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AirPods - poor fit fixed!

N

NewZealandMatt

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 3, 2007
73
94
Hi guys

Posting this in case anyone's having the same issue and wants a simple fix.

Love my AirPods. Maybe I just have freakish cavernous ears though, because the left one kept on falling out (and the right one could be precarious at times too).

I tried everything. Foam covers (okay but not super comfortable), silicone covers (too slippery and made it worse). Didn't want to go with Earhooks etc because I still wanted to be able to pop the AirPods back in the case without having to remove anything first.

Then it occurred to me that actually what they needed was enough grip in a couple of places to stop them falling out. What I tried then has worked a treat, and now you'd need a crowbar to pry these things out of my lugs. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but they don't fall out anymore.

What you'll need:

- Nexcare Absolute Waterproof Tape

https://www.nexcare.com/3M/en_US/ne...roof-Tape?N=4326+3294529207+3294631805&rt=rud

- A hole punch.

The Nexcare tape is soft and spongy. Punch out a couple of little dots with the hole punch and experiment with placement on the AirPods. To get them to stick properly just hold them down for a minute or so and the adhesive will warm up. Placement might be different for each ear. I was able to fix my fit with just two dots per AirPod. And they're completely invisible when I'm wearing them.

You'll end up with something that looks like this:

IMG_5724.jpg


Hope this helps someone out! Enjoy :)
 
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NewZealandMatt said:
Hi guys

Posting this in case anyone's having the same issue and wants a simple fix.

Love my AirPods. Maybe I just have freakish cavernous ears though, because the left one kept on falling out (and the right one could be precarious at times too).

I tried everything. Foam covers (okay but not super comfortable), silicone covers (too slippery and made it worse). Didn't want to go with Earhooks etc because I still wanted to be able to pop the AirPods back in the case without having to remove anything first.

Then it occurred to me that actually what they needed was enough grip in a couple of places to stop them falling out. What I tried then has worked a treat, and now you'd need a crowbar to pry these things out of my lugs. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but they don't fall out anymore.

What you'll need:

- Nexcare Absolute Waterproof Tape

https://www.nexcare.com/3M/en_US/ne...roof-Tape?N=4326+3294529207+3294631805&rt=rud

- A hole punch.

The Nexcare tape is soft and spongy. Punch out a couple of little dots with the hole punch and experiment with placement on the AirPods. To get them to stick properly just hold them down for a minute or so and the adhesive will warm up. Placement might be different for each ear. I was able to fix my fit with just two dots per AirPod. And they're completely invisible when I'm wearing them.

You'll end up with something that looks like this:

View attachment 721461

Hope this helps someone out! Enjoy :)
Click to expand...

How many usages do you get before you have to remove and re-apply the tape?
[doublepost=1507160291][/doublepost]
apeaceofstrange said:
Thank you for suggesting this. I took it one step further and covered them for the most part. Definitely ads some nice grip on the ear.
9c0fba5b502a1d443105e819437651c9.jpg
Click to expand...

How many usages do you get before you have to remove and re-apply the tape?
 
NewZealandMatt said:
I've been wearing them for a couple of weeks and they look and fit exactly as they did when I first applied the tape.
Click to expand...

thank you. i had actually returned the pair i had because they kept falling out of my ears. i even ordered the earhoox from amazon, but they still would fall out. Ive since ordered the beats studio 3's. i may have to retry the airpods w/ the mod because i liked the sound quality.
 
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NewZealandMatt said:
Hi guys

Posting this in case anyone's having the same issue and wants a simple fix.

Love my AirPods. Maybe I just have freakish cavernous ears though, because the left one kept on falling out (and the right one could be precarious at times too).

I tried everything. Foam covers (okay but not super comfortable), silicone covers (too slippery and made it worse). Didn't want to go with Earhooks etc because I still wanted to be able to pop the AirPods back in the case without having to remove anything first.

Then it occurred to me that actually what they needed was enough grip in a couple of places to stop them falling out. What I tried then has worked a treat, and now you'd need a crowbar to pry these things out of my lugs. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but they don't fall out anymore.

What you'll need:

- Nexcare Absolute Waterproof Tape

https://www.nexcare.com/3M/en_US/ne...roof-Tape?N=4326+3294529207+3294631805&rt=rud

- A hole punch.

The Nexcare tape is soft and spongy. Punch out a couple of little dots with the hole punch and experiment with placement on the AirPods. To get them to stick properly just hold them down for a minute or so and the adhesive will warm up. Placement might be different for each ear. I was able to fix my fit with just two dots per AirPod. And they're completely invisible when I'm wearing them.

You'll end up with something that looks like this:

View attachment 721461

Can you post a pic with them in your ear?

Hope this helps someone out! Enjoy :)
Click to expand...
 
Joell27 said:
How many usages do you get before you have to remove and re-apply the tape?
[doublepost=1507160291][/doublepost]

How many usages do you get before you have to remove and re-apply the tape?
Click to expand...
I tried the hole punch method but it s unsuccessful. Now I will try your method. I hope it works.
 
Wow! NewZealandMatt thanks so much for this great idea. I thought I was going to have to return the AirPods (which I really like). I saw this suggestion, tracked down the tape a couple of kms from my home and, within an hour, had solved my problem. Awesome!!!!
 
nternal1 said:
Wow! NewZealandMatt thanks so much for this great idea. I thought I was going to have to return the AirPods (which I really like). I saw this suggestion, tracked down the tape a couple of kms from my home and, within an hour, had solved my problem. Awesome!!!!
Click to expand...

You're welcome - glad it worked for you too. :)
 
After seeing this thread, I'm strongly considering picking up a pair of AirPods. Might experiment with the tape on my wired EarPods first as those first a little looser than the AirPods did when I tried them when they first launched. My beats x always fall out even while sitting and just listening to music no matter the tip. The wings keep them in securely but the plastic hurts my ears within a half hour.
 
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titans1127 said:
After seeing this thread, I'm strongly considering picking up a pair of AirPods. Might experiment with the tape on my wired EarPods first as those first a little looser than the AirPods did when I tried them when they first launched. My beats x always fall out even while sitting and just listening to music no matter the tip. The wings keep them in securely but the plastic hurts my ears within a half hour.
Click to expand...

I also have the Beats X. I would never waste my time with the supplied tips of any “in ear monitor” and always use aftermarket “Comply” foam tips. They are more compfortable and effective. They also have differenent versions: one is meant for optimal grip, one is meant for optimal comfort and one is meant for optimal sound isolation. Personally I have the comfort ones for everyday banging around and the isolation ones for gym or airplane use (where I want to minimize outside sounds). The isolation version (in the right size) provides outside sound attenuation that is on par (or better) than an active noise cancelling headphone like the Bose.

Ps. These will also give you the sound because they seal so well.
 
Last edited:
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nternal1 said:
I also have the Beats X. I would never waste my time with the supplied tips of any “in ear monitor” and always use aftermarket “Comply” foam tips. They are more compfortable and effective. They also have differenent versions: one is meant for optimal grip, one is meant for optimal comfort and one is meant for optimal sound isolation. Personally I have the comfort ones for everyday banging around and the isolation ones for gym or airplane use (where I want to minimize outside sounds). The isolation version (in the right size) provides outside sound attenuation that is on par (or better) than an active noise cancelling headphone like the Bose.

Ps. These will also give you the sound because they seal so well.
Click to expand...
I’ve been tempted to get a pack Comply tips but the reviews put me off most of the time because it seems a lot of people have problems with them falling apart after a few months.
 
I wish there were a similar solution for people with teeny tiny ear canals. I haven’t been able to use Apple’s stock earbuds for years, because they’re too big to fit comfortably in my ears.

I like my JayBird wireless earbuds well enough, and the smallest available silicone eartips work, but I like the charging case and W1 chip of the AirPods.
 
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Blaqdymun said:
Nice tip. Wonder if those band aids I have will work, it's about the same in thickness
Click to expand...

Dude, I think NewZealandMatt nailed it with the Nexcare tape. It's easy to find and the thing I like about it is that it sticks really well yet, if you peel it off, it doesn't seem to leave any sticky residue whatsoever. If it did you'd need alcohol to clean it off and Apple warns against this (or any cleaner for that matter).
 
Last edited:
NewZealandMatt said:
Hi guys

Posting this in case anyone's having the same issue and wants a simple fix.

Love my AirPods. Maybe I just have freakish cavernous ears though, because the left one kept on falling out (and the right one could be precarious at times too).

I tried everything. Foam covers (okay but not super comfortable), silicone covers (too slippery and made it worse). Didn't want to go with Earhooks etc because I still wanted to be able to pop the AirPods back in the case without having to remove anything first.

Then it occurred to me that actually what they needed was enough grip in a couple of places to stop them falling out. What I tried then has worked a treat, and now you'd need a crowbar to pry these things out of my lugs. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but they don't fall out anymore.

What you'll need:

- Nexcare Absolute Waterproof Tape

https://www.nexcare.com/3M/en_US/ne...roof-Tape?N=4326+3294529207+3294631805&rt=rud

- A hole punch.

The Nexcare tape is soft and spongy. Punch out a couple of little dots with the hole punch and experiment with placement on the AirPods. To get them to stick properly just hold them down for a minute or so and the adhesive will warm up. Placement might be different for each ear. I was able to fix my fit with just two dots per AirPod. And they're completely invisible when I'm wearing them.

You'll end up with something that looks like this:

View attachment 721461

Hope this helps someone out! Enjoy :)
Click to expand...

I can't begin to thank you enough.

I purchased AirPods as soon as they were available despite me being 100% unable to use EarPods because they would be so loose they would fall out in minutes even just slowly walking because of the hope, reviews, and promises that without a cord the AirPods would stay in much better. Well it is true, they stay in better, but still I can't do much more than walk or sit with the AirPods and I always have this feeling they will fall out in a moment. I love them so much I didn't have the heart to return them so I mainly use them in "quiet" situations.

I have seen the dozens of "solutions" to people with poor fitting AirPods but 100% of them required putting something on the AirPod that made it not fit in the case and I knew it defeats the entire purpose of the AirPods to have to take that extra step so I didn't do anything... until now. For $3.00 or so I now have a LIFETIME supply of these little dots and with 3 small little dots per AirPod (2 were good, 3 for me is better, totally invisible, fits in the case like they aren't there) the AirPods are now some of the best fitting earbuds I have ever owned, I'm sure I could work / run with these etc. plus the just the feeling of "fitting" and not always feeling like they are about to fall out is amazing.

Your find and post should be highlighted by EVERY SINGLE major Apple website, this is a big deal.
 
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NewZealandMatt said:
They fit perfectly inside the case. Lid snaps shut identically to the way it did without them. They actually don’t add much thickness to the AirPods at all - just grip where it’s needed.
Click to expand...

My experience, first thanks to OP for great find.

I applied the tape dots but didn’t like how they looked every time I opened the AirPods case. So I left the ones on the bottom in place but removed the ones on top. Now, when I open the case, the AirPods look normal - the ones on the bottom are hidden from view. Enough to greatly improve the fit, while still preserving the minimalist aesthetic.
 
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