How to Turn Up the Volume on AirPods on Android: A Complete Guide (2026)

While AirPods work surprisingly well on Android, they often suffer from a frustrating issue where the earbuds fail to deliver maximum sound output due to a sync issue. If your AirPods still sound tiny despite maxing out your Android phone's volume, you can easily resolve the issue in a few simple steps. Here's how to turn up the volume on AirPods on Android.

Turn Up AirPods Volume on Android by Disabling Absolute Volume

Once you connect your AirPods to Android, the easiest way to instantly make your AirPods louder on Android is by disabling "Absolute Volume" on Android. For those unaware, it's a feature that syncs the phone's volume with the connected Bluetooth devices. However, since AirPods don't properly communicate with Android, it results in a low volume cap. Disabling it resolves the problem instantly.

1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone and go to About Phone > Build Number.
2. Tap on the "Build Number" section seven times until you see the "You are now a developer!" toast. You might be prompted to enter your phone's PIN.

3. Now, go to Settings > System and select Developer options.
4. Here, turn off the Disable absolute volume toggle under "Networking".
5. Once done, turn off Bluetooth and turn it back on, and connect your AirPods to your phone.

If your AirPods feature built-in touch volume controls on the stems, you can use them to increase the volume all the way up and then use your Android phone's volume buttons to control the sound.

Increase Volume by Re-Pairing AirPods

Corruption in the initial Bluetooth handshake between an Apple device and an Android device can sometimes lead to audio issues. Re-pairing the devices could fix the issue, and here's how to do it.

1. Go to your Android's Bluetooth settings and tap on the gear icon next to your AirPods.
2. Here, select Forget or Unpair to remove your AirPods from the connected devices.

3. Put both AirPods back into their charging case and leave the lid open.
4. Then long-press the Setup button on the back of the AirPods case for about 15 seconds until the status lights flash amber and then white.

Image Credit: Shutterstock/ @Alex Malt

5. The AirPods should appear in your phone's Bluetooth devices list. Here, tap on it to re-pair as a fresh new device.

Check for Physical Blockages

If you've tried all the software fixes but to no avail, you might be looking at a potential physical blockage. Over a period of use, ear gunk and wax could fill around and into the openings of the AirPods, making them sound muffled and quiet. Fortunately, this is an easy fix.

1. Grab a clean microfibre cloth or a soft-bristle toothbrush and rub the opening of the main speaker meshes.
2. If possible, dab a bit of 99% isopropyl alcohol on the cloth or on the brush and gently rub until the gunk goes away.

3. Once done, wipe the earbuds dry and give them a listen to see if the volume has improved.

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We'd recommend sticking to isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush or cloth and staying away from water or any sharp objects. Water can cause corrosion inside, while a sharp object may puncture the drivers.

And those were all the ways you can turn up the volume on AirPods on Android. Enabling the Absolute Volume settings, in most cases, is the definitive fix, but if it doesn't work, re-pairing the AirPods and checking for physical blockages are your only other options.