How to Clean Airpods Microphone [6 Preventative Maintenance ]

Use a toothpick or SIM ejector tool to gently dislodge debris in microphone mesh holes. Also dip just the microphone covering in rubbing alcohol for 30 seconds using blu tack to access it, swab the area, then dry completely. Check for improved sound quality after. Fast, easy cleaning restores mic clarity.

Keeping your AirPods clean is important for optimal audio quality and microphone performance. Dust, debris, and earwax can accumulate on the microphone mesh covering over time, muffling your voice and calls. Fortunately, cleaning your AirPods microphone is easy with some basic household items.

In this comprehensive, step-by-step guide, you’ll learn How to Clean Airpods case Microphone on your AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. With simple solutions using rubbing alcohol, cotton swabs, toothpicks, blu tack, and more, you can remove built-up gunk and restore your microphone’s sound quality.

Follow along as we cover common problems, walk through visual cleaning instructions, and provide tips to keep your AirPods microphones working their best. Let’s get started!

Common AirPods Microphone Problems

Before jumping into solutions, How to Clean Airpods Microphone? let’s cover some of the most frequent microphone issues AirPods owners face:

• Muffled, quiet, or distorted voice during calls
• People struggle hearing you on phone calls
• Echo or feedback noises
• Unable to activate Siri
• Crackling sounds

These problems typically occur due to a blocked microphone mesh, but can also indicate deeper damage in some cases.

By cleaning the outer microphone covering, you can fix most minor issues. However, if the underlying microphone module is broken or malfunctioning, you may need to replace your AirPods.

Materials Needed

Gather the following cleaning supplies before starting:

• 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• Cotton swabs
• Toothpicks
• Blu Tack or poster putty
• Small brush (optional)
• Microfiber cloth

Avoid using liquids besides alcohol, harsh chemicals, or anything abrasive while cleaning to prevent damaging your AirPods.

Step 1: Check for Debris & Earwax  

Before scrubbing away, visually inspect your AirPods microphone opening for any obvious contaminants:

• Carefully check the mic covering for specks of earwax, dirt, food, makeup, or other debris
• Use a flashlight and magnifying glass if available
• Compare left and right AirPod mics

Pay extra attention to the small microphone mesh holes. Built-up earwax and particulates can clog these openings.

If visible debris is present, skip to the cleaning steps below. If nothing obvious is blocking the microphone, the issue could be internal – requiring replacement instead of cleaning.

Step 2: Remove Debris with Toothpick or sim ejector  

For minor wax blockages in the mic mesh holes, use a toothpick, straight pin, or iPhone SIM ejector tool to gently dislodge and scrape debris away. Avoid digging too forcefully or puncturing the delicate mesh.

• Work slowly under good lighting
• Insert tool at an angle into mesh holes
• Carefully scrape out wax or debris  
• Rotate AirPod to access entire microphone surface
• Use flashlight to peer inside holes

Continue scraping gently until all visible contaminants are gone. For more stubborn buildup, apply some alcohol to help dissolve and displace debris.

Step 3: Clean Microphone Covering with Alcohol

For more thorough cleaning, use rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs tailored to your specific AirPod model’s microphone location.

5 Way Clean AirPods Pro & Max

Thanks to the protruding microphone stick, cleaning the mic membrane on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max models is very simple:

1. Dip a cotton swab in 70% isopropyl alcohol
2. Gently rub the swab around the microphone opening, getting alcohol down into mesh holes  
3. Swab the entire surface, rotating AirPod to access all sides
4. Use a dry cotton swab to remove any leftover debris and moisture  
5. Allow 1 minute for residual alcohol to evaporate

Avoid oversaturating with liquid. Be extra gentle around the delicate noise-cancelling microphone on the AirPods Pro as well.

6 Way Cleaning AirPods 1 & 2

With the mic discreetly embedded into the stem, accessing the mic on original AirPods requires a simple blu tack technique:

1. Mold a small piece of reusable blu tack or poster putty into a spike shape
2. Carefully press the tack onto the microphone opening, letting it take hold & form to mesh holes
3. Dip tack & microphone into alcohol for 20 seconds  
4. Remove & firmly slide tack off mic to displace debris
5. Repeat process if necessary until clean
6. Use dry swab to remove any remaining moisture or particles

The putty gently displaces built-up gunk upon removal while keeping liquid securely over the mic during cleaning.

For either style AirPod, repeat the alcohol cleaning process 2-3 times until cotton swabs show no signs of residue.

Step 4 – Dry & Test Microphone

After cleaning, give your AirPods 5-10 minutes to fully dry before testing microphone performance.

Run through audio checks on calls and voice recordings to compare before and after results:

• Phone calls: How is call clarity and volume now?
• Voice memos: Listen back for muffling/static
• Smart assistants: Try activating Siri – does it respond?

If microphone sound quality improves, congratulations! Enjoy your revived AirPods microphones.

If issues persist post-cleaning, the microphone module itself might need replacement instead. Schedule a Genius Bar appointment or contact Apple support online for next steps.

6 Preventative Maintenance  

To delay future AirPods microphone blockages after cleaning, be proactive with:

1. More frequent cleaning (every 1-2 months)
2. Checking mesh holes routinely with flashlight
3. Applying moisture-wicking spray (iClarified)
4. Using mic covers/guards during workouts
5. Removing AirPods slowly to break ear wax seal

With periodic inspection and cleaning, you can catch microphone issues before they worsen and require deep-cleaning again.

When To Replace AirPods  

While cleaning fixes many microphone problems, take your AirPods to Apple when you experience:

• No improvement after through cleaning
• Visible damage – punctures, missing mesh
• Cracked/exposed microphones
• Significant water damage or corrosion

How to Clean Airpods Microphone? In these cases, the underlying microphone hardware is likely beyond DIY repair, necessitating replacement.a

Additonal Readings:

How to Clean Airpods Case Stains.

How to Clean Airpods for Better Sound.

Thankfully, Apple offers affordable AirPods repairs for $49 per bud (or $99 total). This is often cheaper than buying new and lets you keep your current earbuds.

Conclusion

How to Clean Airpods Microphone? I hope this complete guide gives you confidence tackling lackluster AirPods microphones!

With the right supplies and careful technique, clearing those delicate microphone meshes restores transmitting crystal clear voice. Set reminders to clean every month or two and catch issues before they worsen.

Have any lingering AirPods questions? Let me know in the comments!