AirPods Pro Problems and What to Do About Them

Updated September 2026: in 2021 I wrote a short list of what I did not like about my AirPods Pro. I have rewritten it as a practical guide to the three problems I ran into, what causes them and how to work around them. Apple has released newer models and software updates since then, so check your own device before relying on any single detail.

I fell in love with my AirPods Pro. Every day I was surprised by how much technology fits into such a small design. Still, a few things bothered me enough that I wrote them down, and they are the most common complaints people raise about earbuds like these.

Why do AirPods Pro not switch automatically on an older Mac?

My MacBook Pro was a 2012 model. The AirPods Pro connect to it, but the features are limited and there is no automatic connectivity. While I watched a film on the Mac and a call came in on my iPhone, the earbuds stayed with the Mac instead of moving to the phone.

Automatic switching depends on the Mac and iPhone running fairly recent software and signing in with the same Apple ID, so a very old Mac simply cannot take part. Two things helped:

• Switch by hand. Choose the earbuds from the Bluetooth or sound menu on the device you want to use.
• Answer the call on the phone. Taking a call on the Mac over Wi-Fi worked, but the quality was poor and the audio was delayed, so I avoided it.

Can you turn off noise cancellation during phone calls?

Noise cancellation was one of the best features of the AirPods Pro compared with similar headphones. The trouble came on calls. With it switched on, I could not tell how loud my own voice was, so I sometimes spoke too loudly, and sometimes the person on the other end told me I sounded too quiet.

The simple fix is to change the listening mode yourself. Press and hold the stem, or use the control centre on your phone, to switch between noise cancellation, transparency and off. Transparency lets you hear yourself naturally, which is usually enough to bring your voice back to a normal level. I would still like the earbuds to make that switch by themselves when a call starts.

Is spatial audio worth using if few apps support it?

When Apple launched spatial audio, it demonstrated the feature on Apple TV+. More than a year later, that was still the only place I could use it, and there were rumours that other streaming services would follow. Because nothing else supported it, I stopped using the feature and sometimes forgot it existed.

Support has probably grown since I wrote this, so it is worth checking the settings of the services you use most. If your favourite app does not offer it, you lose very little by leaving it off.

What should you check before buying AirPods Pro?

Match the earbuds to the devices you own. If your Mac or iPhone is several years old, expect fewer automatic features. If you take many calls, try the different listening modes in a shop first. If you care about spatial audio, confirm that your streaming services support it before you count it as a reason to buy.

Keep reading

• Setting Up AirPods Pro for a Family Member
• iPhone 14's Missing Features: What Apple Added Since
• Dolby Atmos on Amazon Music: Where to Find It