Apple’s AirPods are fantastic in their capabilities. Still, you may sometimes want to turn off your AirPods microphone because of your environment or privacy concerns.
By turning off the AirPods microphone, you can answer and end calls, change the volume, use Siri, and perform other actions on your iPhone without the need to remove your AirPods from your ears.
I’ll explain in this article how you can turn off the mic in your airpod and turn it on.
You can turn off your airpod mic in several ways. First, if it’s during a call, click on the mute button on the call screen to disable the microphone. Another way to turn it off is through your phone settings, navigate to your airpod and turn off the voice control on your mic.
How To Turn Off Airpods Mic?
Turning off the mic is straightforward. There are different ways you can turn off the microphone on any Apple Airpod.
However, the turning-off process depends on the current mode of the device. The mode of the Airpods will determine the steps you take to turn off its microphone.
Here are the ways to turn off the Airpods microphone outlined below.
#1. Turning Off During a Call
You need to access the call screen to turn off the Airpods microphone during a call. You can do this by bringing up the active call screen.
Then, press the mute button on the screen. It will turn off the microphone automatically. Once the microphone goes off, you won’t hear any sound from the other end.
#2. Turning Off From Active Listening
When you turn off the Airpods microphone from active listening, it will disable the whole microphone. You need to access the device settings to turn this off.
To turn off the microphone from active listening:
- Open the settings menu on your iPhone or iPad.
- Then, click on “Bluetooth” on the next screen display.
- Locate the name of the Airpods on the list of devices.
- Next, tap on the information icon on the screen.
- Select “Microphone” to turn it off.
- Afterward, go to voice control on this screen and turn it off.
- It will prevent any voice command feature.
- Test if you successfully turned off the microphone by giving a Siri voice command.
How Do I Turn on the Microphone on My Airpods?
If you want to turn the mic on your airpods, ensure the AirPods are charged and turned on. The power/ Bluetooth indicator will be white.
Next, double-tap the AirPod that you want to use as a microphone. It will tell your iPhone (or other devices) which one you want to use for talking or Siri commands.
Once it connects, raise the back of your hand towards your mouth so that when you speak into it, you’ll hear the words on your device’s speaker instead of only coming out of one airpod.
But, depending on the model of your AirPod, double-tapping to use the mic for Siri might not work.
If your airpod is of the 2nd generation, it will work, but if you’re using an airpod pro, it won’t.
Apple designed its airpods mic to use any airpod microphone it wants for a mic automatically. It can be the mic on the left or the right ear.
Follow the steps below if you have an AirPod Pro and want to turn on your microphone for whatever reason.
- Navigate to settings.
- Click on Bluetooth.
- Under my device, click on the info “i” button beside your airpod.
- Click on “microphone.”
- Select your option.
You can decide to select the “Automatically switch option.” This option will let the mic use whatever airpod ear it wants to use as a mic.
Also, choose the ear your airpod mic will use if you select either the left or right.
However, you must be careful when keeping these pods in their case to avoid damaging them. Place them correctly.
How Do I Turn off My Airpod Mic on My PC?
If you have AirPods with a charging case and connect them wirelessly, you can use the Control Center on your iOS device, MaMac, the Control Centre on your Apple Watch, or the Home app for HomePod.
Alternatively, open System Preferences on your Mac and then select Bluetooth. On the left-hand side of the window is an option for ‘AirPods.’ Uncheck it and click OK.
For a more detailed guide on how to turn off the airpod mic on your PC, follow the steps below;
- Navigate to the control center app on your PC
- From the control center, navigate to “sound” or “hardware and sound.”
- You’ll see an option for “output devices,” select your PC and not your airpods.
- Also, for “input devices,” select your PC speaker, not your airpod.
You can now disable and enable your airpod mic by following the instructions below.
How Do I Know If My AirPods Mic Is Working?
You can check if your AirPods microphone is working in the middle of a call by checking on your phone.
When you connect AirPods to your iPhone, an AirPods Connected message will show up at the top of the screen for about 10 seconds.
Double-tap one of the earbuds and listen for a beep and confirmation on your phone’s screen.
If you want to check your AirPods microphone without making a call, use Siri. After activating Siri with your usual activation phrase, say, “Hey Siri,” then wait for her response.
After she responds and is listening, you speak into one of your AirPods’ microphones while holding it to your mouth. The mic works if you can hear yourself on your iPhone’s screen.
You can also check to see if your AirPods are muted by pressing and holding the Voice Control button for 3 seconds.
You will hear a beep indicating that you’ve unmuted your microphone; you can now speak or tap again to mute it. The LED on your AirPods will illuminate when not muted.
Another way to check if your airpod mic is working, if connected to your phone or device, is to go to your pc control center.
Go to your sound under your control panel to see if your airpod mic is active, not the system mic. If it is active, check if it’s working from the device properties.
Talk into the microphone and view the “start test” option; if it fluctuates, you know the mic is working and active. Also, if the volume meter has green bars, it picks up sound correctly.
How Do I Use the Microphone on My iPhone with AirPods?
To use the microphone on your iPhone with airpods, you have to allow it because some apps require using your mic.
Follow the steps in the table below to use your iPhone’s microphone with your airpod.
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| Go to settings. | Open the Settings app and scroll down until you see “Bluetooth.” |
| Click on “Bluetooth.” | Under it, look for the connection that says AirPods. |
| Click on Privacy. | Next, tap on Privacy, then microphone. |
| Choose Apps. | Scroll through and select which apps will be able to use your microphone. |
| Select done. | Click on “done”; you can now use your iPhone mic with airpods. |
How Do I Change AirPod Settings?
There are several ways you can change your airpod settings to customize them to your taste and use it for what you want them for.
You can rename your airpod, modify the double-tap action, adjust noise control, and many other settings you want.
For different settings, here’s how you can change your airpod settings;
#1. Rename Your AirPods
You can change the default settings of your airpod and rename it to whatever suits you. Follow the instructions below to change your airpod name.
Do this on your iPhone or iPad;
- Open your airpod charging case, and ensure your airpods are in it.
- Navigate to settings on your iPhone or iPad.
- Choose “Bluetooth.”
- Find your airpod and click on the “info” button beside it.
- Click on the airpod name.
- Rename the airpod.
- Click on “Done.”
If you’re using a Mac, rename your airpods by following these steps;
- Navigate the Apple menu and then System Preferences.
- Select “Bluetooth.”
- Control-click AirPods.
- Edit the current name and rename the airpod.
- Click on “rename.”
#2. Modify the Double-tap Action
To use the double-tap option on an airpod, you must use either the 1st or 2nd generation airpod model.
If you want to change the settings on your airpod for double-tapping, follow the steps below.
For your iPhone or iPad:
- Open your airpod case.
- From your phone, navigate to the settings app.
- Click on “Bluetooth.”
- Click on the “info” button beside the airpod name.
- Choose either the right or left airpod to change the setting for double-tap.
- You can change the double-tap settings for Siri, skip tracks, or play or pause audio.
For Mac, do these;
- Navigate to Bluetooth under System Preferences.
- Select the “Options” beside your airpod.
- Select the “Double-tap” option to choose where double-tapping should apply.
#3. Adjust Noise Control Mode
This option is available if you use an AirPod Pro or AirPod Max. In the noise control mode, there are three options.
You can change your airpod settings from one mode to another. For your iPhone or iPad, do these;
- Navigate to Settings.
- Select “Bluetooth.”
- Select the “info” button beside the airpod.
- Choose either “left” or “right” from the press-and-hold airpod options.
- Choose noise control.
- Choose any of the noise control modes you want for your airpod.
For your Mac, change your noise control settings;
- From the menu, go to system preferences.
- Select Bluetooth.
- Click on the press-and-hold option and choose the noise control mode you want.
#4. Set Up One AirPod As a Mic
You can change the automatic settings of the mic on your airpod from one ear to another. Follow the steps below to do that.
On your iPhone or iPad, do these;
- Navigate to Settings.
- Select Bluetooth.
- Click on the “info” button beside your airpod.
- Click on “microphone.”
- Choose the option for which either the left or right airpod.
On your Mac.
- From the menu, navigate to System Preferences.
- Select Bluetooth.
- Click on the options button beside your airpod.
- Choose “microphone” and choose what you want.
Conclusion
In summary, the mic on your airpod is essential, and you can set it however you like. You can turn on/off the mic on your airpod. However, you have to do it manually.
You can change different settings on your airpod to customize it to suit your taste. Follow the steps in the article to change your airpod settings.