AirPods Pro Sounds Muffled in Transparency Mode? 5 Fixes to Try

Transparency Mode is one of the standout features of the AirPods Pro, but if it isn't working properly, follow these troubleshooting tips.

Transparency Mode was a game changer when it first came to Apple's AirPods Pro, ensuring you can hear everything around you while still enjoying your music—at least when the feature works as intended. If you've been noticing your AirPods' Transparency Mode sounds more muffled than in the past, you're not alone.

There are a few possible fixes if your AirPods Pro's Transparency Mode isn't working as well as it used to, from the hardware to the software. Even if your AirPods don't sound any different, some of the tweaks here make Transparency Mode even better.

Dust, lint, earwax, and other debris can interfere with the microphones on your AirPods Pro. This doesn't just affect Transparency Mode but can also impact how effective the active noise cancellation is, as it relies on those microphones to cancel out the surrounding noise.

Due to the effect this dust and debris has on sound, cleaning your AirPods Pro could resolve your issue with Transparency Mode. Even if it doesn't work, there are no downsides to cleaning your AirPods. You can buy cleaning kits, but all you really need is rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab, or even a toothpick.

Go over your AirPods, looking for debris in any of the areas where it can gather. If you see lint or other larger debris, remove it. Once you've removed anything you can see, wipe over the AirPods with rubbing alcohol, then allow them to fully dry before using them.

It's worth pointing out here that clothing can interfere with the AirPods Pro's microphones as easily as dust can, especially hats or other headwear.

Has Transparency Mode always sounded muffled to you, while the active noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro works fine? It could just be that the default settings for the mode don't work for you. If you're not happy with the settings out of the box, try adjusting them. This is easy, but the settings are hidden.

Open the Settings app, then navigate to Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Headphone Accommodations. Here, enable the Headphone Accommodations slider, then scroll down and tap Transparency Mode and enable Custom Transparency Mode if it isn't already enabled.

Now, you have total control over the Transparency Mode. You can set the Transparency balance slider to control how much outside sound is in each ear. You can also change the tone, so if it sounds dull or too treble-heavy, you can adjust everything to your liking.

If you've already adjusted your Accessibility options to customize Transparency Mode, it's possible that you've over-adjusted. This can be a problem with the Ambient Noise Reduction setting specifically.

Ambient Noise Reduction is supposed to filter out background sounds and help you focus on the sounds you need to hear. If you're too aggressive with the setting, however, it can mute sounds that you actually want to hear.

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Headphone Accommodations > Transparency Mode. Once you've turned on Custom Transparency Mode, try moving the Ambient Noise Reduction slider all the way to your left, as it may reduce the muffled sound.

Maybe your AirPods Pro's Transparency Mode doesn't sound muffled for everything, but conversations are quieter. If you have trouble hearing people speak when you've got your AirPods Pro in Transparency Mode, enabling the Conversation Boost option may help.

To set this, open the Settings app and scroll down to the Accessibility menu. Here, scroll down to the Hearing section, then tap on Audio/Visual > Headphone Accommodations. If the slider here is disabled, enable it, then scroll down and tap Transparency Mode.

Scroll down, and you'll see the Conversation Boost option assuming you have Custom Transparency Mode turned on. Tap it to enable it. This setting focuses the AirPods' Transparency Mode more on the range of frequencies that carries human speech.

You may want to lower the volume before you enable Conversation Boost, as it can cause a jump in volume. It's also worth keeping in mind that even if you're not having and issue, Conversation Boost can help you understand conversations better, letting you use the AirPods Pro almost like a hearing aid.

You may notice issues in only one AirPod. If everything sounds good in your right ear but muffled in your left ear, you may only have one option: replacing the offending AirPod. This isn't cheap, but if you have an AppleCare+ warranty, you don't have to worry about the cost.

However, remember that you may have water or earwax, which causes hearing issues. In this case, replacing the AirPod in question wouldn't help, so it may help to wait a few days.

It doesn't take much to make the Transparency Mode in the AirPods Pro less effective, so checking for debris or dust in the microphones is key. Beyond ensuring the AirPods are clean, checking the software settings for your AirPods Pro is key.

If none of the other steps helped, you could try resetting your AirPods Pro. As a last resort, especially if you have AppleCare+ for your AirPods, you can bring them to an Apple Store for a possible fix or replacement.

Kris Wouk has been writing about technology for more than 10 years, but using it for much longer than that. He has covered Apple and its various products for MakeUseOf, but he's also covered breaking tech news for Digital Trends and other sites. He spends his spare time as a musician, creating and releasing music across multiple projects.