Stop your AirPods lowering your music when you start talking

Why it happens

On AirPods that support it, Conversation Awareness notices when you start speaking, lowers your media and lets in more of the sound around you so you can chat. It's handy at a shop counter, but singing along, talking to yourself or a cough can set it off too. It's on newer AirPods with Active Noise Cancellation, such as AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 with ANC.

How to fix it

1. Put your AirPods in and make sure they're connected to your Mac. Their name appears in the System Settings sidebar while they're connected.

2. Open System Settings, click your AirPods' name in the sidebar, and turn off Conversation Awareness. If it isn't on the main page, click Audio & Routing and look there.

   your AirPods›Conversation Awareness

3. Play some music and say a few words. The volume should now stay where you set it.

Still not fixed?

1. If it comes back when you use your iPhone, turn it off there too. Open Settings, tap your AirPods' name near the top, and turn off Conversation Awareness.

2. If the volume still drifts up and down when you're not talking, look for Personalized Volume on the same AirPods page and turn it off. It adjusts media volume to your surroundings.

3. If you don't see Conversation Awareness at all, your AirPods model may not have it, or their software may be out of date. AirPods update themselves while they charge in their case near a connected iPhone, iPad or Mac.

4. If outside sound keeps coming in, check the listening mode on the same AirPods page and pick Noise Cancellation instead.

   your AirPods (appears in the sidebar when connected)

5. If the volume still drops by itself with these turned off, or one AirPod keeps cutting out, contact Apple Support. They can check whether the AirPods have a hardware fault.