Apple users love using AirPods as it provides an amazing audio experience. However, when connected to the PC, the sound quality of these AirPods is compromised making the users wonder what has happened to AirPods. The device working fine with iPhone, Mac, and other Apple devices suddenly started giving issues when connected to the PCs. Worry not. This happens because of certain settings on Windows PCs. In this guide, we will explain how to modify this setting and make other tweaks to fix the “AirPods are not sounding right on the PC.”
Why Does AirPods Sound So Bad On PC
The AirPods have bad sound quality on PC because of the mode the user selects. When an AirPod user connects to the PC, they can choose between two modes: Stereo and Hands-Free.
The Stereo mode delivers high sound quality, generally preferred while listening to music, playing games, or watching a movie. This mode resolves the “AirPod sounds extremely low on PC” issue but does not allow users to use the AirPod’s built-in microphone.
Whereas the Hands-Free mode allows using the microphone and listening to the sound simultaneously. When this mode is used, users face “Bad Airpod sound quality on PC” issues.
Therefore, to use Stereo mode so that the sound quality works fine and the microphone is not affected, users need to tweak certain Windows Audio Settings. Here, we will explain how to do that.
How To Fix AirPods Sounding Bad
There are a few ways to fix the “AirPods sound quality” issue. You can try each step and check the results. If the issue is fixed after executing a troubleshooting method, you can ignore the rest.
Fix 1: Alter AirPod Mode
You can get the best sound quality if you choose the Stereo mode, hence switch the audio mode to Stereo. Here is how to do that:
Step 1: Expand the Playback Device list by clicking the Speaker icon in the taskbar.
Step 2: Choose Stereo from the list.
If you were already in the Stereo mode or want to use the mic along with sound, move to the next fix.
Fix 2: Update The Bluetooth Adapter Driver
Your AirPods connect to your PC using the Bluetooth adapter driver. If the driver is outdated, missing, or corrupted, you will face issues like “AirPod sounds extremely low on PC.” To fix this, we need to update the drivers, and there are three ways of doing this.
Method 1: Download Bluetooth Driver From The Manufacturer’s Website
To update the driver directly from the manufacturer’s website visit the official website and search for the resources available for your PC model. Look for Bluetooth drivers and download/install them. Once the drivers are updated, restart the PC and connect the AirPods. You will no longer find the AirPods sound issues on PC.
Method 2: Download Bluetooth Driver Using The Device Manager
If the above method is too technical, we have a fairly easier way to update Bluetooth drivers. Here are the steps to use the Device Manager to update Bluetooth drivers:
Step 1: Press Win + X and choose Device Manager.
Step 2: Double-click the Bluetooth category to check the list of connected devices.
Step 3: Right-click on the Bluetooth device and choose Update Driver.
Step 4: Select the “Search Automatically For Drivers” option next.
Step 5: If you get the message that “The best drivers for your device are already installed,” move to the next method to update drivers, as this can happen if Windows does not have the latest driver in its database.
Note : If you cannot update drivers via the Device Managers, that implies that the latest drivers have not yet been uploaded to the Microsoft Servers, and you will have to rely on the OEM website or third-party driver updater software.
Method 3: Download Bluetooth Driver Via Advanced Driver Updater
Advanced Driver Updater is a third-party driver updater tool that scans your PC, identifies driver anomalies, and fixes them by updating the drivers to the latest version available on the internet. There are no restrictions in the scope of search for drivers, and it is very easy to use with an intuitive interface that requires a few mouse clicks to do the job. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Download and Install Advanced Driver Updater using the Download link below.
Step 2: Launch the app and click the Start Scan Now button to scan your PC.
Step 3: Locate the Bluetooth driver from the list of driver issues displayed on your screen and click the Update link next to it.
Step 4: The App will find and update your PC’s latest compatible Bluetooth driver.
Step 5: Restart your PC and reconnect your AirPods to check if the sound issue persists.
Fix 3: Turn Off the Hands-Free Telephony Option
According to several forums, the Hands-free Telephony feature causes Bluetooth audio stuttering issues on PCs, including with AirPods. Disabling this feature resolves the problem entirely. To determine if this solution works for you, too, follow these steps:
Step 1: Press Win + I to open the Settings box.
Step 2: Click on the Bluetooth & devices tab in the left pane and the Devices option in the right section of the box.
Step 3: Next, choose the More devices and printer settings option.
Step 4: Locate your AirPods and right-click on it to choose Properties.
Step 5: In the new box, choose Services and remove the check mark next to Hands-free Telephony.
Step 6: Click on Apply, followed by OK.
Fix 4: Use a Separate USB Bluetooth Dongle
Most PCs have a built-in Bluetooth adapter that helps users to connect devices via Bluetooth. However, when this inbuilt adapter has some bugs, you face issues. It is not easy to replace it, and it will constantly trouble you with the “AirPods muffled sound” issue. In this case, as an alternative, we recommend you purchase a USB Bluetooth Dongle and attach it to one of your USB ports. Also, you must disable the default Bluetooth adapter by going to the Device Manager as explained above and choosing Disable instead of Update Drivers.
Fix 5: Use A Different Microphone
If you are not able to fix the AirPods sound issue using the above methods, we suggest you switch the AirPods to Stereo mode and use a different Microphone to communicate. This way, you will not have to face low volume while using AirPods and will be able to talk to others via your PC.
AirPods Quality Is Bad On PCs – Fixed
To summarize, if you are okay with listening only through AirPods, try using the Stereo mode. However, if you wish to use the mic as well, know that the sound quality will be slightly reduced. To fix it, change the settings as explained above and update the drivers. If that doesn’t work, then you will have to invest in a new Bluetooth adapter or a new microphone device.
Hope this helps.
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