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Dirty contacts are the #1 cause. Look at the bottom of each AirPod stem and inside the case at the magnetic charge points. You'll see small gold pins.
Cheap or counterfeit cables fail more than the case. Use a known-good Apple-branded MFi cable. Test in 2 different outlets.
If your case supports wireless charging (most do): place on a Qi pad. If wireless works but wired doesn't, your case's port is dead — replacement case is $99 from Apple.
Sometimes the firmware gets stuck. Settings → Bluetooth → tap (i) next to AirPods → Forget This Device. Then place case near iPhone with lid open and re-pair.
Open the case lid. Look at the small LED. Amber when charging, green when full. If no LED at all: the case battery is fully dead and might have failed entirely. Try charging for 30 minutes and re-check.
Settings → Bluetooth → tap (i) next to AirPods. If a firmware version number doesn't appear, plug case into power, place near iPhone, and wait 30 min — Apple pushes firmware automatically.
If cleaning + cable test + re-pair don't work, you need a replacement case ($99 Apple, $29 with AppleCare+) or replacement set. Apple doesn't repair AirPods cases — they swap them.
AirPods Pro's Active Noise Cancellation is a premium feature. When it stops working, you can hear every background noise. Usually it's fixable without hardware replacement.
Make sure it's actually on. Swipe down Control Center on iPhone → tap the Audio control → select Noise Cancellation (not Transparency or Off).
ANC requires a tight seal. Loose or wrong-sized ear tips won't trigger noise cancellation properly.
On iPhone Settings: → Bluetooth → tap info next to AirPods Pro → Ear Tip Fit Test. If the test fails, try a different ear tip size or reseat the tips (twist them in firmly).
AirPods Pro have internal sensors that calibrate ANC. Resetting can fix calibration issues.
Force a reset: Settings → Bluetooth → tap info → Forget This Device → open case near your iPhone and hold setup button 15 seconds. Re-pair and allow recalibration (takes a minute).
ANC bugs are fixed in updates. Update your iPhone (Settings → General → Software Update) first, then ensure AirPods are connected for firmware auto-update.
Debris on the microphones used for ANC feedback can reduce effectiveness.
Process: Use a soft, dry toothbrush to gently clean the mesh areas on the outside of both earbuds. Never use liquid near the mesh.
If ANC works fine on another iPhone/Mac but not your primary device, the issue is with that device's software, not the AirPods hardware.
AirPods Pro have dedicated ANC microphones and processors. If ANC stopped working and all software fixes failed, hardware is likely damaged. Signs:
ANC sensor/microphone replacement requires opening the earbud and soldering new components. Cost: $99–$150 per earbud (full earbud replacement).
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