Find out what to do if you’re experiencing cracking audio, popping sound, clicking, buzzing, and static noises in your AirPods and Beats headphones when listening to songs, watching movies, or during calls.
AirPods are susceptible to what’s described as cracking and static noises while audio is being streamed from your device to the receiver in the Bluetooth headphones. So, what’s causing this weird crackling as audio streams from your device to the audio headset? It turns out that the most common reasoning behind this is simple Bluetooth interference. If you have more than one Bluetooth device in your proximity, it could be that the wireless signals are getting a little jammed.
There are other possible causes as well, but we’ll get to fixing those later in the post. That said, here are the best ways to address crackling sounds in your Bluetooth headphones, whether you’re rocking regular AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or Beats headphones.
Put the AirPods back in their case
I know it sounds too simple, but if this is the first time you experience static noise or a cracking sound in your AirPods, simply put them back in their charging case for a few minutes. You may even charge the case as well, which can’t hurt.
Turn off unnecessary nearby Bluetooth devices
If you have multiple Bluetooth devices around you, then, as noted earlier, the interference could be the root cause of your problems. Although it may not be the solution for everyone, it’s a good idea to check into this as a potential cause, and fixing it may resolve your problem once and for all.
Try turning off any Bluetooth devices you’re not using, such as headsets, keyboards, and even alternative wireless headphones that you might have left turned on somewhere in the same room from the last time you used them.
Try the additional troubleshooting steps below if you’ve disabled all your Bluetooth devices and continue hearing the cracking.
Toggle Bluetooth off and on again
Just like turning Wi-Fi or cellular data off and on again can sometimes fix your internet connection woes, Bluetooth is also a wireless radio that can experience connectivity bugs, and restarting it can help it connect correctly and stop acting up.
Go to device Settings and turn Bluetooth off and back on. If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, remember to use the Settings app instead of tapping the Bluetooth icon in Control Center.
In some cases, this will get you back on your feet, but if it doesn’t, try the next step.
Update your iOS device(s)
Apple frequently releases software updates for its devices. According to Apple, your AirPods’ internal software will be kept up to date automatically as long as you’re connected to an iPhone or iPad. That means you should make sure to update your iPhone or iPad if you haven’t already. Beats devices, on the other hand, have an update process of their own.
Sure, AirPods might work on older iOS versions just fine, but if you’re experiencing problems and Apple releases a software update to fix it, the software update may not pass on to your AirPods or Beats headphones if you’re on an old version of iOS.
Although some of you might be hesitant to update because you have a jailbreak, keep in mind that this might be one of the only ways to solve the problem; otherwise, you’ll need to hold your peace forever.
Reset your AirPods or Beats headphones
Another potential solution is to reset your AirPods or Beats headphones, which, if you remember, was a viable solution for many that reportedly fixed the battery issues. After resetting your wireless device, you’ll need to pair it again with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, so keep this in mind.
Call Apple
If the issue persists despite these repair suggestions, Apple may be willing to replace the potentially defective AirPods or Beats headphones under warranty. AirPods are not supposed to exhibit these effects, and you may be offered free replacements.
That said, try calling Apple. Your local Apple Store might be able to help.
As far as my experience with AirPods and Beats Solo3 goes, I have noticed some crackly audio in the AirPods, but not really with the Beats Solo3 headphones. Usually, just avoiding all my other Bluetooth devices does the trick for me, and I’ve managed to solve the problem by just turning off devices when they’re not in use.
Have you experienced any crackling with any of Apple’s Bluetooth headsets? Share in the comments.
Also, check out: How to fix AirPods not connecting to iPhone, iPad, Mac, or TV