modules, notifying the smartphone that the headset is connected. This occurs as a result of rare and careless handling of the connector, although, in the first case, devices starting with the iPhone 7 are less susceptible to this (since Lightning is intended not only for headphones, but also for charging, so users use the socket often). In any case, the port is worth checking. That is why we advise you to do the following:
- Shine a flashlight into the 3.5 mm or Lightning connector (depending on the generation of the device). It is advisable to use with a thin beam;
- If you find dust particles, pellets or debris, you need to clean the port. To do this, use a skewer, toothpick or paper clip (a paper clip or the one that comes in the box with a device for opening the SIM card slot will do). A cotton swab may be too thick for the socket, and its fibers, on the contrary, will contaminate the socket more, so we do not recommend using it. You can also thinly roll a dry cotton napkin;
- Carefully remove the debris, but without fanaticism, since there are sensitive chips on the sides, and if you overdo it, the socket may stop working altogether and will need to be replaced at a service center.
Blowing out the connector on an iPhone
Another method of mechanical cleaning is to use a can of compressed air (spray) or a vacuum cleaner. Here are several ways to remove particles trapped in the port:
- Blow into the nest. Gently blow air into the headset jack. This removes small particles.
- Spray can. In general, such sprayers are used to clean computer keyboards, but this can is also suitable for cleaning the port. The small plastic mount fits perfectly into the small connector. Direct a stream of air into the appropriate socket. This will clear out more serious build-ups and patches of dust.
- If there is too much debris, it is better to use a vacuum cleaner. It is better to use a small device and a small nozzle. Direct the hose so that the vacuum cleaner and smartphone do not touch too much.
After this, check if the bottom speakers are back in working order.
Moisture getting into iPhone
The contacts in the connector may begin to malfunction because the iPhone has been in water or fallen into snow. Even minor raindrops can cause problems. In this situation, you need to act quickly, otherwise the contacts may oxidize and you will have to take the smartphone to a service center. So here's what you can do:
- Use a vacuum cleaner to remove large drops of water and direct the stream to the ports, carefully drawing out excess moisture;
- Next, you need to dry the device with a warm hairdryer, but not with hot air. Use strong pressure.
How your iPhone may be lowering its volume
When your battery is low, iPhone may choose to reduce the maximum volume. This is a feature of the low power mode.
So if you have a charged battery and click on Low Power Mode in Control Center, you probably won't hear any difference—or see anything in the volume indicator.
However, if you activate Low Power Mode when the battery is low, the volume may be affected.
There is a potential issue that could make one AirPod quieter than another.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings;
- Select "Universal Access";
- Select the “Hearing” section;
- Click on "Audio-visual element";
- Check the balance setting;
- If the balance slider is not quite in the middle, you will notice a difference in volume.
If all else fails
If nothing helps the user, then he can contact either Apple technical support or a repair service, which can inspect the phone and identify the reasons why the “Headphones” mode does not work normally.
You should not “self-medicate” the device, as such methods can lead to a bad outcome. Contacting a specialist is the best solution. More information about how the Apple service works can be seen in this video
Vyacheslav
For several years he worked in mobile phone stores of two large operators. I understand tariffs well and see all the pitfalls. I love gadgets, especially Android ones.
Ask a Question
Question to the expert
Can a standard device reboot solve the problem?
In some cases, yes. Sometimes the device has a system failure, so a reboot is the only way out of the situation if the user does not want to restart or reset all data.
Where can I contact technical support?
This can be done on the official website of the company. By scrolling to the very end, you can find the necessary contact information.
Are the above methods only suitable for iPhones?
No. The methods are suitable for all Apple devices.
Thus, disabling the Headphones mode is quite simple if the reason is not as serious as it could be.
4.4/5 — (25 votes)
How do you know if your volume is limited?
Remember that exposure to loud music will affect your hearing. The European Union has noticed this too, and Apple is paying attention to the EU. There is a maximum volume recommended by the EU for headphones, and your iPhone may be configured to limit this.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings
- Highlight Music and press
- Select volume limit
- See if the EU limit is enabled
Update the headphone firmware.
Many high-quality headphones have firmware to ensure they work properly. Updating your headphones' firmware to the latest version will fix performance issues and other glitches that cause excessively loud volumes.
We have a detailed guide detailing how to update the AirPods firmware. If you use Beats products, this Apple Support Document contains instructions for updating all Beats headphones and headphone models. To update third-party headphones, refer to the device manual or visit the manufacturer's website for instructions.
How to Fix Most Volume Issues with AirPods
AirPods use Bluetooth, and sometimes it feels less like technology and more like magic. You can force AirPods and your iPhone to adjust the volume.
- Insert your AirPods into your ear and play music on your iPhone
- Turn the volume down to zero
- Go to Settings, Bluetooth and find your AirPods in the list
- Click on the menu next to the connected
- Click Disable
- You'll hear music through your iPhone's speakers
- Reduce the volume to zero again
- Connect your AirPods
- Try increasing the volume on your iPhone
Touch control
You can configure the actions that the gadget will perform when double-clicked. For this:
- Go to the "Settings" section.
- Open the "Bluetooth" item.
- Click on "AirPods".
- Go to Double Tap AirPods.
- Tap on the earphone for which you want to select an action.
- Choose an action.
By double-clicking on one of the headphones, you can:
- Start playing audio;
- Pause the song;
- Switch to the next or previous track;
- Launch Siri.
Each earbud can be set to a specific action to optimize control.
Run the Windows Sound Troubleshooter.
Windows devices have a built-in troubleshooting tool that diagnoses and fixes audio-related problems. The audio troubleshooter will scan your PC's audio service, audio drivers, and audio settings for anomalies that are causing excessively high volume.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > More troubleshooters > Audio Playback and select Run troubleshooter.
- Select the audio device or headphones whose volume is too high and click Next.
- Follow the recommendations on the results page and check if that resolves the issue. Sound effects and enhancements can also destabilize your device's volume. You will likely be redirected to the Disable Sound Effects and Enhancements page, where you will be asked to disable sound effects. To continue, select "Yes, open audio enhancements."
- Click the Turn Off button in the Speakers Properties window and click OK to continue.
Note. If your Windows PC has a dedicated Enhancements tab, check the "Disable all enhancements" checkbox and click OK to save your changes.
Restart your computer and check if the audio volume level decreases when you set your PC volume to minimum.
