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AirPods Max Noise Cancelation in Only One Side? Here's How to Fix It

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After using AirPods Max for a while now, some users have reported experiencing an issue with the headphones that occurs when switching them between active noise cancelation and transparency modes.

airpods-max-headphones-cups.jpg

Pressing the noise control button on the right ear cup is meant to toggle AirPods Max between the two modes seamlessly, but sometimes only one of the ear cups will switch modes in response, leaving one cup in ANC and the other in Transparency.

One MacRumors staff member has also run into the problem, which seems to be intermittent. Hopefully Apple can nix the bug in a future software update, but until then, if you're experiencing the issue, follow these steps to reboot your AirPods Max.

How to Reset AirPods Max

  1. Before you reboot your AirPods Max, make sure they have some charge by plugging them into a charging point via the supplied USB-C to Lightning Cable.
  2. Press and hold the Noise Control button and the Digital Crown until the LED status light at the bottom of the right-hand earcup flashes amber.
airpods-max-digital-crown.jpeg


After rebooting your AirPods Max, the issue should be fixed on this occasion and you'll get ANC or Transparency mode in both cups when you press the noise control button. If the problem recurs at a later time, simply repeat the same steps.

If the problem is more persistent, you may want to try entirely resetting your AirPods Max by using the same steps as above but holding the Noise Control for a longer 15-second timeframe. Once the status light flashes amber and then changes to white, they've been reset and you can reconnect them to your device by going through the setup process. If even that doesn't do the trick, it's probably time to contact Apple Support.

Article Link: AirPods Max Noise Cancelation in Only One Side? Here's How to Fix It
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/fix-airpods-max-anc-one-cup-bug/
Last edited:
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Freeangel1 said:
$550 headphones. problems already.
Leave Audio to the Pro's. Like Sony, Denon, Pioneer , sennheiser.

The Apple car will be just as bad.

Concentrate on your core business. otherwise LEMONS when you spread yourself thin.
Click to expand...
Do you really believe what you’ve written? One minor issue has been found in a product that, despite being niche, has sold tens of thousands of units at least, and you conclude that this is a proof that Apple is not capable of making other products. This is kind of Forbes clickbait: “Apple has a huge problem with iPhone 12 battery”. Oh, and audio has been a core Apple business for many many years. But anyway, phones were not, and you see how it went.
 
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It's bound to have a problem. I assume each side of headphone operates independently with their own H1 chip, battery and electronics due to Spatial Audio feature? I mean 20 hours of battery is slightly low given its size. Unless each side is powered by their own battery.
 
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Freeangel1 said:
$550 headphones. problems already.
Leave Audio to the Pro's. Like Sony, Denon, Pioneer , sennheiser.

The Apple car will be just as bad.

Concentrate on your core business. otherwise LEMONS when you spread yourself thin.
Click to expand...
Audio had been Apple's core business for at least two decades. It's just that the focus has shifted from the playback device to the listening apparatus in the recent years. Seeing as how Apple has put significant efforts there and garnered significant success in the wireless earphone market, I'm sure the bugs can be ironed out without "spreading oneself thin".
 
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iSayuSay said:
It's bound to have a problem. I assume each side of headphone operates independently with their own H1 chip, battery and electronics due to Spatial Audio feature? I mean 20 hours of battery is slightly low given its size. Unless each side is powered by their own battery.
Click to expand...

You think a ‘20 hour rated’ pair of headphones is low? I’d disagree and say that’s fairly substantial. I’d be also willing to believe that others will charge the device well before the battery is fully depleted. However, if it is due to the ‘spatial audio’, this is a really easy fix.
 
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For $550 that **** should work from go. No issues, period.

People expect quality when they pay a premium price.

Just like the display issues and keyboard issues we've seen with MBP's over the past few years. Typically, Apple denies any issue in "Ford Pinto" fashion and waits until the masses are gathering at the moat demanding action. Then maybe a refund, or extended warranty.

At this price point, every possible contingency should have been tested and engineered out of the product, People shouldn't have to look for work arounds on niche websites....
 
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AlexESP said:
Do you really believe what you’ve written? One minor issue has been found in a product that, despite being niche, has sold tens of thousands of units at least, and you conclude that this is a proof that Apple is not capable of making other products. This is kind of Forbes clickbait: “Apple has a huge problem with iPhone 12 battery”. Oh, and audio has been a core Apple business for many many years. But anyway, phones were not, and you see how it went.
Click to expand...
sold thousands and for some who are returning them.
 
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Relentless Power said:
You think 20 hour rated pair of headphones is low? I’d disagree and say that’s fairly substantial. I’d be also willing to believe that others will charge the device well before the battery is fully depleted. However, if it is due to the ‘spatial audio’, this is a really easy fix.
Click to expand...
Beats Solo Pro being on-ear with smaller cups rated for 20hours with ANC, and 40hours without. Which stands true given almost a year I’ve owned it.

AirPods Max is over-ear which almost twice the size (and price). Naturally I’d expect at least 30hours with ANC.
 
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iSayuSay said:
Beats Solo Pro being on-ear with smaller cups rated for 20hours with ANC, and 40hours without. Which stands true given almost a year I’ve owned it.

AirPods Max has almost twice the size. Naturally I’d expect at least 30hours with ANC.
Click to expand...

Sony XM4’s are rated at ~30 hours (I’d say my XM3’s were reaching near that), which I honestly think is really good, but I don’t think the Studios rated at ~20 is really anything significantly low, especially given ~20 hours worth of usage is a lot more than people are likely to use.
 
zeezun said:
sold thousands and for some who are returning them. sheepish lol
Click to expand...
I think I’ve been very conservative with my estimation. AirPods sell about 10M units/month. Obviously not in the same price range, but Apple wouldn’t make AirPods Max for less than 100K units. Do you have any hint for what’s that “some” return rate? I remember the “disaster” of antennagate in the iPhone 4 (which, by the way, was a major issue) and, in the end, the return rate was about 1%, way less than the average of the industry.
 
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IIGS User said:
For $550 that **** should work from go. No issues, period.

People expect quality when they pay a premium price.

Just like the display issues and keyboard issues we've seen with MBP's over the past few years. Typically, Apple denies any issue in "Ford Pinto" fashion and waits until the masses are gathering at the moat demanding action. Then maybe a refund, or extended warranty.

At this price point, every possible contingency should have been tested and engineered out of the product, People shouldn't have to look for work arounds on niche websites....
Click to expand...
For a device where hundreds of thousands are made, there are bound to be a few that have bugs, regardless of how fab the production process is.

I had a Bose QuietControl 30, and had it replaced by Bose twice in 2 years.
 
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Freeangel1 said:
$550 headphones. problems already.
Leave Audio to the Pro's. Like Sony, Denon, Pioneer , sennheiser.

The Apple car will be just as bad.

Concentrate on your core business. otherwise LEMONS when you spread yourself thin.
Click to expand...
Ridiculous to judge a product based on one reported bug. Apple’s regular AirPods has 98% customer satisfaction, which is an insanely high number. Based on reviews and customer feedback I’ve seen, these are likely to be in the same ballpark.

Haters gonna hate.
 
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