AirPods not working like they're supposed to? As is often the case with wireless technology, it can be hard to know what to do when something goes wrong. Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro are no exception.

Fortunately there's a quick fix for most problems, and a few other tricks you can try if your issues persist. Sometimes the problem isn't with the AirPods at all, but rather the source device, ear wax, or an aging battery.

So here's our AirPods troubleshooting guide for solving common issues.

How to Reset Your AirPods and Fix Most Problems

AirPods Case

This tip takes the classic "turn it off and on again" philosophy and applies it to Apple's wireless earphones. You can reset your AirPods back to an "as new" state by resetting them. After this, simply pair them with your iPhone again and everything should work as normal.

To reset your AirPods:

  1. Return both the left and right earbuds to the charging case.
  2. Press and hold the Setup button on the case for 15 seconds until the LED flashes. Depending on your charging case, the LED may be inside the lid.
  3. Open your AirPods case near your iPhone and follow the pairing procedure.

You won't need to pair your AirPods with every Apple device going forward, since the earphones automatically pair via iCloud. By the way, you should also check to make sure you have genuine AirPods if you encounter problems often.

If you're still experiencing problems with your AirPods, the following troubleshooting tips can help.

1. How to Find Lost AirPods

You can use Apple's Find My tool to locate your AirPods, but there are a few caveats to doing so. If they're still powered on, Find My will use the device you're connected to for a location fix. If your AirPods are in their case or have run out of battery, you will see their last known location.

To locate your AirPods:

  1. Head to iCloud.com in your web browser.
  2. Sign in and click on Find iPhone.
  3. At the top of the screen, click the All Devices dropdown list.
  4. Select your AirPods to see their location.
Find AirPods with iCloud

If you know your AirPods are somewhere in your house and you're having trouble finding them, click the Play Sound option and listen for beeping. This won't work if they're both in the case and powered off.

2. Solving Patchy Audio and Static Problems

Apple AirPods

If you're having audio problems with your AirPods, you might be too far from your source. Apple's AirPods boast an impressive range of around 100 feet, but this can dip dramatically when you introduce obstacles, like walls, or sources of interference.

If you can put your source device (like an iPhone or iPod) in your pocket, this won't be a problem anymore. For static sources like a computer, you'll have to stay within range for optimal audio quality.

It's also possible for sources of interference to reduce the range of your AirPods. In particular, Wi-Fi is known to interfere with the W1 chip inside your AirPods. You can help reduce this problem by turning off Wi-Fi on your iPhone or moving to another area to take a call. Second-generation AirPods have the H1 chip, which works better.

3. AirPods Keep Pausing and Playing Erratically

Your AirPods have proximity sensors on them, which detect when you put them in or take them out of your ears. Doing so will automatically play or pause content unless you've specified otherwise. If you're wondering why your AirPods keeps pausing while they're still in your ears, it's possible there's a problem with the sensors.

You can disable this feature in your AirPods settings under Settings > Bluetooth. Tap on the i next to your AirPods and toggle Automatic Ear Detection off. This will reduce the battery life, since your AirPods will use the same amount of power whether you're wearing them or not, but at least it'll mean your AirPods won't keep pausing anymore.

AirPods Automatic Ear Detection

You may also want to try resetting your AirPods, as we showed you earlier. If you think there's a problem with your AirPods and you can't resolve this issue, it's best to contact Apple Support for a possible repair or replacement.

4. Automatic Ear Detection Not Working

Apple AirPods

Automatic Ear Detection pauses your music or other content when you remove the AirPods from your ears. If this doesn't happen for you, first check you have the feature enabled. Head to Settings > Bluetooth, tap on the i next to your AirPods, then make sure Automatic Ear Detection is on.

Next, make sure your AirPods are clean! The proximity sensor will not work if ear wax or other gunk is covering it. This will cause your earphones to behave as if they're constantly in your ears. Don't forget to clean the case (it's easy with a cotton swab and some isopropyl alcohol).

5. AirPods Won't Connect to Your iPhone

If you can't connect your AirPods to your iPhone, try putting them back into the charging case and waiting for around 15 seconds. Take them out again, then try reconnecting. You can manually force the connection by opening Control Center, tapping in the top-right corner of the Now Playing box (pictured below), and manually selecting your AirPods.

iOS 12 Now Playing

The problem may be isolated to your iPhone. Try disabling Bluetooth by toggling Airplane Mode on and off again (access Control Center, tap on the plane icon, wait a few seconds, then tap it again). If this still doesn't work, restarting your iPhone may do the trick.

Still got problems? Reset your AirPods as per the above instructions and try pairing them again. If you don't see any LEDs, your AirPods are out of battery. Charge them for a few minutes and then try again.

6. AirPods Won't Connect to Your Mac

This is often a problem with older Macs, which have notoriously flaky Bluetooth chips. Begin troubleshooting by turning off Bluetooth. To do so, open the Control Center on your Mac and click to toggle the Bluetooth icon. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on and try again.

Mac Control Center showing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth toggles

If that doesn't work, you can also kill the Bluetooth daemon that runs in the background on macOS. Note that you will lose connection to other Bluetooth devices as part of this command.

To do this, open a new Terminal window and type:

sudo pkill blued

Then hit Enter and type in your admin password, followed by Enter again. Wait a second or two and try connecting your earphones again.

7. AirPods Won't Charge

Some users have reported that their AirPods won't charge properly. Apple recommends checking your charging cable first, which you can do by attempting to charge your iPhone with it. If this works, move on to checking the Lightning port on your AirPods charging case instead.

Since many of us carry our AirPods in pockets and bags, fluff and other debris can become lodged in the charging port. You can clean these out using a thin object, like a straightened paperclip or a pin. I prefer using the same Apple SIM key you'd use to access the SIM tray on an iPhone. Simply scrape the inside down and remove anything that shouldn't be in there, but be very careful you don't damage any of the delicate metal connectors inside the port.

Cleaning an iPhone Charging Port with SIM Key

If you're confident the cable works and there's nothing stopping your AirPods from charging, leave them connected to a power source for 15 minutes and come back. If they're still dead, it might be time to contact Apple for a repair or replacement.

8. AirPods Battery Draining Too Fast

You can optimize your AirPods' battery life by leaving Automatic Ear Detection enabled. Check this by heading to Settings > Bluetooth and tapping the i next to your AirPods. If it's on, a software quirk may be causing your issue. In this case, you should reset your AirPods, as detailed earlier.

Don't forget that the batteries in your AirPods and charging case are just like the battery in your iPhone. The more cycles these batteries complete, the lower the overall charge. This is simply how lithium-ion batteries age. Apple offers AirPods Service and Repair, allowing you to replace the batteries in your AirPods for $49 each, and the battery in your charging case for another $49.

AirPods battery service prices

If your AirPods are still under warranty, you won't be charged. You can always check your Apple warranty status as well.

Picking the Right Wireless Earphones

Apple's AirPods are a great choice for iPhone users since they pair by proximity, use Apple's Lightning port for charging, can connect to two devices at once, and communicate via the low-energy W1 standard. But they're not the only wireless earphones or headphones that can do this.