Why Are My Bluetooth Headphones So Quiet?

Bluetooth headphones becoming quieter than they used to be is a more common problem than you might think.

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Before we dive into some solutions on how to increase the volume of your Bluetooth headphones, it is important to understand the different factors which may cause your headphones to become quieter.

Why Are My Bluetooth Headphones So Quiet

Reasons For Headphones Becoming Quieter

Bluetooth headphones (see also ‘How To Connect Bluetooth Headphones To Mac‘) are serious fugitives when it comes to the inconsistency of levels of volume performance, making it a difficult issue to resolve. In many cases, you can fix the issue by playing around in your audio settings.

Sometimes the problem is software-based. However, you may discover that the low volume has been caused by an external factor. Below are some possible external factors causing your headphones to be quieter than they should be.

There is a possibility that headphones can malfunction over time. They are complicated machines with internal as well as external systems that may break down over usage, stopping them from functioning properly.

Tarnished Headphones

The speakers on your headphones can become grubby over time if they are not cleaned appropriately. A build-up of ear wax, in particular, may result in quieter headphones.

Therefore, it is important to remove any muck which is blocking the audio. Generally, this can be done with a toothpick.

Low Battery

If you are using your headphones a lot, without having them fully charged, then this may result in the volume not functioning properly.

Try keeping on top of charging your headphones (see also ‘Why Do My Wireless Headphones Keep Cutting Out?‘) so that when you use them they are not forced to run on low battery. A great number of Bluetooth headphone appliances reduce their output when they’re low on battery.

Connection Issues

If you are worried that your headphones are quieter due to a connection issue you may want to take a look around you at things that may be blocking of connection.

You might be getting interference from another device, like a microwave or speakers, for example. So try reconnecting your headphones again once you have moved to a different location.

If you don’t believe that it is an environmental factor, then there are a few things you could try.

Reboot both devices, by switching them off and back on. If this doesn’t work, then try testing your headphones by pairing them with a different device to see if the volume is any louder.

If it does work, then it might be the device you are using that is causing the issue.

Loss Of Hearing

Regrettably, quieter headphones may be due to you, not your headphones. If you have tested all of the other causes or even replaced your headphones, and the issue is still occurring, then it may be that you have a loss of hearing. I would suggest that you go and see your doctor for some advice.

Tips For Cleaning Tarnished Headphones

If you think it is ear wax that is blocking your headphones and causing them to be quieter, and have tried using a toothpick to clean them but it hasn’t worked, then here is another technique to try.

Alcohol Hack

All you need is 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol, and a few cotton swab.

Dip your cotton swab into the alcohol solution.
Wipe out the ear wax from the earbud of your headphone using the cotton swab.
Hold your headphones down so that gravity pulls down the alcohol away from the inside.
Now using your lips, gently blow on the outside of the headphone so that air comes out of the earbud (Of course, be careful not to press too hard, and don’t get the alcohol near your lips)
Alcohol evaporates quickly, but wait until your headphone has dried out before putting them in your ears.
Test your headphones, they should no longer be quiet.

This trick works for any type of Bluetooth wireless headphones (see also ‘How To Reset Skullcandy Wireless Headphones‘), not just AirPods.

Blu Tack Hack

If one of your headphones is quieter than the other, then try this hack.

Buy some blu tack
Get a generous amount of blu tack and roll it into a ball
Cover the part of your headphone where the music comes out of
Stick the blu tack to the speaker, back and forth several times
Now try your headphone, it should match your other headphones’ volume

Tips For Increasing Your Headphones Volume

Sometimes, fixing the volume on your quiet headphones is more simple than you realize. Have you set your volume to this highest setting?

You’re probably laughing right now, of course you have. But, it is important to check all factors before we move on.

Another test you can do is by going to your settings. Some phones have Bluetooth safety features.

Headphones and earbuds can reach as loud as 100 dB or more, so a safe level is 50 to 60 percent of the maximum volume. This helps protect our hearing and allows us to listen to our favorite music for longer.
https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/keeplistening/decibels

In the search bar, type ‘Bluetooth safety’ to find any type of Bluetooth safety settings that may be set up, causing your headphones to only reach a certain level of volume.

Here, you will be able to disable the setting and reach louder volumes.

If this isn’t the cause, there are a few other things that you could try.

Volume Boosting Apps

If the above hacks haven’t helped, then you could try downloading a volume-boosting app to your device.

Here is a list of apps to try:

AirPod Trick

Back to the basics:

Turn your volume down to zero
Go to Bluetooth
Turn Bluetooth off
Now turn your Bluetooth back on
And turn up the volume

Has it worked?

To Conclude

Not being able to get the full-volume experience from your Bluetooth headphones can be a real pain. The majority of the time, there will be a reason that’s causing your headphones to be so quiet that has a solution.

Therefore, it is a game of trial and error.

Don’t rush off to replace your headphones until you have trialed all the possible causes. If you’re struggling, there is no harm in popping down to your local mechanical store for some assistance.

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Garrett Jones

Hi, my name is Garrett Jones, and I am a tech enthusiast. I enjoy researching the new tech that has been released, and have a vast knowledge of the best tech to purchase.

From a young age, I have always had a big interest in technology, and this blog is an extension of that interest. Through this blog, I hope to provide others with all of the information they need regarding tech options to consider, and things such as compatibility. Some of the different items I will be discussing include headphones, smartwatches, and how to fix common issues.