PSA: Apple AirPods can’t be used to record audio with the iPhone camera app

You can't use Apple AirPods to record audio when shooting video with the iPhone's native camera app.
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Here's a public service announcement for Apple customers who use their AirPods to record audio while shooting a video with your iPhone camera app: stop!

While the AirPods microphone works just fine when talking on the phone or recording audio with the Voice Memos app, the mic on Apple’s wireless earbuds cannot be used to pick up audio when recording video with Apple’s own native iPhone camera app.

For users looking to record video, AirPods appear to be a perfect consumer-level product to function as a wireless microphone as well as an out-of-sight pair of earbuds. Upon discovering the incompatibility problem, those same Apple customers have been voicing their disappointment with the AirPods camera app issue on social media for years now.

There doesn’t appear to be an official documentation from Apple concerning the incompatibility issue with its AirPods and its own native iPhone camera app. Many consumers, such as the one in the video above, only discovered AirPods couldn’t be used as an audio source with the camera app only after shooting a video and hearing the recorded sound difference.

Mashable tested out a pair of AirPods while recording a video with the iPhone’s native camera app. We can confirm that the mic on the earpiece does not pick up the audio for the recorded video. Instead, the camera app reverts to the mic on the iPhone for the audio source.

The issue isn’t just with AirPods, either. Bluetooth devices are completely incompatible with the iPhone’s camera app while recording videos.

However, for AirPod owners who would really like to use the wireless device to record video, there are options. The AirPods mic, as well as other similar bluetooth devices, can be used as an audio source with third-party iPhone video camera applications like FiLMiC Pro or MoviePro.

Apple declined to comment on the issue.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You

More in Tech
How to watch Chelsea vs. Port Vale online for free
Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea reacts

How to watch 'Wuthering Heights' at home: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's controversial romance now streaming
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi embracing in still from "Wuthering Heights"

How to watch New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers online for free
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders warms up

How to watch Mexico vs. Belgium online for free
Israel Reyes of Mexico reacts

How to watch Brazil vs. Croatia online for free
Vinicius Junior #10 of Brazil leaves

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

You can track Artemis II in real time as Orion flies to the moon
Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman piloting the Orion spacecraft
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!