Put your AirPods in your ears but find the sound coming from iPhone? You may need this guide to know why the error occurs, and get 10 workable fixes to AirPods connected but audio coming from phone.
AirPods connected but sound comes from iPhone
Lately an issue keeps happening. I put my AirPods in my ears and I even hear the connected sound but when I play music it comes from the phone. Very annoying! Very disappointed...
- Question from Apple Community
For its strong features, good sounds, and nice look, AirPods has become a trendy earbuds. Even though it can be pricey, it indeed, is one of the most popular earbuds worldwide. But a common glitch occurs where your AirPods say "connected," but no sound is coming out of them.
In this article, we'll discuss why this issue occurs and provide detailed steps on how to fix it. By the end, you'll have the top 10 solutions to ensure that your AirPods function as intended.
There are several reasons why your AirPods say connected but sound coming from phone, the followings are some common causes: ❌ Unstable connection between AirPods and iPhone. ❌ The audio output may be set to the iPhone. ❌ The sensors on your AirPods are dirty or malfunctioning. ❌ Multiple Bluetooth devices are paired to your iPhone.
It’s necessary to learn why this issue occurs in the first place. Now, it’s time to get solutions to fix the issue. Let’s move on.
This part offers you 9 fixes to the issue AirPods connected but sound coming from phone. Try them one after another until your issue gets fixed.
When your AirPods connected but sound from phone, the first thing you can check is your iPhone Bluetooth. You can turn it off and on again to fix the issue.
Go to your iPhone Settings app > Choose Bluetooth > Toggle off the switch next to Bluetooth, and wait for a few seconds.
Turn on the Bluetooth again, and try connecting your AirPods to the phone again.
One of the simplest yet most overlooked issues is a low battery. If your AirPods have insufficient charge, they may connect briefly and then disconnect, leading the audio to continue playing through the iPhone.
How to Check AirPods Battery: Open the AirPods case near your iPhone. A battery status popup will appear on your iPhone screen. If the battery is low, charge your AirPods before trying to reconnect.
Keeping your AirPods charged will ensure they stay connected to your iPhone and function as intended.
Dirt, earwax, or grit on your AirPods can occasionally cause issues, such as sound coming from your phone. Keeping your AirPods, charging port, and charging case clean is essential. Use a q-tip, a slightly wet cleaning wipe, or a cotton bud to gently clean your AirPods.
A simple force restart can resolve many software glitches that may interfere with your AirPods' functionality. This can help reset the Bluetooth connection and resolve issues related to the iPhone software.
● Force restart iPhone 8 and later with Face ID: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button > Quickly press and release the Volume Down button > Press and hold the Side/Power button until the Apple logo appears.
● Force restart iPhone SE with Home button: Hold down the Home button and the Power button at the same time > Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.
If you are still experiencing issue - AirPods connected but audio coming from phone, removing your AirPods from the list of connected devices and then re-pairing them can resolve deeper connectivity problems.
Step 1. Forget AirPods from iPhone • Go to your iPhone's Settings > Scroll down and tap on Bluetooth.
• Under the My Devices section, you should see your AirPods listed. Tap the "i" icon next to your AirPods.
• On the AirPods settings page, tap on Forget This Device. Confirm the action if prompted.
Step 2. Reset Your AirPods Place both AirPods in the charging case and close the lid. Wait for about 15-20 seconds.
Open the lid of the charging case and locate the small setup button on the back of the case.
Press and hold the setup button until the status light on the case starts flashing white.
Step 3. Re-Pair AirPods with iPhone • Keep AirPods case open (flashing white light).
• On iPhone, tap Connect when AirPods setup animation appears.
• Follow on-screen instructions to complete pairing.
Automatic Ear Detection allows your AirPods to play audio when they are in your ears and pause when they are removed. However, if the sensors are not working properly, the audio might remain on your phone.
Disabling this feature may stop your iPhone from defaulting audio to the phone’s speakers when the AirPods are in your ears but aren’t being detected properly.
To turn off auto ear detection, go to iPhone Settings > Bluetooth > Find your AirPods and tap the i icon > Turn off the option Automatic Ear Detection.
If your AirPods say connected but sound coming from phone, you might need to manually select them as the audio output, ensuring that your iPhone directs the audio output to your AirPods and not to your phone's speakers.
Step 1. Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your iPhone (for iPhone X and later) or up from the bottom (for earlier models).
Step 2. Tap on the audio playback section > Choose AirPods from the list of audio outputs.
If your iPhone is running outdated software, you may experience compatibility or connection issues. Keeping your devices up-to-date can resolve these bugs.
To update iOS to the latest version, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Download and install the latest updates.
To prevent iPhone system bugs and errors from audio coming from phone when AirPods connected, you may need a professional repairing tool for iOS devices. Here we recommend FoneTool, a comprehensive iOS system repairing tool, which helps troubleshoot kinds of iOS issues. Download FoneTool to your computer, and here's hwo to use it.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer via USB > Launch FoneTool, and go to Toolbox > Choose iOS System Repair function.
Step 2. From the pop-up window, click iOS System Repair again > Choose Standard Mode (no data loss) or Deep Mode (all data erased) as per your situation. (Remember to fully backup your iPhone if you choose Deep Mode.)
Step 3. Download a new version of the firmware file your iPhone using > Finally, tap Start Repair to begin the troubleshooting process.
If you've done everything on this list and still your AirPods connected but audio coming from phone, there could be a bigger problem. It is suggested to try connecting to your AirPods from another device, and if it doesn't work, We recommend contacting Apple Support.
Hope the 9 solutions to AirDrop connected but audio coming from phone can help you out. Remember to regularly clean your AirPods, keep your software updated, and maintain a stable Bluetooth connection to avoid future problems. If this guide is helpful, share it with others.