Do AirPods Have a Mic Built-In? (All You Need To Know)

AirPods have built-in microphones that let you make calls, use Siri, and perform other voice-enabled functions on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The mics on AirPods are found at the bottom of each AirPod.

Where Is the Microphone on AirPods?

The microphones on AirPods are found at the bottom of each AirPod. There’s a circular hole at the end of each AirPod’s stem, where the microphones are located.

The AirPods mic integrates a speech detecting accelerometer that can capture your speech. The microphones on AirPods are beamforming, which does an excellent job of blocking unwanted noise from the surrounding environment.

Which AirPod Has the Mic?

Both earpieces of your AirPods have a built-in microphone. This means that whether you put on the left-side AirPod, the right-side AirPod, or both, you’ll be able to make calls, record voice notes, and access Siri with your voice.

How Do I Turn On the Microphone on My AirPods?

The microphone on your AirPods is always on by default. However, if you occasionally wear only one AirPod, you need to set your AirPods to automatically switch the microphone input, depending on which AirPod you’re wearing.

Here’s how to enable it:

• Go to “Settings” and choose “Bluetooth”
• Tap on the “i” icon next to your AirPods name
• Select “Microphone” and enable “Automatically Switch AirPods”

You can also use only one of the microphones by choosing the left or right AirPod as your default voice input channel.

Do Both AirPods Have a Mic?

As mentioned before, both AirPods have built-in microphones. This is the case for all Apple releases of AirPods, including AirPods Pro and AirPods gen 1, 2, and 3.

How Do I Test the Mic on My AirPods?

To test the mic on your AirPods, follow these steps:

• Turn on Bluetooth and connect your AirPods
• Put on the left or right AirPod
• Open the Voice Memos app 
• Tap on the red recording button and start speaking
• Open the memo and check that you can hear your voice recording
• Do the same for the other AirPod

If only one of your AirPods isn’t recognizing your voice, try checking your AirPods and make sure that the microphone settings are correctly configured so that the mic input is switched on automatically depending on which AirPod you’re wearing.

If none of your AirPods are accepting your voice input, there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with a hardware issue. Try cleaning your AirPods with a lint-free cloth sprayed with 70% isopropyl alcohol and see if it fixes the problem. If the microphone is still not working, contacting Apple Support would be your best bet.

How Good Is the Mic on AirPods?

The mic on AirPods is suitable for making casual calls and activating Siri. Nevertheless, since there’s no active noise canceling in the original AirPods 1/2/3, it may not perform well in loud environments.

AirPods Pro feature active noise cancellation, making them a better choice for those who need to make important calls in loud areas, like a construction site or a busy road.

How to Answer a Phone Call Using AirPods

There are multiple ways to answer incoming calls on your AirPods. The easiest way is to assign the double-tap function in your AirPods settings for answering calls. Another way is to answer “yes” to Siri when she asks, “Incoming call from [person], answer it?”. 

Of course, you can just answer the call from your phone, and the voice input/output will be automatically transferred to your AirPods.

What Is the Range of AirPods?

AirPods allow for hands-free calls by connecting to your device via Bluetooth. 

However, Bluetooth technology has a limited range, and you may only be able to use your AirPods when they’re less than 40-50 meters away from your device. This range only applies if there are no obstacles between the AirPods and your device. 

So, for example, if your device is in a different room and there’s a wall, the effective range will be significantly less.

Summary

There you have it; AirPods do have a built-in microphone. Each AirPod has a separate microphone, so you can make calls even when the other AirPod is in the charging case.

The built-in microphones found in all generations of AirPods are quite fantastic, but of course, the ones on the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max are the best because they feature active noise cancellation.