It is common for Apple AirPods users to have problems with low volume, but there are some ways to improve the overall experience and make AirPods louder. The AirPods lineup has AirPods Gen 1 to 3, AirPods Pro and the studio headphone, which is the AirPods Max. These have been the highest-selling wireless earbuds globally for a couple of years now. The earbuds offer one of the best ANC (active noise cancellation) and transparency modes along with some extra features like Spatial Audio and seamless connectivity among Apple devices.
On AirPods, the audio quality is very balanced, and the music listening experience is enjoyable. Although, the loudness sometimes feels inferior compared to the other wireless earbuds available in the market. The easiest way to improve the audio quality of AirPods is by using an equalizer preset. There are several different music presets available in the iOS Music settings (accessible from Settings > Music), and the Late Night preset is the most effective for boosting AirPods' volume. It increases the volume output through iPhone speakers or any AirPods. Therefore, it is worth trying if the volume is lower.
iPhones have a setting that limits maximum headphone volume to prevent ear damage. It is a precautionary measure, as long-term exposure to a high volume might damage hearing. In the iPhone, there is a setting to toggle on or off this limit, and by turning it off, the AirPods can sound louder. To do so, go to Settings and tap on Sounds & Haptics. There is an option called Headphone safety. By enabling Reduce Loud Sounds, the user can set the maximum volume anywhere between 70 and 100 decibels. By default, it is set to 85db, but users can set it to 100db to make AirPods louder.
How To Turn On Headphone Accommodations
Apple added capabilities to adjust the levels of specific frequencies with Headphone Accommodations in iOS 14 or later. This option can be enabled by going to Accessibility settings, then Audio/Visual, and turning on the first toggle. Next, tap on Vocal Range and move the slider from Slight to Strong, and the sound output through the AirPods will significantly improve. Apart from boosting the volume, there are multiple options on this page, including transparency mode customization, conversation boost, or using audiogram data from the Health app to customize audio settings.
If these steps fail to make it louder, try cleaning the mesh of the AirPods with a dry cotton swab, also re-pair them with the iPhone, and check again. Also, make sure both ears are on the same volume, which users can check from the accessibility settings. Finally, turning on Active Noise Cancellation can be helpful to improve the output as well. In a noisy environment, loud music from the AirPods might be instrumental, but listeners should avoid higher volume whenever possible.
Source: Apple Insider