Your AirPods work fine on your iPhone. They're plenty loud. But plug them into your Mac — wirelessly, obviously — and suddenly everything is too quiet. System volume is at max. Spotify is at max. The AirPods just... aren't loud enough.
This is one of the most common audio complaints from Mac users with AirPods. The good news: it's almost always fixable. The bad news: there are about six different things that can cause it, and you might need to check all of them.
1. Headphone Safety is limiting your volume
This is the most common cause. macOS has a built-in feature that caps headphone volume to protect your hearing.
Go to System Settings → Sound → Headphone Safety.
If "Reduce Loud Audio" is enabled, macOS is actively limiting how loud your AirPods can get. It measures sound exposure over time and reduces volume if it thinks you've been listening too loudly for too long.
Fix: Disable "Reduce Loud Audio" entirely, or raise the decibel threshold to a higher level. You'll immediately notice more volume headroom.
2. Bluetooth volume is out of sync
Bluetooth audio has two separate volume controls: one on the Mac side and one on the AirPods side. These are supposed to be synchronized, but sometimes they get out of sync — the Mac shows 100% but the AirPods are actually receiving a lower volume signal.
Fix: Disconnect your AirPods (System Settings → Bluetooth → click the "i" next to your AirPods → Disconnect), wait five seconds, then reconnect. This resets the volume synchronization. Also try putting the AirPods back in their case, closing the lid, waiting ten seconds, then taking them out again.
3. The audio codec switched to a lower quality
When you use your AirPods' microphone (for a call, Siri, or dictation), macOS switches from the high-quality AAC codec to the lower-quality SCO codec. SCO was designed for phone calls — it reduces audio quality and can also affect perceived volume.
Fix: If you're not on a call but the audio sounds both quiet and low-quality, disconnect and reconnect your AirPods. macOS should switch back to the AAC codec for music playback. If you're on a call, this is expected behavior — the codec will switch back automatically when the call ends.
4. One AirPod is quieter than the other
If volume feels low because one AirPod is noticeably quieter, the issue might be physical — earwax or debris blocking the speaker mesh.
Fix: Clean your AirPods gently with a dry, lint-free cloth. For the speaker mesh, use a dry soft-bristled brush. Don't use liquids, compressed air, or sharp objects. Also check System Settings → Accessibility → Audio — make sure the left/right audio balance slider is centered.
5. The app itself is outputting low volume
Some apps have their own internal volume controls that are separate from the system volume. Spotify, VLC, YouTube, and Zoom all have independent volume sliders. If the app's internal volume is at 50%, you're only getting half the volume — even if macOS and your AirPods are at 100%.
Fix: Check the volume control inside whatever app you're using and make sure it's maxed out.
6. Core Audio is in a bad state
macOS's audio daemon (coreaudiod) can occasionally get stuck in a state where Bluetooth audio is routed incorrectly or at a reduced level, especially after sleep/wake or switching between multiple audio devices.
Fix: Open Terminal and run:
sudo killall coreaudiod
Audio will drop for a second and restart. Your AirPods may reconnect at a more normal volume level.
Still too quiet? Boost AirPods volume beyond 100%
If you've checked all six causes above and your AirPods are still not loud enough, you might need volume amplification — boosting the audio signal beyond what macOS normally allows.
SoundDial lets you boost any app's volume up to 200%. If Spotify is too quiet through your AirPods, drag Spotify's slider to 150% or 180% in SoundDial. The audio signal is amplified before it's sent to your AirPods, effectively making them louder than Apple intended.
The advantage of per-app boosting: you can boost the quiet app without making everything else louder. If your video call is fine at 100% but Spotify needs 170%, SoundDial lets you set each independently.
Get SoundDial on the Mac App Store — €14.99 one-time purchase, no subscription, macOS 14.2+.