How to Mute and Unmute AirPods on Calls in iOS 17

When you’re on a call with your AirPods in iOS 17, muting yourself is a quick way to cough, talk to someone nearby, or just avoid background noise without fumbling for your iPhone. This guide shows you the exact taps and controls to mute and unmute during a call, using either the on-screen controls or the AirPods themselves. You’ll need an iPhone running iOS 17 and a pair of compatible AirPods (AirPods 2nd generation or later, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max).

What You’ll Need

iPhone with iOS 17 or later
AirPods (2nd generation or later), AirPods Pro (any generation), or AirPods Max
AirPods connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth (they usually connect automatically)

Step-by-Step

Start or answer a call as you normally would, with your AirPods connected and in your ears.
On the call screen, look for the microphone icon—it’s a small mic symbol, usually at the bottom or in the control bar. On iPhone, you’ll see it near the speaker and keypad buttons.
Tap the microphone icon to mute yourself. The icon will change to a mic with a slash through it, and you’ll see a “Muted” label appear briefly. The other person can no longer hear you.
To unmute, tap the same microphone icon again. The slash disappears, and you’re back to being audible.
Using AirPods Pro (2nd generation) or AirPods Pro (1st generation with firmware 5E135 or later): press and hold the stem (the flat part) on either AirPod for about one second. You’ll hear a chime, and the mic icon on your iPhone will update to show muted/unmuted state. Release to confirm.
Using AirPods Max: press and hold the crown (the digital crown) on the right ear cup for about one second. You’ll hear a chime, and the mute state toggles.
If you’re on a FaceTime audio call, you can also mute by tapping the mic icon on the call screen—same as a regular phone call.
If you’re on a third-party app like WhatsApp or Zoom, the mute control may be in the app’s own interface, not the system call screen. Look for a mic button within the app.
To check your mute status, look at the mic icon on your iPhone screen. If it has a slash, you’re muted. On AirPods Pro, you may also hear a soft chime when toggling.

Common Mistakes

Tapping the wrong button: The mute icon is often confused with the speaker or end-call button. Make sure you tap the mic icon, not the red phone icon.
Forgetting to unmute: After muting, it’s easy to forget you’re still on mute. Always check the mic icon before speaking.
Using the wrong AirPods gesture: On AirPods Pro, the mute gesture is a press-and-hold, not a squeeze or a tap. A single tap does nothing for mute.
Assuming the system mic button works in all apps: Some apps override the system mute. If the mic button isn’t visible, look inside the app’s call interface.
Not updating firmware: If your AirPods Pro don’t respond to the press-and-hold mute gesture, they may need a firmware update. Check in Settings > General > About > AirPods.

Tips

Use Siri: You can say “Hey Siri, mute” or “Hey Siri, unmute” during a call, and Siri will toggle the mute state for you.
Customize the gesture: On AirPods Pro, you can change what the press-and-hold does (e.g., switch between noise control and Siri) in Settings > Bluetooth > (i) next to your AirPods. But note that the mute gesture is fixed and can’t be reassigned.
Check the green indicator: On iPhone, when you’re on a call, a green pill in the status bar indicates an active call. Tapping it brings up the call controls, including mute.
Use the Control Center: During a call, you can also swipe down from the top-right to open Control Center and tap the mic icon if it appears there (on some iOS versions).
Test your mute: Before an important call, make a quick test call to a friend or use a voice memo to confirm your AirPods mic works and the mute toggle is audible.

Troubleshooting

Mute icon not appearing: If you don’t see a mic icon on the call screen, it might be because you’re using a third-party app that doesn’t expose the system mute. Use the app’s own mute button. If it’s a regular phone call and the icon is missing, restart your iPhone or try toggling Bluetooth off and on.
Press-and-hold not working on AirPods Pro: First, make sure your AirPods are connected and in your ears. Check that you’re pressing the stem correctly—press and hold the flat area, not the tip. If it still doesn’t work, update your AirPods firmware: go to Settings > General > About > AirPods, and if an update is available, it will install automatically when your AirPods are charging and near your iPhone.
Chime not heard: If you don’t hear a chime when toggling mute, your AirPods may have low battery or the volume is too low. Check the battery status in the Batteries widget.
Mute state not syncing: Sometimes the mute state on your AirPods doesn’t reflect on the iPhone screen. Try toggling mute via the iPhone screen, then use the AirPods gesture again. If the issue persists, forget the AirPods in Bluetooth settings and re-pair them.
Other person still hears you when muted: This can happen if you’re using a third-party app that doesn’t respect the system mute. Use the app’s own mute button. Also, make sure you’re not accidentally using the iPhone’s built-in microphone instead of the AirPods mic—check in the call screen that the audio source is your AirPods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all AirPods support the mute gesture?

No. Only AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generation) and AirPods Max support the press-and-hold mute gesture. Regular AirPods (2nd and 3rd generation) do not have this gesture; you must use the on-screen mic button.

Can I mute with Siri on any AirPods?

Yes, as long as your AirPods support “Hey Siri” (AirPods Pro, AirPods 2nd gen or later, AirPods Max), you can say “Hey Siri, mute” or “Hey Siri, unmute” during a call.

Does muting on AirPods also mute the iPhone’s microphone?

Yes, the mute toggle affects the active microphone, whether it’s the AirPods mic or the iPhone’s mic. If you switch audio output to the iPhone speaker, the mute state carries over.

Why doesn’t the press-and-hold work on my AirPods Pro?

Make sure your AirPods Pro have the latest firmware. Also, the gesture only works during an active call, not when you’re just listening to music. If it still fails, try resetting your AirPods by holding the setup button for 15 seconds until the LED flashes amber, then re-pair.

Can I mute a call on AirPods without touching my iPhone?

Yes, if you have AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, you can use the press-and-hold gesture. Alternatively, you can use Siri. Otherwise, you’ll need to tap the mic icon on your iPhone.

Does the mute status show on the AirPods themselves?

No, there’s no visual indicator on the AirPods. You’ll hear a chime when toggling, but the only visual confirmation is on your iPhone’s screen.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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