Resetting your AirPods could serve as a quick solution for earbuds that frequently pause while playing music. Nevertheless, this process might prove inconvenient. As an alternative approach, consider connecting a different pair of Bluetooth headphones to your device to determine if the issue persists.
It’s essential to note that maintaining proximity between your AirPods and your iPhone or other devices is crucial. If there’s a considerable distance, the Automatic Ear Detection sensors might malfunction, leading to connectivity problems. Bluetooth connections generally operate within a range of 30 to 60 feet.
In case this situation aligns with your experience, I’ve compiled a list of straightforward problems and their corresponding solutions to prevent your AirPods from abruptly pausing. Let’s begin.
Why Do My AirPods Keep Pausing?
There are various potential reasons for your AirPods to pause during use, with the most common one being a malfunction in the Ear Detection feature, which relies on proximity sensors.
Two primary culprits for the unexpected pausing of your AirPods are a weak Bluetooth connection and malfunctioning Automatic Ear Detection sensors. The good news is that both of these issues can be swiftly resolved by either re-establishing the AirPods’ connection or deactivating the Ear Detection feature.
Numerous other factors might also contribute to the occurrence of interruptions while using your AirPods to listen to music, podcasts, or any other form of audio content.
What to Do If AirPods Continuously Pauses?
AirPods offer a convenient way to enjoy music or audio content during activities like walking, traveling, or working out. However, this convenience can be disrupted when AirPods unexpectedly pause audio playback without user input.
This issue seems to be common among AirPods users. While there are several potential causes, sudden pausing often arises from the following factors:
- Failure of the Proximity Sensor: The proximity sensor is a key feature of AirPods, providing a sense of luxury by detecting the user’s presence, especially in the ear. However, there are instances when this sensor malfunctions. To address this, you can disable Automatic Ear Detection by accessing the info button next to your AirPods. This action prevents the AirPods from self-checking their presence in your ear and can also help conserve battery life. Additionally, disconnecting the Bluetooth connection in your phone’s settings might be helpful.
- Bluetooth Connection Issues: AirPods rely on Bluetooth to receive audio signals from the source device. Check the quality of your AirPods’ Bluetooth connection to your iPhone, iPad, or other devices. While Bluetooth connections are known for their reliability and high-quality audio transmission, no wireless connection is flawless. If the Bluetooth connection between your AirPods and iPhone is unstable or disrupted, it could lead to audio pausing. Reconnecting the AirPods and checking for improved stability can help pinpoint Bluetooth-related problems.
- Weak AirPods Connection: Sudden pausing might also be due to a weak internet connection. If you’re streaming music or audio online, a slow internet connection could cause buffering, leading to audio pauses. If these interruptions occur consistently in a specific location, it might indicate poor Wi-Fi or cellular signal strength in that area.
In such cases, the issue may not be with your AirPods or phone, but rather the connectivity at the location where you’re listening. Ensuring a strong and stable connection can help prevent these disruptions.
To sum up, while unexpected pausing of AirPods can be frustrating, it’s often caused by factors like malfunctioning sensors, Bluetooth connection problems, or weak internet connectivity. By troubleshooting and addressing these issues, you can restore uninterrupted audio playback and enjoy your AirPods to the fullest.
How to Reset Apple AirPods?
Resetting your AirPods can often serve as a quick solution if they are experiencing intermittent pausing issues. This process can be performed whether you’re using the earbuds with an Apple device like an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or with other mobile devices such as Android or Windows phones and tablets.
Here’s how you can reset your AirPods:
- Place your AirPods inside their charging case and make sure the lid is securely closed.
- Wait for about thirty seconds before opening the lid of the charging case.
- On an iPhone or iPad, access the settings menu and navigate to Bluetooth settings.
- Locate your AirPods in the list of Devices and look for a small icon next to them.
- Tap on this icon and then choose the option to “Forget This Device.” Confirm this action.
- While keeping the lid of the AirPods case open, press and hold the “setup” button located on the back of the case. Hold it down for approximately 15 seconds.
- During this time, the status indicator light on the case will start flashing amber before eventually turning white.
- With the lid still open, position your AirPods close to your iPhone or another device.
- The device should prompt you to reconnect the AirPods via Bluetooth, and this will complete the reset process.
By following these steps, you can effectively reset your AirPods, which may help resolve the pausing issues you were experiencing.
Automatic Ear Detection Issue
Another potential reason behind the persistent pausing of your AirPods is the Automatic Ear Detection feature, which relies on the proximity sensor. The functionality of this feature is interconnected with the proximity sensor.
Obstructions such as walls or people situated between the AirPods and the source device can influence proximity sensors. Moreover, if you find yourself within an environment with strong electromagnetic fields, it can also affect the maximum proximity.
The encouraging aspect is that if sudden pauses stem from the AirPods’ proximity sensors, resolving this issue is relatively straightforward. Adjust the positioning of your iPhone or the source device closer to the AirPods to restore the connection.
Double-Tap Actions Issue
If you’re wearing your AirPods, make sure they’re active. In case they’re in the case, open it.
Access the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad (please note that this step is not applicable on Android devices). Navigate to the Bluetooth section and tap the “More info” button, denoted by the lowercase letter “i” within a circle, next to the AirPods entry.
If one of your AirPods’ double-tap settings is configured for playback control, it might be the root of your issue. Try changing this setting to activate Siri or enable track skipping instead. Observe if the problem persists after this adjustment.
Taking these actions could potentially address the challenges of unexpected pausing in your AirPods.
Wrapping it up
Because pinpointing the exact cause of your AirPods’ recurring pausing issue can be challenging, you might need to explore multiple methods mentioned earlier to restore their functionality.
If you suspect that the problem lies with the sensor, consider disabling the automatic ear detection feature. Additionally, cleaning the proximity sensors could prove beneficial.
Examining your Bluetooth connections and rebooting your apps or phone could also be effective if the problem persists. Should these steps not yield results, attempting to reset your AirPods or testing them with another phone could be worth considering.
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FAQs
How long do AirPods last?
When your Apple AirPods are not charged, the issue extends beyond mere random pausing. If you plan to use them for music, they can last approximately 25 hours or slightly less. However, their endurance during calls is even lower.
AirPods with a low battery level (less than 5% charge) can exhibit disruptions in syncing, volume loss, and potential microphone functionality issues. Prolonged occurrences of this could lead to a lasting reduction in the overall battery lifespan of your AirPods.
As your AirPods approach depletion, their functionality also significantly diminishes. Nearly depleted AirPods offer minimal entertainment value.
This underscores the importance of maintaining a charged state for your AirPods to evade such problems. Fortunately, this process is straightforward, as AirPods can be charged from nearly empty to full in less than an hour.
This problem is less likely to occur with AirPods Pro, owing to their less susceptive triggering motions. For basic AirPods users, unintended playback interruptions might be triggered by double-tap settings.
AirPods Battery Replacement Costs:
- AirPods: $79
- AirPods Pro: $49
- Wireless Charging Case: $49
How do I stop AirPods from auto-pausing?
To prevent auto-pausing in your AirPods:
- Open the Settings menu on your device.
- Navigate to Connections > Bluetooth. On some devices, selecting Bluetooth is sufficient.
- Find and select AirPods from the list.
- Tap the gear icon adjacent to AirPods.
- Toggle the switch to deactivate the automated ear detection feature.
Why is my music constantly pausing?
If your music continues to pause unexpectedly:
- Restart your phone.
- Power off your phone, wait for around 15 seconds, then power it back on.
Regardless of whether you’re using an Android or an iPhone, initiating a system reset and attempting the process anew is a recommended step.