- To make your AirPods louder, adjust Apple Music EQ settings or use volume boosting apps.
- You can also disable Sound check and Reduce Loud Audio in Settings.
- Cleaning your AirPods will help make them louder.
Knowing how to make your AirPods louder is useful for two main reasons: if you’re hard to hearing and you just need more clarity and volume; or if you’re finding them too quiet, which might be a sign they the AirPods’ sound is having trouble reaching you.
If you find your AirPods are not loud enough to suit your needs, here are a few ways you can try to make your AirPods sound louder.
Adjust your EQ settings on your iPhone
The EQ setting called Late Night normalizes the sound on your Apple Music app by making quieter sounds closer in volume to the loudest sections. This will make your AirPods louder when playing Apple Music.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Music.
- In the Audio section, tap EQ.
- On the EQ page, tap Late Night.
Disable Sound Check feature on your iPhone
Apple created the Sound Check feature that, when enabled, plays your music at a consistent level, regardless of how loud the sound file is. It’s only applied to downloaded songs or ones streamed through Apple Music and can be found within the Music menu of the iPhone’s settings app. Here’s how you can turn it off:
- Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Use the search bar or scroll for "Music."
- Scroll down to the Sound Check.
- If "Sound Check" is on, turn it off.
- Once disabled, slide the knob to the end to increase volume.
Disable the Reduce Loud Audio feature on your iPhone
The Reduce Loud Audio feature on iPhones automatically lowers the audio volume when played above a certain level through headphones.
While the intent is to protect your hearing from being damaged by loud audio, your iPhone may become too quiet as it automatically reduces volume while you listen to music on AirPods. Here’s how you can turn it off:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Sounds & Haptics.
- In the Headphone Audio section, tap Headphone Safety.
- Make sure the toggle switch for Reduce Loud Audio is not turned on. If it is, turn it off by tapping on it.
Use a volume boosting app
Created solely to help boost your audio output, these apps work with your phone’s built-in audio tools to override its maximum setting. They can be found in the App Store, and are relatively simple to set up. Just remember that louder audio means the possibility of hearing damage, so be cautious when using these apps. Here’s some you can try on your iPhone.
Clean your AirPods
Human ears are waxy, and anything you tend to frequently put in your ears, like earbuds, inevitably accumulate earwax. It doesn’t take much wax to noticeably reduce the maximum volume of your AirPods.
Take your AirPods out of the charging case and swish a cotton swab around the part of the earbud that goes in your ear. Carefully move it around to dislodge any gunk that may be inside the bud and swap the cotton swab for something cleaner as needed. With AirPods Pro, remove the in-ear tip totally, so you can see any gunk underneath it.
While you’re cleaning up the inside, use a clean toothbrush and some paper towels to wipe off any debris on the outside of the buds, especially around any gaps that could be for microphones, which can affect the processing.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR AIRPODS LOUDER FAQS
How do I increase the volume on my AirPods?
The easiest way to increase the volume on your AirPods is to drag the volume slider in the app you’re using, on your Lock Screen, or in the Control Center. You can also use the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch to increase the volume on the Now Playing screen. As always, the volume buttons on the side of your iPhone will also work. Another method is to ask Siri to increase the volume, while you can also use the touch controls on your AirPods Pro or AirPods. Bear in mind that older models don’t have force sensors or touch controls.
How do I limit AirPods volume?
It’s useful to be able to increase the volume on your AirPods but you can also choose to limit it. Use the Reduced Loud Audio feature and you’ll protect your hearing health for a long time to come. It’s useful to know how to adjust it too, such as if it keeps being activated during stormy weather rather than genuinely loud noises.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR AIRPODS LOUDER: FINAL THOUGHTS
Apple AirPods are generally loud enough for anyone with healthy hearing out of the box — but things can go wrong, and obviously not everyone’s hearing is perfect! So if you’re just finding that they’re suspiciously quiet even though your hearing is good otherwise, make sure they’re clean, make sure you don’t have the Reduced Loud Audio on, and take them to Apple for a check if you’re still struggling.
But if you know you have hearing trouble and you simply need more loudness and clarity from voices, make sure you take advantage of the Accessibility options available in your iPhone.
