Are you experiencing issues with spatial audio head tracking not working on your AirPods or other compatible devices?
Spatial audio and head tracking are innovative features designed to enhance your audio experience, but they can sometimes encounter technical glitches.
In this blog, we’ll explore various troubleshooting methods and solutions to help you fix spatial audio head-tracking issues and get back to enjoying an immersive audio experience.
How To Fix Spatial Audio Head Tracking Not Working?
To fix Spatial Audio Head tracking not working, you can turn off and on Bluetooth, check compatibility and update your device, and reset your AirPods. Additionally, you can enable Spatial Audio and head tracking in settings, and adjust audio accessibility settings.
1. Turn Off And On Bluetooth
Sometimes, simply toggling the Bluetooth connection can resolve connectivity issues that may be affecting Spatial Audio and Head Tracking features.
- Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
- Tap on Bluetooth.
- Use the toggle to turn Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
- Reconnect your AirPods by selecting them from the list of devices under Bluetooth settings.
2. Check Compatibility And Update Your Device
Spatial audio and head tracking features require specific hardware and software to function properly.
Ensuring your devices are compatible and updated can prevent and resolve a myriad of issues related to these features.
By updating your device, you can fix bugs and glitches that might be causing the spatial audio head tracking to malfunction.
- Verify that your AirPods (AirPods Pro, AirPods Max) or Beats headphones are compatible with spatial audio.
- Check if your iPhone or iPad is compatible (iPhone 7 or later, certain iPad models) and running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.
- Update your device to the latest software by going to Settings > General > Software Update and download and install any available updates.
3. Reset Your AirPods
Sometimes, a simple reset of your AirPods can resolve connectivity issues that might be affecting spatial audio and head tracking.
Resetting restores the AirPods to their factory settings and can eliminate any temporary glitches causing the problem.
- Place your AirPods in their charging case and close the lid.
- Wait for about 30 seconds, then open the lid of your AirPods case.
- On your iOS device, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods.
- Tap “Forget This Device” and confirm your action.
- With the lid open, press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the status light flashes amber, then white.
- Reconnect your AirPods to your device by holding them close to your device and following the on-screen instructions.
4. Enable Spatial Audio And Head Tracking In Settings
Spatial audio and head tracking might be turned off in your device settings, so enabling them is essential for the features to work.
Turning these features on will allow you to experience the immersive sound that follows your head movements.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iOS device.
- Tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods.
- Scroll down and find the “Spatial Audio” option.
- Tap to turn on Spatial Audio. You can also tap “See & Hear How It Works” to test spatial audio.
- To enable head tracking, tap “Head Tracked” if available, otherwise, it may track by default when Spatial Audio is enabled.
5. Adjust Audio Accessibility Settings
If spatial audio is not working correctly, adjusting the audio accessibility settings on your device may help.
These settings can optimize how your device delivers sound to accommodate your hearing needs and ensure that spatial audio and head tracking are functioning optimally.
- Open Settings on your iOS device and navigate to Accessibility.
- Scroll down to the “Hearing” section and tap on “Audio/Visual.”
- Ensure that the “Mono Audio” switch is turned off, as this can affect spatial audio.
- Adjust the balance slider if necessary to ensure that both ears are receiving audio equally.
6. Check The Audio Source And Content
Not all audio content supports spatial audio and head tracking.
Ensuring that you’re playing compatible content is crucial for these features to work.
If the content you’re listening to or watching doesn’t support spatial audio, the head tracking feature won’t activate.
- Verify that the content you’re trying to listen to is available in a format that supports spatial audio, such as Dolby Atmos or 5.1/7.1 surround sound.
- Use apps that support spatial audio, like Apple Music, Apple TV, and supported streaming services.
- If you’re unsure whether the content supports spatial audio, look for indications or descriptions that mention Dolby Atmos or surround sound compatibility.
7. Reconnect And Test The Audio
If spatial audio and head tracking were previously working and suddenly stopped, reconnecting your AirPods can help re-establish a stable connection.
Testing the audio after reconnecting ensures that the features are active and working as intended.
- Disconnect your AirPods by going to Settings > Bluetooth and tapping the “i” icon next to your AirPods, then select “Disconnect.”
- Reconnect your AirPods by placing them near your device and opening the lid of the charging case.
- Once connected, play a video or audio file that supports spatial audio and move your head to test if the head tracking feature is working.
8. Use UltFone IOS System Repair
If the standard troubleshooting steps fail to resolve the spatial audio and head tracking issues, you might consider using a third-party tool like UltFone iOS System Repair.
This software claims to fix various iOS system issues without data loss.
- Download and install UltFone iOS System Repair on your computer.
- Connect your iOS device to the computer using a USB cable.
- Follow the on-screen instructions provided by the software to diagnose and attempt to fix any system issues that might be affecting spatial audio and head tracking.
9. Contact Apple Support
If none of the above solutions resolve the issue, there might be a hardware problem with your AirPods or iOS device.
In this case, reaching out to Apple Support can provide you with professional assistance and potential repair options.