One fine evening, I was talking to my friends over Facebook Messenger when one of my friends made a joke of implicating other friends. We all burst out laughing and kept joking around.
But suddenly, I could neither listen to them nor could they listen to me. I asked myself, “What went wrong all of a sudden?”
I became too angry as I kept leaving the call and joining again, but it didn’t help me. Being a techie, I felt embarrassed.
So, later that night, I researched for 3 hours to find out why the problem arose.
After trying many fixes, I was able to finally get rid of the issue. If you too want to solve the problem, read till the end.
Why AirPods are Not Working on Messenger Calls?
There could be many reasons why AirPods refuse to work during Messenger calls or in general phone calls. Below I have summarized the different reasons in a table for your better understanding.
It’s important to know about the underlying causes behind a problem as it helps you solve the problem quickly and efficiently.
Here are the reasons behind AirPods issue during Messenger Calls:
| Cause | Details | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Random bugs, glitches or data corruption | When the device is used for a long time, such problems are common | Restart device or Reset AirPods |
| AirPods mic issue | AirPods mic automatic setting not working | Change AirPods Microphone settings |
| Auto Ear Detection error | AirPods Automatic Ear Detection not working | Disable Automatic Ear Detection |
| Network error | WiFi, mobile data, or Bluetooth connection error | Reset Network Settings |
| Low Power Mode | Low Power Mode in iPhone disconnecting AirPods | Disable Low Power Mode |
| Volume Limit | Volume Limit option limiting the audio in the AirPods | Increase Volume Limit |
| Messenger issue | Messenger installation files corrupted or bugs in the app | Reinstall Messenger |
| Dirty AirPods | Dirt on the AirPods blocking the sound | Clean the AirPods |
| Call Audio Routing | Call audio being routed in the wrong audio device | Check Call Audio Routing setting |
Let’s not waste any more time and jump straight into the fixes.
How To Fix AirPods Not Working During Messenger Calls
You might be tired enough of searching for the solution over the internet. Since I was in your shoes, I know how it feels.
I recommend you restart your device right away if you face this problem. This might be irritating when you watch ‘Restart your device’ before knowing the first solution. But I tell you what, restarting your iPhone can solve many issues you can’t even think of, for example when your AirPods keep cutting out.
So press your power button and tap into Restart. See if your problem resolves.
Also, check if there is any battery left on your AirPods. If there is a small charge left in your AirPods, you should charge it for some time and check again by calling on Messenger. If you aren’t sure, read our guide on: How do I know if my AirPods are charging?
Still no luck? Don’t worry, and go through the methods one by one.
Here are the steps to fix AirPods not working while on a Messenger Call:
1. Re-Pair the AirPods
Resetting the AirPods is the most common fix to any AirPods-related issues. When the AirPods are connected to the device for a long time, the connectivity gets corrupted and various errors pop-up.
Resetting the AirPods mean to remove and reconnect the AirPods from the device.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Go to the iPhone Settings.
- Tap on Bluetooth.
- Click on the (i) button right-hand side of your AirPods’ name.
- Scroll to the bottom and select Forget This Device.
This will remove the AirPods from the device. Then you can pair the AirPods with your device as you did it for the first time.
Forgot the procedure to pair AirPods with your device?
Here’s How to Pair AirPods with iPhone or Other Apple Device:
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth.
- Open the lid of the AirPods case with the AirPods inside.
- Take the AirPods case close to the device. You’ll see the AirPods pop-out on the device.
- Follow the instructions to complete the pairing.
2. Change AirPods Microphone Settings
Usually, AirPods mic is set to switch automatically based on which AirPod you’re using. But if it fails to switch the correct microphone on, then the other person won’t be able to hear you.
So, switching the AirPods mic to Always Left or Always Right instead of Automatic in your Settings might solve the problem.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Go to the Settings and Tap on Bluetooth.
- Click on the (i) button right-hand side of the AirPods.
- Tap on the Microphone.
- Choose either Always Left or Always Right
- Close everything and try a video or audio call on your device.
Try switching to the remaining one if this doesn’t help you solve the issue. But if it doesn’t solve your problem at all, move to the next step.
3. Reset Network Settings
Now it is time to reset your network settings to act as the factory unlocked device. This way, if there is something wrong with the network, your device can get rid of it. To do this:
- Go to the Settings on your iPhone and tap into General.
- Click Reset and then Reset Networking Settings.
Resetting the network setting also fixes issues like AirPods not connecting to Mac.
If resetting network settings doesn’t help you, there wasn’t a network issue. Your phone or AirPod might get the problem from some other areas, like the Low Power Mode.
4. Turn off the Low Power Mode
Make sure the low power mode is off on your iPhone. To do this, you need to:
- Go to your Settings and press on the Battery.
- Press on the slider of Low Power Mode to ensure it is turned off.
- Go to your home screen and reconnect to your AirPod.
What is Low Power Mode?
Low Power Mode is a battery setting of iPhone and iPad that can reduce the battery consumption of the device by reducing background activity and interfering with other peripheral connectivity like that of the AirPods.
5. Look into Volume Limit
You need to check the volume limit to ensure its total capacity. Full volume limit makes sure the best volume output to your Airpods. So to ensure, you have to:
- Go to Settings and scroll down to find Music.
- Tap into Music. Scroll down and turn off the Sound Check if it is on.
- Click to Volume Limit. Make sure it is in its total capacity.
Restart your phone and reconnect to your AirPod. Make an audio or video call to see if the issue resolves.
What is Volume Limit?
Volume Limit is an iPhone setting that sets the maximum volume from the speakers or other audio device. If the Volume Limit is applied and is set to a lower max volume, you might not hear the audio clearly.
6. Reinstall Messenger
Maybe the Messenger app you have installed got a glitch in it. So, it’s your Messenger app that is faulty, not your iPhone or AirPod.
Uninstall the Messenger app and then reinstall it and see if your problem is still there. To do so:
- Long press on the Messenger app in the App Library.
- Select Delete App.
- Tap on Delete.
Note: If you long press the Messenger app on the Home Screen and tap on Remove, it’ll remove the app icon from the Home Screen but will not uninstall it. Always select Delete App whether you’re on the Home Screen or in the App Library.
7. Clean your AirPods
Using AirPods for quite some time without cleaning them for once can let dust appear on the speaker mesh and create problems to the speaker and microphone.
So you might face problems with Messenger and other apps because of this. All you need to do is clean your AirPod with a soft brush, a soft and dry piece of cloth, or a cotton bud.
Use a dry cloth if your AirPod somehow gets contacted with water, shampoo, conditioners, perfumes, etc.
8. Fix the Call Audio Routing
Your microphone is not working because the settings of Call Audio Routing are not working correctly. To make this right, you need to:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap into Accessibility and press on Touch.
- Click on Call Audio Routing.
- Select Bluetooth Headset.
Open Messenger and call someone to check if the problem resolves.
What is Call Audio Routing?
Call Audio Routing is an iPhone Accessibility setting that determines which device will output the audio during a phone call or messaging app calls like from Messenger.
9. Change the AirPlay Settings
To let the receiver hear, try choosing iPhone after opening AirPlay. Maybe it can solve your problem. So, to do this:
- Open Control Center.
- Choose the AirPlay button on the top-right corner of Not Playing.
- Select iPhone.
This seems such a minor step, doesn’t it? But trust me, it might resolve your issue. Who knows what your phone is suffering from!
10. Reset your Device
When you are tired of trying every step and see none of them works, consider resetting your iPhone. It’ll help you go back to the original settings that come with a new factory unclocked one. Here’s how to do this:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap into General and scroll down to find Reset.
- Click on Reset and Reset All Setting.
If none of these helped you, I believe there is nothing to be done but wait for it to be solved by Apple or Facebook.
FAQ
How to answer a Messenger call on AirPods?
To answer a Messenger call on AirPods, you need to double-tap the outside of either AirPod. Also, you have to double-tap outside either of the AirPod to hang up the call. That’s a straightforward yet fantastic way to answer and hang up a call.
So, why is my Microphone not working on my AirPods?
Your Microphone is not working on your AirPods because you might update your phone or Messenger with the latest corrupted installation pack or use an older version containing some glitches, unstable wireless internet connection, and a build-up on the speaker mesh.
Conclusion
As the number of AirPods user grow, the plethora of issues regarding the AirPods continue to rise. Messenger is a widely used messaging app on the iPhone and Android devices. Still, sometimes people face problem while talking on the Messenger app using the AirPods.
Tweaking various audio-related settings, restarting the device or reconnecting the AirPods are some of the fixes you can try.
I believe following the steps mentioned above will solve this problem. Comment below if you can’t resolve your issue.
