Why Is Left Airpod Mic Not Working? Complete Fix Guide

If your left AirPod mic not working, then there are quite a few things you should inspect.

If we exclude the possibility of a hardware problem, there are a lot of solutions you can try and hopefully solve the issue in minutes!

If the left microphone on your AirPods isn’t functional, it is most likely due to a low charge in the device. Maybe the Bluetooth connection with your phone failed or the microphone is simply dirty. The issue might be occurring even because of bad settings on your phone.

There are even more possibilities that we will unveil next, and then proceed with the actual solutions.

Why Is AirPods Left Side Microphone Not Working?

The most common reason remains hardware damage on the left AirPod.

If it’s just the left, you need to remember whether it has been physically damaged, or maybe water got inside.

If we exclude the hardware problem, this is what you’re left with:

1. Low Charge

When the battery is running low, first, it will disconnect one of the AirPods and then the other one.

2. Microphone Settings

The microphone settings of both your AirPods and phone in general, could prevent you from using your microphone.

3. Phone Issue

A problem with your mobile device could cause interference with the microphone settings on the left side of your AirPods.

4. Microphone Dirt

If the microphone on the left side of your AirPods is blocked by dirt or earwax, the microphone might be obstructed.

Knowing the possibilities, you can now proceed with the solutions.

How To Fix Left AirPod Mic Not Working?

Before we proceed, make sure you haven’t muted yourself in the given mobile call or online conversation.

Your microphone might be working just fine, but as long as you’re muted or suppressed, your microphone won’t detect your voice.

If you’re certain that it’s the microphone, proceed with the solutions below:

Solution #1 Reconnect The AirPods

We suggest first completely reconnecting the Bluetooth of your AirPods to your mobile device.

You would simply make your phone forget the devices and then you will reconnect them.

To reconnect your AirPods to your phone, follow the instructions down below:

1. Open your mobile device and head over the Bluetooth settings in “Wireless”.
2. Check if the AirPods are connected and press “Disconnect”.
3. Hold your finger on the AirPods connection and in the new menu, tap “Forget”.
4. Place the AirPods into the charging case and open the latch.
5. Hold the button on the backside of the AirPods and hold your phone close.
6. Tap “Connect” on the new prompt that appeared on your smartphone.

Your phone will now automatically connect with the AirPods as they were before you disconnected them.

Test the microphone and if the issue is still there, proceed with our next solution.

Solution #2 Charge The AirPods

AirPods are well-known to perform badly while at low charge.

Despite your case being charged all the way, the AirPods themselves might have remained at low battery.

We suggest plugging your case into the charger and then placing your headphones into the case.

Make sure the LED in the charging case displays a red color. If the color on the LED is red, then this means that your headphones are low at charge and are currently charging.

Let the case with the headphones charge for an hour or so and test the microphone. If the issue still occurs, then let’s focus on your smartphone.

Solution #3 Reboot Your Smartphone Device

Issues with your AirPods’s microphone would most often happen due to a fault with the mobile device itself.

We suggest rebooting your smartphone device and charging fully before testing the microphone.

Simply hold the power button on your smartphone device and tap on the slider that has just appeared.

This will shut down your phone. Then turn it back ON and test the microphone on your AirPods.

Solution #4 Clean Your AirPods

If the left AirPod mic is not working, maybe the microphone is obstructed by dust or earwax.

The best way to approach this possibility is to clean your AirPods.

Follow the steps below to remove all of the dirt/earwax off your AirPods:

1. Grab a wet tissue and take the AirPods out of the charging case.
2. Collect all dirt within the charging case and close it for now.
3. Grab your AirPods and clean them using the wet tissue.
4. Collect all of the dirt around the microphone on your left AirPod, which should be the bottom of the unit.
5. To the same thing with your other AirPod.

Once you have cleaned your AirPods, use a dry napkin to wipe any liquids left on the surface and let them charge.

Note: It is possible that dirt is preventing your AirPods from being charged so far, so ensure the headphones are charging once you have relocated them within the case.

Solution #5 Configure The Microphone Settings (iPhone)

If the left AirPod mic isn’t working all the way to this point, you might be looking at the wrong microphone settings configuration.

We suggest taking a look into the AirPods settings to determine if a fault is preventing you from using the left mic.

Note: This step is proven to work with iPhone devices. An Android unit might not provide you with any advanced settings regarding your AirPods.

Follow these steps to configure the settings of your AirPods correctly:

1. Open the Bluetooth settings on your mobile device.
2. Tap on the “Info” button next to the AirPods connection.
3. Head over to the “Microphone” option and tap on it once.
4. Select “Automatically Switch AirPods”.

Sometimes when your AirPods get connected and your phone detects them, the microphone of your headphones might not become active.

By enabling this feature, anytime your phone detects AirPods, it will automatically use its microphones.

Solution #6 Reset The Network Settings (iPhone)

This solution, like the last one, will only work for iPhone users.

Since Apple has provided a feature that will allow you to reset the network settings, this is a smart way to bypass any default restrictions regarding your AirPod’s microphone.

Note: A network reset would practically erase all Bluetooth and WiFi data of your iPhone.

Beware that you will have to reconnect with all WiFi networks you’ve connected to so far.

To reset the network settings on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Settings of your iPhone.
2. Tap on “General” and scroll all the way down to “Reset”.
3. Choose “Network Reset” and select “Erase All”.

It might take a while for your iPhone to finish but once it is done, reconnect your AirPods and check if the mic is now working.

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Bottom Line:

Thus to fix the left mic on your AirPods, make sure to get rid of any dirt on the device and configure the microphone settings correctly. Next, reboot your mobile device and charge the AirPods all the way to 100%. If nothing worked, reset the Network Settings of your iPhone.

After understanding why the left AirPod mic not working, we’re certain you will be able to fix the issue on your own.

If the issue, unfortunately, persists by the time you’re reading this, then you should get a replacement for your AirPods or consult with a technician to repair yours.