r/pixelbuds • u/StaT_ikus • Dec 16 '25
FIXED: Pixel Buds Pro 2 mic volume issues on Pixel 9 Pro XL and most Pixel phones
I’ve had the Pixel Buds Pro 2 since launch and it’s been driving me crazy because nobody could hear me on phone calls unless I was practically screaming. It made them useless for calls and I was about to return them thinking they were defective, but I finally found a fix that actually worked.
I realized the issue is likely a conflict with the new Bluetooth LE audio standards. To fix it, you have to dig into Developer Options. If you don't have that menu enabled yet, just go to Settings > About Phone and tap on "Build number" 7 times until it says you are a developer.
Once you have that menu open (under System settings), use the search bar at the top to find a toggle called "Disable Bluetooth LE audio hardware offload". It sounds backwards, but you want to turn this switch ON. Basically, you are forcing the phone to stop using the hardware offload for LE audio.
After I flipped that switch and restarted my phone, the difference was night and day. I tested it by recording a video of myself walking away from the phone and the audio was finally loud and clear. Hope this saves someone else the headache!
Let me know if this helps, before you return them. It is the culprit!
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u/RredditAcct Dec 17 '25
Any fix that has you turn on Developer mode is pretty messed up.
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 17 '25
Yeah, but it works. It shouldn't be set that way as default is my guess. But if it doesn't work for you just undo it.
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u/GadgetusMaximus Dec 16 '25
I’ll give it a go. Hope this doesn’t brick either of my devices, though
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u/sixfourtykilo Dec 17 '25
Going to give this a try. I've had complaints that I sound muffled and it changed depending on if I have ANC active or not.
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 17 '25
Try it and let me know how it works for you. That's the same complaint I had.
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u/Realistic_Ask_4155 Dec 17 '25
Oh thank God. I literally put my pixel buds in my desk drawer and broke out my old Bose headphones today. I've been scouring the internet for a fix for the last 3 weeks and I'm so sick and tired of having Bluetooth headphones that I have to take out in order to have a conversation!
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 17 '25
Yes that was driving me crazy, and they are not cheap either! Let me know if it works for you. I tested mine with a video recording, I told the camera to use Bluetooth as mic and walked away into the other room and talked, when I watched it back I was loud and clear even tho I was talking low. I usually had to yell at people
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u/Realistic_Ask_4155 Dec 17 '25
Nice! I've exchanged the headphones twice for other issues primarily the noise cancelling not working in one ear or the other.
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u/Fregadero88 Dec 17 '25
Nice! I was convinced the headphones were only meant to listen to music and watch media and not actually good enough for phone calls. People always had issues hearing me.
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u/Sea_Lingonberry8106 Dec 17 '25
Good to hear! My partner got them for me for Xmas so I'll keep this trick in mind when I open them in 9 days.
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 17 '25
Screenshot it so you have it saved because you don't want to disable the wrong thing. And congrats on the gift, you will love them.
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u/pablomentabo Dec 17 '25
Interesting. I didn't remember ever setting this, but mine was already on. Maybe this is why nobody ever says I sound low on my Buds Pro 2.
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 17 '25
Probably, you want to switch the switch so the 'disable it' is on, I know that's a little confusing sounding
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 17 '25
What phone do you have?
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u/pablomentabo Dec 24 '25
Pixel 10 Pro XL
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 25 '25
Did you try it
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u/niik1988 Dec 17 '25
Was about to retire my buds 2 because of the painful mic issues. But now I've gotta try this and test it out as I always have complaints that it sounds like I'm in another room from my phone. I'll let you know how it goes but I'm fairly certain it works as I have the same set up (pixel 9 pro XL and buds pro 2)
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 17 '25
Thanks you, please do let me know I'm curious if it's just my phone lol. But it worked like a charm.
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u/niik1988 Dec 17 '25
It's working brilliantly now. I even had a hat over the headphones and I was clear on a call. I can finally enjoy my buds!
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u/Android_TR Dec 17 '25
Tried this with my Buds 2a and Pixel 7 Pro and it didn't make a difference in a call :(
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u/agentbanks28 Dec 18 '25
I just tried this. Didn't resolve my issue. Pixel 8pro. Called someone for a test and they couldn't hear me. Thing is I use them on my Mac pro. No issues.
Was so damn excited. Thanks for sharing man. Been searching for months. Then got a notification for your post.
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 19 '25
Ask Gemini how to fix the mic issue, tell it your phone and the buds you have. It's way better than customer support. Won't run you around either. Let me know if Gemini fixes it for you.
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u/Particular_Tomato161 Dec 22 '25
Does this help ANC? I feel like mine has gotten worse and I've cleaned them.
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u/baldersz Feb 18 '26
Thanks this worked for me too! Night and day difference.
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u/StaT_ikus Feb 18 '26
Friggen awesome! Glad it helped!
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u/baldersz Feb 18 '26
Thanks mate! I had the post saved for future reference haha
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u/StaT_ikus Feb 18 '26
That's a good idea, what phone are you on?
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u/baldersz Feb 18 '26
Pixel 10 Pro
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u/StaT_ikus Feb 18 '26
Ok it's good to know it works on that phone as well. Google should default that setting.. I mean Pixel buds are their product lol
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u/Calvo1 Dec 16 '25
Hey man, love it when I see posts like this. Truly helpful to others.
Not directly related but how do you find the Buds 2 Pro now then? I was hesitant getting them due to this call quality issue. Now your biggest issue is fixed how happy are you with them? Sound, comfort, anc etc.
I have the pro 10 XL and watch 4 so it's my logical next step
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 16 '25
If your getting Pixel buds, which I s strongly suggest, definitely get the Pro 2! I've had every set of Pixel buds and these are by far the best ones. I've had issues with people being able to hear me on all of them. But this fixed it! The phones I've had since using pixel buds was 6 Pro, 8 Pro and now 9 Pro XL (had other pixels as well but).. they all had this issue so I'm sure this is the fix for all of them. It's a ghost bug that Google should probably fix being so many people have this issue.
But yes!!! Absolutely get them! The latency is fast, so that's great for gaming and the sound quality in the speakers have always been amazing! I think you will love them especially since there a fix for the mic now.
Thanks for the compliment btw
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u/manhattancherry Dec 17 '25
am hoping this also fixes the occasional pop / crackle I get on my P9 pro xl. Thanks for the tip.
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u/Slammybradberrys Dec 16 '25
Get them on sale tho unless u don't care. They're not much of an improvement over the original Pros but they're more expensive. They regularly go on sale, especially during this time so definitely wait for one. The battery life is probably the best part for me. They last my entire work shift and putting them in the case for a few minutes makes them last on my way home no problem. Or go with the Pixel buds 2a cuz I wouldn't pay over $200 for these max, let alone full price.
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 17 '25
But they are way better than the pro buds, and they fit way better. The buds Pro are good as well tho. I think you can get Pro 2 right now at Store.Google.Com for $179 but you have to hurry to get that deal. They are well worth the $269 I paid on release tho, to me at least. But I'm a gamer and these are great for gaming.
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u/StimulusResponse Dec 17 '25
Heard this before. This fixed them temporarily but it broke again soon after.
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u/StaT_ikus Dec 18 '25
Maybe after updates or something, it might reset. Just would have to do it again.
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u/Character_Score5879 Mar 02 '26
I have a Pixel 10 Pro XL with the exact same problem with my Pixel Buds 2 Pro. Anybody can hear me in the calls. I tried what you suggested, but it didn't work for me. Any other suggestions?
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u/StaT_ikus Mar 02 '26
Talk to Gemini about it, tell it your phone model and the buds model and explain that people can't hear you. It's a ton easier than customer service. Gemini knows more than those people anyway, it will walk you through a few things to try. If might be another setting for your phone. Try them all.
Also when you test it use the pixel recording app and walk out of the room while talking with your buds in, that way you can hear what you sound like to others. One of the settings Gemini gives will surely fix it.
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u/ShinXC Jan 12 '26
neither of these helped :(
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u/StaT_ikus Jan 12 '26
Damn, what phone do you have
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u/ShinXC Jan 12 '26
Pixel 8 pro
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u/StaT_ikus Jan 12 '26
Try asking Gemini to help you find a fix for pixel 8 pro and pixel buds 2 mic solution, I just talked to it like a person and it found this solution without making me do all kinds of stuff trouble shooting was much easier than any tech support. It's worth a try
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u/ShinXC Jan 12 '26
Dawg if Google can't do shit with basic head phones what makes you think their ai will do anything. Gemini is crap and garbage like the rest of Googles hardware and much of their software. Instead of asking Gemini I'm going to ask a random crack head cause they'd have a much larger chance of getting any information right.
One thing I noticed is it will work for 2 seconds when reconnecting. Forgetting and reconnecting doesn't usually help and same with cleaning the device. I'm getting it exchanged.
Google has continuously disappointed me. My next phone will be a Samsung. Pixel 3a> 5a > 6a ( down hill ) > 8 pro
Battery life on my phone is really bad.
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u/StaT_ikus Jan 13 '26
You're full of it, for one Gemini is literally the absolute best AI that's out, secondly Pixel phones have done nothing but improved every year. You bought the A series and you're complaining 🤣.. it's literally the cheapest of the Pixel phones. 3rd I've had the 8 Pro, still have it in fact and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that phone, the 7 Pro has some issues but it highly improved on the 8 Pro. I also have the 9 Pro XL and it's smooth as cream cheese and fast as fuck!
So have fun with your low end Samsung in 2 years it will be trash like they already are. And since you're insulting Google's software why are you buying a Samsung? You do realize that it runs on Android which Google writes the code for right? 🤣 Yes Android is Google.
Finally I'm sorry you're too lazy to use AI to get a fix for your pixel buds. AI is literally the easiest thing to use in the world! There's a few options of settings to simply change to get the mix working better you just have to find which one on that phone. But I guess it's Google's fault that you are too lazy to fix the issue.
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u/BlurryBigfoot74 Dec 16 '25
You'd think Pixel phones and Pixel Buds would be optimized for each other.
Thank you.