Users have encountered occasions where the sound just doesn’t work on AirPods Max, even though it’s connected to the paired device. This can be frustrating given that the sound is the point of the AirPods in the first place.
Why Are My AirPods Max Connected But No Sound
One of the difficulties with troubleshooting a problem with paired devices is that the cause may be from either or even both devices. As such, it requires patience and an elimination method to trace the root of the problem and resolve it.
We recommend that you try the fixes we have presented below one after the other, and in the order that we have presented them in order to trace and solve the problem.
1. Issue With AirPods Max
The first place to start troubleshooting the problem of no sound on your connected AirPods Max is with the AirPods Max itself. Your AirPods Max is an external device that has to integrate with the sound system of your playing device such as your iPhone or Mac.
Sometimes, there may be an issue on the AirPods Max that breaks this integration causing the problem of no sound on the headphones. Please apply these fixes one after the other and retry after each fix until you find the solution that works for you.
Fix – Put Them in The Case For 30 Seconds Then Take Them Out
This is the simplest fix and has solved the no sound problem on AirPods Max for many users.
Sometimes, the headphones may have what’s called a power freeze which could cause the sound to stop working. When this happens, putting them back in the case for some seconds will unfreeze the headphones and get the sound working again.
How it works: You may already be aware that putting your AirPods Max headphones in the smart case puts it in an ultra-low power state. This is why it is called a smart case in the first place. For this to happen, the smart case has to interact with the power setting on the headphones. And it is this interaction that unfreezes the headphones.
So, when you can’t hear sound on your AirPods Max, first sit them in the case for 30 seconds and see if it resolves the issue for you.
Fix 2 – Charge Them Fully
If the fix above does not work for you, the next thing to do is to make sure that your AirPods Max headphones are fully charged. Sound is the main function of the headphones and as such requires the most power, followed by the Bluetooth connection.
If your headphones are not charged, you may power and connect them successfully to your phone or PC, but the sound may not work.
To charge your AirPods Max properly:
1. Be sure to use only the supplied Lightning cable that came with your AirPods Max headphones
2. Plug the Lightning cable into the bottom-right earphone. It is best to use a USB-C to Lightning cable setup but a USB-A works just fine.
3. If you are charging inside the smart case, be sure to align the exposed cut-out on the case with the Lightning port on the headphones
4. Charge your headphones for 2 hours
5. The indicator light on the right earphone shows the status of the AirPods Max battery
Below is a breakdown of the charge status on your AirPods Max headphone:
- When connected to power, press the noise control button. If the light is green, the headphone has at least 95% charge.
- If amber, it is less than 95%: please do not unplug at this stage.
- If the headphone is not connected to power, press the noise control button. If the light is green, the AirPods Max has at least 15% charge
- If amber, it has less than 15% charge
Alternatively, you could use your iOS device to monitor charge status for more flexibility.
- Make sure you are reasonably close to your AirPods Max and wait a few seconds. The charge status on AirPods Max will display on your phone
- Or, use the Battery widgets on your iOS device to check the status of the AirPods Max battery
Please note that the battery life depends largely on the device settings, usage, and environment. So how often you need to charge your headphones may vary from time to time.
Fix 3 – Turn the Volume Up
This is rather obvious but has been the cause of no sound on AirPods Max for many users.
- You may have inadvertently turned down the volume using the Digital Crown
- Or, you may have turned it down and forgotten
- Or, you may be turning it down and think that you are turning it up.
The default setting for volume control on the AirPods Max digital crown is clockwise to increase and counter clockwise to decrease. If you prefer to have it the other way round, please change the settings using the steps below:
- Wear your AirPods Max and be sure they are connected to your smartphone or Mac
On iPhone or iPad
1. Go to Settings
2. Select Bluetooth
3. Press the info button next to your AirPods Max
4. Select Digital crown and select the direction setting you prefer (back to front or front to back)
On Mac
1. Select the Apple Menu
2. System Preferences
3. Select Bluetooth
4. Select Options and set your volume rotation direction
Fix 4 – Restart AirPods Max
When you have confirmed that the volume is in order and the issue persists, the next thing to do is restart AirPods Max. The no sound issue may have been caused by a software or hardware glitch in the headphones. A restart usually clears glitches because it allows all the components of the device to reinitialize.
To restart your AirPods Max:
1. Press and hold the Noise Control button and the Digital Crown until the amber light flashes, then release them immediately
2. Then test your AirPods Max to see if the sound is restored.
Fix 5 – Reset Them
If a restart does not fix the issues, you may try resetting your AirPods Max instead. The headphone may have developed a serious bug that compromised its sound output function. Resetting the headphone to factory settings will clear the bug and set up your AirPods Max afresh.
To reset AirPods Max:
1. Press and hold the Noise Control button and the Digital Crown for 15 seconds
2. You must hold until the indicator flashes amber, then turns white
3. Release the buttons and then re-pair your AirPods Max to your devices.
Fix 6 – Schedule an Appointment at Genius Bar
If a reset does not resolve the issue, it may be that the no sound problem on your AirPods Max is caused by a hardware failure. In that case, you would need to schedule an appointment for hardware repairs on Genius Bar.
To make a Genius Bar appointment:
1. Make sure Location services is on
2. Open the Apple Support app on your Apple mobile (iOS or iPadOS) device
3. Select the device you’re having issues with under My Devices. In this case, the AirPods Max
4. Select your issue from the categories list
5. Select Bring In for Repair with the screwdriver icon
6. Select Find Authorized Locations
7. Select a preferred store
8. Choose a date and time for your appointment
Fix 7 – Replace Them
Alternatively, you could purchase new AirPods Max headphones. If your AirPods Max is still covered by warranty (one year from purchase date), you could contact Apple support to have them replaced for free.
2. Bluetooth Connection Issue
At this point, we have done a good job of eliminating glitches and bugs on the AirPods Max headphone as the cause of the no sound problem.
The next troubleshooting step to take is to check the Bluetooth connection between AirPods Max and your iOS, iPadOS, or Mac device. Many users have found that a broken or corrupt connection is often the cause of no sound on the headphones.
When you connect or pair your AirPods Max to your device, both devices have to exchange constant Bluetooth signals to transmit sound, data, and controls between each other.
If this connection is broken, or if one of the connected devices (AirPods Max or source device) is unable to process the incoming signals, it could also make sound to stop working on the AirPods Max
Fix – Verify that Connected Device is Right
On several occasions, the cause of no sound coming out of AirPods Max is that it is simply connected to the wrong device.
That is, you may be trying to play sounds from your phone while the AirPods max is connected to your laptop in another room. Therefore, the first Bluetooth connection to check is that you are expecting sound from the right connected device.
Once that is in order and the no sound issue remains, please try the next fix.
Fix 2 – Restart Bluetooth Connection
Like we mentioned earlier, the no sound problem may be as a result of a broken Bluetooth connection or a glitch in the current connection. To resolve this, you need to restart the Bluetooth connection so that both devices are properly reconnected.
To restart Bluetooth connection
1. Turn off the Bluetooth on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
2. Place your AirPods Max in the smart case for 1 minutes
3. Turn on the Bluetooth on your device
4. Wear the headphones again
5. Confirm that the AirPods Max is connected, then check if there’s sound
Fix 3 – Forget Device Then Connect Again
If restarting the Bluetooth connection does not work, then you should unpair your AirPods Max from your device and pair it again. The current connection may have become corrupt or expired. To re-pair your AirPods Max:
On iPhone or iPad:
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad
2. Select Bluetooth
3. Tap info icon next to your AirPods Max
4. Select Forget this Device
5. Select to confirm Forget Device
On Mac
1. Click the Apple menu
2. Select System
3. Select Bluetooth
4. In the Devices list, Ctrl-click on your AirPods Max
5. Select Remove
6. Confirm Remove
On Apple Watch
1. Open Settings
2. Select Bluetooth
3. Select the info icon next to your AirPods Max and select Forget
On Apple TV
1. Open Settings
2. Select Remotes and Devices
3. Select General (come Apple TVs skip this)
4. Select Bluetooth
5. Select your AirPods Max
6. Select Unpair Device
7. Confirm to Unpair Device
After doing this, go through the original method you used to pair your AirPods Max with your devices, to pair them again. After re-pairing, please check if the sound is now working.
Fix 4 – Make Sure AirPods Max is Near Phone
The final check on the Bluetooth connection is to ensure that the AirPods Max is near the device you are connecting to. Although Bluetooth technology has a farther range and longer reach than infrared, it still is limited.
The ideal distance between your AirPods Max and your device should be no more than 300ft in free space. In a house with interfering structures, this is much less.
Just to be sure, when you can’t hear a sound on your AirPods Max, go closer to the phone or laptop or TV, and see if that resolves the issue.
3. Issue with Phone/Mac
The next stage of the troubleshooting process is to check the connected device; that is, your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac. After having eliminated AirPods Max and the Bluetooth connection, the cause of the no sound issue may be a glitch or bug on your connected device.
As always, please use the step-by-step approach presented below to trace and resolve the issue at the connected device end.
Fix – Restart Your Phone/Mac
As with every smart device, a restart clears most glitches that cause malfunction on your Apple device. When restarting your device, we suggest that you do a complete shutdown and power on, rather than a restart (especially with MacBook). A full shutdown completely offloads bugs and reloads all required software programmes properly.
After restarting your device, make sure that your AirPods Max is connected again, then check for sound to see if the issue is resolved.
Fix 2 – Restart the App You’re Playing Sound From
We have also found that in some cases, the glitch is on the app that you’re playing sound from. For example, if you are watching a movie using Videos on your iPhone, the Videos app may have run into a temporary malfunction that caused the audio to stop working.
To address this, you need to exit the app, close it completely and then reopen it.
- On iPhone, exit the app and swipe it away from recent or background items.
- On Mac, choose the app, and select Quit App from the Menu bar
Then reopen the app and try playing again to see if the sound issue is fixed.
Fix 3 – Turn Up Volume
Again, just as with the AirPods Max headphone, it may be that the volume on the device is turned down. Most wired headphones take over the audio and volume output on devices so that even if the device audio was muted, the headset turns it on.
But this is not often the case with wireless headphones like your AirPods Max. You need to ensure that the volume on your iPhone, Mac, or Apple TV is turned up to a good level so you can hear sound on your AirPods Max.
Fix 4 – Turn Off Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode is a battery saving feature on your iPhone that disables or minimizes several functions on your phone to save power when the battery is low.
One of functions affected is the volume. Low Power Mode significantly lowers the volume of the phone and this setting may also sometimes cause your AirPods Max to stop producing sound.
Therefore, if Low Power Mode is enabled, you need to turn it off using the steps below:
1. Open Settings
2. Go to Battery
3. Select Low Power Mode and turn it off
Please use this as a test. If it does not resolve the sound problem, you could turn it back on if your battery is low. It has worked for some users, though.
Fix 5 – Force Restart iPhone/Mac
Normally, a forced restart is used when the iPhone or Mac becomes unresponsive. However, this method of restart could also help in debugging the iPhone or MacBook to fix the sound problem you are experiencing with your AirPods Max.
To force restart iPhone with Face ID, iPhone 8, and iPhone SE Gen 2 and later:
1. Press and quickly release the volume up (+) button
2. Then press and quickly release the volume down (-) button
3. Then, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears
Please do these in quick succession or the sequence will break.
To force restart iPhone 7
1. Press and hold the volume down button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously
2. Hold until the Apple logo appears, then release them
To force restart iPhone 6s and iPhone SE Gen 1
1. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button simultaneously
2. Hold until the Apple logo appears, then release them
To force restart MacBook
1. Press and hold the power button until your MacBook completely shuts down
2. Wait one minute, then press the power button to power it back on.
After restarting, please check if your AirPods Max can now play sound.
Fix 6 – Reset Network Settings
Resetting network settings wipes all the data related to your network connections and preferences. Stored WIFI passwords will be removed, paired devices will be forgotten, APN and VPN connections and settings will also be deleted.
But, importantly, the settings or bugs on your device’s network adapter that may be causing the no sound issue will also be offloaded. This has worked for some users.
Before resetting network settings, beware of these changes apart from the ones mentioned above:
- Your device name will be changed back to iPhone
- Websites whose certificate you had to trust manually will revert to untrusted
To reset network settings on iPhone or iPad on iOS 15 or later:
1. Go to Settings
2. Select General
3. Select Transfer or Reset Device
4. Select Reset
5. Select Reset Network Settings
To reset network settings on iPhone or iPad on iOS 14 or earlier:
1. Go to Settings
2. Select General
3. Select Reset
4. Select Reset Network Settings
4. Phone/Mac Out of Date
Another reason why there is no sound on your AirPods Max is that the connected iPhone or Mac may be out of date. This does not mean that a device being out of date will cause the sound to stop working. Rather:
- There may be a bug on the device that only an update patch can fix
- There may be incompatibility issues between your out-of-date iPhone or Mac, and your AirPods Mac
In any case, updating the device firmware has solved the no sound problem for some users. Please follow the steps below to update your iPhone, iPad or MacOS
Fix – Update iPhone/Mac
To update iPhone and iPad:
1. Go to Settings
2. Select General
3. Select Software Update
4. Select to Download and Install the available update(s)
To update MacBook:
1. Make sure that your important files are backed up
2. Click the Apple Menu
3. Select System Preferences
4. Click Software Update
5. Select Update Now or Upgrade Now
After updating your device, please check if the sound issue has been resolved
5. AirPods Max Out of Date
The last fix to try when troubleshooting no sound on your AirPods Max, is to update the headphones. If your AirPods Max is out of date, it may not integrate properly with the sound system on your connected device. An out-of-date AirPods Max is also a common reason for intermittent Bluetooth connectivity.
Fix – Update Firmware
To update AirPods Max firmware:
- Make sure your AirPods Max is connected to your iPhone or iPad
- Place your iPhone or iPad close to your AirPods Max
- Place the AirPods Max in the smart case and plug it in to charge using the Lightning cable
- Make sure your iPhone or iPad has strong internet connection
- Leave your AirPods Max in this setup for an hour. The firmware will update automatically.
If, after performing this last step the no sound issue is not resolved, please contact Apple using the Support link provided earlier.