Why do Airpods hurt my ears?

You’ve probably read many articles on Airpods and their beautiful specifications. But you probably haven’t read much about how they feel when you wear them. People love Apple products for their design and attention to detail. But that also means there can be some drawbacks to using them.

Some customers are not satisfied with these headphones. They complain about pain in the ear, strange sensations after using them, or experiencing discomfort.

This article will explain why your Airpods hurt your ears and how to prevent it from happening again. Since you’re reading this article, you’re likely one of them. So keep reading to know more.

Why do Airpods hurt my ears?

Airpods, worn and connected to our devices, are meant to relieve some stress and help us relax as we listen to the quality sounds coming into our ears. But when we begin to feel pain while using them, it becomes annoying and discomforting as the Airpods are now performing the opposite of what it is meant to do.

There are several reasons why your Airpods may hurt your ear. Let’s take a look at some of them:

• Your Airpods don’t fit you properly.
• You are wearing your Airpods wrongly.
• You’ve been wearing your Airpods for too long.
• You have ear infections.

Now, let’s look at each of these reasons in detail.

Your Airpods don’t fit properly

Everyone has a unique ear profile—the depth, shape, and ear canal size. So the first thing you might check if you are experiencing pain in your ear while you wear Airpods is if they fit correctly. It might be that your Airpods are not compatible with your ear profile.

The previous Airpods model, i.e., Airpods 1, Airpods 2, and Airpods 3, comes in a one size fit all shape. And since everyone’s ears are shaped differently, the Airpods cannot size all its users perfectly.

You might not get that comfortable feeling Airpods give since you weren’t given one that matched your ear profile.

When you wear Airpods that don’t fit, the Airpods’ hard plastic shells are forced against your ear cartilage and skin, which could cause pain and discomfort.

Apple observed the complaints and added three different ear tip sizes in the Airpods Pro, yet some users still complain about this ear pain whenever they put on their Airpods.

The Airpods Max has more complaints about this even though it comes in a different shape. Some users say the Airpods max gives their ear a clamping force which causes discomfort. This force has resulted in the user having sores behind the ears and headaches in the temple region.

You are wearing your Airpods wrongly

The cause of your ear pain when you put on your Airpods might be that you are wearing them wrongly. Wearing your Airpods incorrectly will make you uncomfortable and reduce the audio quality, resulting in a discomforting experience.

Airpods are made to fit into the shape of the ear. So wearing it the wrong way seems like you are forcing it to stay in your ears in an unnatural manner.

If your Airpods are not worn correctly, they won’t sit perfectly in your ear and will probably hurt the skin and cartilage around the ear region.

You’ve been wearing your Airpods for too long

If your Airpods have been in your ear for a while, it could cause you itching, chafing of the skin, and ear pain. The feeling you get from wearing your Airpods for a long time is uncomfortable but may also cause damage to your ear.

Exposing your ear to sounds for a long time can lead to temporal or permanent hearing loss, especially when the volume is high. This will lead to symptoms like ear pain and tinnitus.

You have an ear infection

Wearing your Airpods for long, wearing them wrongly, or listening to high-volume sounds can lead to ear pain and infections. Unlike ear pain around the earlobe, an ear infection is felt in your eardrums or inside your ear canal.

Even when your Airpods have been removed, you will still feel the pain inside your ears, and sometimes you may notice a discharge from it once it gets inflamed.

Ear infection can be caused by wearing the Airpods for a long time. When this happens, your closed ear canal builds up sweat and moisture with your ear wax. This environment becomes habitable to bacteria or germs that can easily cause ear infections.

If you share your Airpods with other people who have such bacteria in their ears, the infection can be transferred to you.

How to stop Airpods from hurting your ears for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation Airpods

There different reasons why your Airpods hurt your ear have been discussed above. Now, we will discuss various ways to resolve them.

Wear your Airpods properly

Wearing your Airpods properly will make you feel comfortable and prevent your ear from hurting. Here’s how to wear your Airpods properly:

Clean speakers with a cotton swab

Before putting on your Airpods, gently wipe off any oil, residue, or dirt from your Airpods tips. Dirt and oil can make your Airpods slip off your ears. You can easily do this with a cotton swab.

Check the R and L marks on your Airpods

With each ear having a specific curve and shape, you need to check your Airpods to see which one goes for which ear. R indicates the right ear and L the left ear. Check them by the stem of your Airpods, so you wear them appropriately.

Gently put on your Airpods

Don’t force your Airpods into your ear. Instead, do so gently. Ensure that the stem of the Airpods is vertically aligned with your head when putting them on.

Ensure the Airpods fit well

Rotate your Airpods until you feel that your Airpods are sitting correctly in your ear canal. This position will make your Airpods comfortable for use and won’t fall off.

Wear your Airpods one at a time

Wearing your Airpods one at a time might not give you immediate listening pleasure, but it will help reduce your ear pain. Once you feel uncomfortable in the ear, the Airpods are worn, you can stop and adjust it appropriately. Then, you change to the other ear. This will subdue the pain, and you still enjoy the Airpods.

How to stop your Airpods pro from hurting your ears

Choose the right ear tip for your Airpods

Airpods pro has three tip sizes – large, medium, and small. Try out all tips and discover the one that fits your ear perfectly.

Apple also configured a feature to test the ear tips called – Ear Tip Fit Test. This test will help you find the right tip by using sound to check which tip covers the ear the most and doesn’t allow sound to escape.

Follow these steps to carry out the Ear Tip Fit Test.

• Connect your Airpods pro to your iPhone and wear them.
• Go to the settings app on your phone and select Bluetooth.
• Click the “i” icon by your Airpods Pro name.
• Tap the information button and select “Ear Tip Fit Test.”

The test will suggest you adjust or try a new tip. Keep changing and trying other tips until it notifies you of the ear tip perfect for you.

Get third-party ear tips

If you try out the three tips and still don’t find one that fits your ear perfectly, you should get third-party ear tips. Various online stores have tips that may be a good fit for you. You can rerun the Ear Tip Fit Test when you have fixed your purchased tip.

How to stop your Airpods Max from hurting your ear

All Airpods models are different in shape compared to the Airpods max, which is more of an over-ear headphone. This new form covers the ear completely, which may cause discomfort as your ear gets clamped with force.

You can use the following suggestions to reduce any pain experienced using the Airpods Max.

Stretch out the headband

Airpods max has a clamping force that helps it cling to both sides of your head. If they are too tight, you will have to reduce the clamping. To do this:

• Horizontally place some of your books on a flat surface. Ensure the width of the books is wider than your head.
• Stretch your Airpods max carefully by separating the ear cups from each other.
• Place the Airpods over the books and leave them for 24 to 48 hours.
• This should make it a bit more stretched for you, but if it doesn’t, repeat the process.

Frequently Asked Questions on why Airpods hurt my ear

Q. How do I wear my Airpods, so they don’t hurt my ears?

A. The article above has explained various means that can be explored to prevent Airpods from hurting your ears.

Q. Why do my ears feel weird with my Airpods worn?

A. Your ears might feel weird with your Airpods if placed incorrectly or if you have been wearing them for too long without taking a break. Take a break and let your ears rest before trying to use the Airpods again.

Wrap up

This article has explained all you need to know about why our Airpods hurt and also gave different ways to solve this problem. If you have any questions, kindly ask them in the comment section below. Thanks for reading.

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