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

[jonnysods]

I know people on the forum would be frustrated that people are piling on Apple for this - but I'd say this is one is justified. This is an exorbitant amount of money to spend on headphones, then have to look up articles on how to fix it. That isn't a premium experience that should come with a premium price.

 

[MacATDBB]

This is what you get when you put in a pair of H1 chips and have them communicate via UDP

 

[litmag01]

I wonder if the digital switch issue is on one of the H1 chips or another component.

Either way should be a quick firmware fix.

 

[cmChimera]

I know people on the forum would be frustrated that people are piling on Apple for this - but I'd say this is one is justified. This is an exorbitant amount of money to spend on headphones, then have to look up articles on how to fix it. That isn't a premium experience that should come with a premium price.

Apple has provided instructions on how to reset Airpods Max. Macrumors isn't breaking new ground here.

 

[amartinez1660]

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.

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 reset your AirPods Max.

How to Reset AirPods Max

1. Before you reset 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.

After resetting 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, it's probably time to contact Apple Support.

Article Link: AirPods Max Switching to ANC in Only One Cup? Here's How to Fix It

I’m having an issue were the ANC button does nothing.
They very rarely start intermittently change between ANC and Transparency on its own then stops doing that. The button isn’t physically stuck as it clicks perfectly fine.
The only way I have for changing the mode is going to control center’s sound bar tap-hold panel.

Anybody got that issue? Soft and hard resets didn’t fix it. Can’t go to the Apple Store until after Jan 11th (lockdown tentative lift date).

I hope it’s just an isolated case as I dig the headphones immensely and is actually worse than what this article pointed out.

 

[Seanm87]

$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.

A bit dramatic don’t you think? Something that will just get fixed in a software update.

 

[Arran]

Under your metric nothing over $550 should break ever. Not cars, washing machines, PCs....

Jesus.

Perspective.

A $550 washing machine would be a cheap washing machine. Issues would be expected sooner or later. For a washing machine at that price point it’s okay to forgive the cheap manufacturer and say ”you get what you pay for”

Similarly, $140 Bluetooth headphones would be at the cheap end and you’d ultimately wish you’d bought the $280 ones.

But if you spend $550 out the gate, your expectations - as a consumer - must be higher. Much higher. Why settle for less? You sure didn’t pay for less.

 

[KaiserX]

This article is incorrect - you don't reset the AirPods Max to fix this issue - you only need to reboot them. Yes, resetting will work too - but resetting puts your AirPods back in factory settings. You only need to reboot them.

How to restart or reset AirPods Max - Apple Support

If you're having an issue with your AirPods Max, you can restart your AirPods Max or reset them to factory settings.

support.apple.com

 

[portland_bill]

You’re hearing it wrong

 

[kirk.vino]

I haven’t had a single issue with them in 3 weeks.
Maybe there are some hardware issues with some units.

 

[Arran]

This article is incorrect - you don't reset the AirPods Max to fix this issue - you only need to reboot them. Yes, resetting will work too - but resetting puts your AirPods back in factory settings. You only need to reboot them.

How to restart or reset AirPods Max - Apple Support

If you're having an issue with your AirPods Max, you can restart your AirPods Max or reset them to factory settings.

support.apple.com

It’s good Apple posts this info online, but hunting for troubleshooting tips when something goes wrong is a poor consumer experience. Especially as the requisite button press combinations/sequences, timings, and LED color flashes are not something a user can realistically memorize for all the products they own.

The traditional reset method, namely a small button you poke with a pin/pen/fingernail/etc, would be simpler.

Or even simpler, just have them always reset whenever you put them in their case or start charging them?

 

[alee]

$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.

It's software updatable for a reason. 🙄

Apple's wearables market ALONE is worth is $7.9 BILLION. If you made it a separate company, it would be a Fortune 130 company. They obviously know what they're doing.

 

[XXPP]

$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.

PRO'S? LOL. I have so many problems with SONY, DENON.

 

[XXPP]

premium price.

This is not premium price.

 

[7493920]

Leave it to apple to make headphones with a software issue. I miss when Apple products were relatively bug free.

Under your metric nothing over $550 should break ever. Not cars, washing machines, PCs....

Jesus.

Obviously not what they were saying.

 

[cmChimera]

The traditional reset method, namely a small button you poke with a pin/pen/fingernail/etc, would be simpler.

This is not simpler than just pressing two buttons at the same time. It literally requires an extra object I may not have on hand.

 

[Antes]

Initially these sounded awful to me but after rebooting and turning off spatial audio they sound great! The sound separation is way better now. I know spatial audio doesn’t work with music but I’m thinking there must be a bug where leaving it on effects music quality. I’m sure firmware updates will continue to improve them.
also for those hating on them - you’re cheap, broke, or don’t enjoy listening to music - we get it already.

 

[MetalProgrammer]

Had the same issue with them about 2 weeks ago. Took me like a minute to find out how to reset them, and the problem was gone. Very happy with them, much better than my Sony XM3 in daily use.

 

[Tubamajuba]

Based on some the comments here, you'd think this is the first time ever that a retail product had an issue.

Get a grip, people...

 

[Unity451]

Macrumors 2027 post:
"AirCar Max Stuck in reverse? Here's How to Fix It".

Apple Tech Support: Have you tried turning it off and turning it back on again?

 

[JosephAW]

Glad someone was smart enough to think of adding a reset feature instead of taking it to Apple for service.
But with a price like that you should be able to iCloud lock them.

 

[richard371]

It’s good Apple posts this info online, but hunting for troubleshooting tips when something goes wrong is a poor consumer experience. Especially as the requisite button press combinations/sequences, timings, and LED color flashes are not something a user can realistically memorize for all the products they own.

The traditional reset method, namely a small button you poke with a pin/pen/fingernail/etc, would be simpler.

Or even simpler, just have them always reset whenever you put them in their case or start charging them?

How do you reboot them vs resetting them?

 

[JCCL]

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.

TBH the only reason it has sold as much as they have it’s because it’s they are from Apple. Remove the Apple logo and put any other and it would not sell nearly as much. Some People believe whatever BS Apple’s marketing push them more than any other company.

learning from AirPods Pro, they were good, but the rattling noise was a design flaw, that took them almost a year to acknowledge. Problem when a company ventures into new territory is that it will have these design flaws.

 

[jclardy]

So maybe it is just a coincidence...but I just had this happen to me on my Air Pod Pros (Not max.) I used the stem to change the mode and it only changed the mode in my right ear. Toggling it on/off again fixed it.

 

[rgbrock1]

It's the way you're pressing it.