After using AirPods Max for a while now, some users have reported experiencing an issue with the headphones that occurs when switching them between active noise cancelation and transparency modes.

airpods max headphones cups
Pressing the noise control button on the right ear cup is meant to toggle ‌AirPods Max‌ between the two modes seamlessly, but sometimes only one of the ear cups will switch modes in response, leaving one cup in ANC and the other in Transparency.

One MacRumors staff member has also run into the problem, which seems to be intermittent. Hopefully Apple can nix the bug in a future software update, but until then, if you're experiencing the issue, follow these steps to reboot your ‌AirPods Max‌.

How to Reset AirPods Max

  1. Before you reboot your ‌AirPods Max‌, make sure they have some charge by plugging them into a charging point via the supplied USB-C to Lightning Cable.
  2. Press and hold the Noise Control button and the Digital Crown until the LED status light at the bottom of the right-hand earcup flashes amber.

airpods max digital crown

After rebooting your ‌AirPods Max‌, the issue should be fixed on this occasion and you'll get ANC or Transparency mode in both cups when you press the noise control button. If the problem recurs at a later time, simply repeat the same steps.

If the problem is more persistent, you may want to try entirely resetting your ‌AirPods Max‌ by using the same steps as above but holding the Noise Control for a longer 15-second timeframe. Once the status light flashes amber and then changes to white, they've been reset and you can reconnect them to your device by going through the setup process. If even that doesn't do the trick, it's probably time to contact Apple Support.

Related Roundup: AirPods Max
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Top Rated Comments

Quu Avatar
62 months ago

$550 headphones. problems already.
Leave Audio to the Pro's. Like Sony, Denon, Pioneer , sennheiser.

The Apple car will be just as bad.

Concentrate on your core business. otherwise LEMONS when you spread yourself thin.
Macrumors 2027 post:
"AirCar Max Stuck in reverse? Here's How to Fix It".
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlexESP Avatar
62 months ago

$550 headphones. problems already.
Leave Audio to the Pro's. Like Sony, Denon, Pioneer , sennheiser.

The Apple car will be just as bad.

Concentrate on your core business. otherwise LEMONS when you spread yourself thin.
Do you really believe what you’ve written? One minor issue has been found in a product that, despite being niche, has sold tens of thousands of units at least, and you conclude that this is a proof that Apple is not capable of making other products. This is kind of Forbes clickbait: “Apple has a huge problem with iPhone 12 battery”. Oh, and audio has been a core Apple business for many many years. But anyway, phones were not, and you see how it went.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IIGS User Avatar
62 months ago
For $550 that **** should work from go. No issues, period.

People expect quality when they pay a premium price.

Just like the display issues and keyboard issues we've seen with MBP's over the past few years. Typically, Apple denies any issue in "Ford Pinto" fashion and waits until the masses are gathering at the moat demanding action. Then maybe a refund, or extended warranty.

At this price point, every possible contingency should have been tested and engineered out of the product, People shouldn't have to look for work arounds on niche websites....
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
patent10021 Avatar
62 months ago
You're cupping it wrong.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Freeangel1 Avatar
62 months ago
$550 headphones. problems already.
Leave Audio to the Pro's. Like Sony, Denon, Pioneer , sennheiser.

The Apple car will be just as bad.

Concentrate on your core business. otherwise LEMONS when you spread yourself thin.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
62 months ago
It just works...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on iPhone Feature

Here's When iOS 26 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: Out Now!]

Monday September 15, 2025 12:00 am PDT by
Update 10:06 a.m.: iOS 26 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Today's the day! Apple is about to release iOS 26, which will deliver the biggest redesign since iOS 7 and bring a range of new features and improvements to iPhones worldwide. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at last week's iPhone event that...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Reportedly Plans to Launch These 10 Products in 'Coming Months'

Sunday September 14, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple's annual September event is now in the rearview mirror, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3 set to launch this Friday, September 19. As always, there is more to come. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple plans to release many products in the...
apple n1 chip

Apple's New N1 Chip in iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air Has a Wi-Fi 7 Limitation

Saturday September 13, 2025 10:01 am PDT by
The latest iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air models are equipped with Apple's all-new N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. However, the chip has a Wi-Fi 7 bandwidth limitation. According to FCC documents reviewed by MacRumors, the N1 chip in all of the new iPhone models supports up to 160 MHz channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, short of the...
iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

Apple Says Installing iOS 26 Might Impact Battery Life

Monday September 15, 2025 10:56 am PDT by
In the iOS 26 release notes, Apple is warning iPhone users that installing the new software might have a temporary impact on battery life, which is normal. A new support document explains that major iOS updates require background setup like indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps. Further, Apple says that new features could require more resources,...
iphone 17 lineup

iPhone 17 Models Launch on September 19 With These New Features

Friday September 12, 2025 7:58 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 lineup and ultra-thin iPhone Air in stores on Friday, September 19, and the company has already shown off the new devices at its fall event, which ran with the the tagline "Awe dropping." The iPhone 17 series brings a host of new features and enhancements. Here's a rundown of the biggest upgrades and changes: iPhone 17 Display Changes The iPhone...
iphone air all colors

iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Now Facing Extended Delivery Estimates

Saturday September 13, 2025 11:43 am PDT by
iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air pre-orders began on Friday in the U.S. and many other countries. iPhone 17 Pro Max delivery estimates quickly slipped beyond the Friday, September 19 launch day for those who had yet to place an order, and now the rest of the new models have started to follow suit. As of shortly after 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time today, select iPhone 17, ...
iPhone 17 Pro Air Boxes

iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Boxes Revealed

Sunday September 14, 2025 1:36 pm PDT by
T-Mobile President Jon Freier today shared real-world photos of Apple's boxes for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 models, which launch on Friday. Image Credit: Jon Freier Apple has typically included iPhone box renders in its product environmental reports, but it did not do so for the latest models. However, Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program page does offer some images of the boxes, ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 Get iOS 26 Features With New Firmware Update

Monday September 15, 2025 10:50 am PDT by
Apple today released updated firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4, introducing support for the new AirPods features that are included in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware has a build number of 8A356, and it replaces the current 7E93 firmware. With Apple's new software updates, the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 support better audio quality for phone calls and...