Have you ever had problems with your AirPods and didn't know how to fix them? Don't worry: in this blog article we'll show you how to reset your AirPods or AirPods Pro quite easily.
Sometimes they may stop working properly or no longer connect to your device. We've prepared a step-by-step guide to help you get your AirPods back up and running.
Why might you need to reset your AirPods?
There are various reasons why resetting your AirPods becomes necessary. In some cases the small wireless earbuds simply stop behaving the way they should, and a simple reset can fix things. Here are some situations in which resetting your AirPods can make sense:
Connection problems: If your earbuds suddenly have trouble connecting to your iPhone, Android smartphone or other devices, a reset can help restore the connection.
Uneven battery life: It can happen that one of the two AirPods drains faster than the other. A reset can help both earbuds work in sync again and discharge evenly.
Malfunctions: If your Apple earbuds no longer respond properly to touch, for example when pausing or skipping songs, resetting your AirPods can solve the problem.
Sound problems: If there are sound glitches or no sound at all even though the devices are connected correctly, a reset can help get them working perfectly again.
Pairing AirPods with a new device: If you want to connect your AirPods to a new device or you're passing them on to someone else, it makes sense to reset them to factory settings before they're connected again.
This is how easy the AirPod reset is
An AirPod reset is really child's play and can be done in just a few steps. Before you start, make sure your earbuds are fully charged. That increases the chances of the reset succeeding. Here's the step-by-step guide to resetting:
- Turn off Bluetooth: First turn off the Bluetoothfunction on your device to make sure there's no connection to the AirPods.
- Put the AirPods in the charging case: Put both earbuds in the charging case and keep the lid closed for at least 30 seconds.
- Open the charging case lid: Now open the lid of the charging case, but leave the earbuds in the case.
- Press the button on the charging case: On the back of the charging case you'll find a small button. Press and hold it for about 15 seconds. While you hold the button, you should see the status light on the front of the charging case first flash white and then, after a few seconds, amber. The amber flashing signals that the reset was successful.
- Reconnect the AirPods: Now turn Bluetooth back on on your device and connect the AirPods as usual. If they don't connect automatically, press and hold the button on the back of the charging case again until the status light flashes white, and then tap “Connect” on your device.
Voilà! Your AirPods should now be reset and working perfectly again. If problems persist, a reset may not be enough and you may need to look into a replacement. In many cases, though, a reset is exactly what you need to get your earbuds going again.
How it works with Android devices
Even if you use an Android device, resetting your AirPods is just as easy as with Apple devices. The reset process itself stays the same, but connecting the Bluetooth earbuds to your Android smartphone can work a little differently. Here we explain how to connect your AirPods to an Android device after the reset:
- Turn on Bluetooth: Go to the settings of your Android smartphone and turn on Bluetooth.
- Search for Bluetooth devices: In the Bluetooth settings, tap “Add device” or “Search for devices” to look for available Bluetooth devices nearby.
- Pair the AirPods: Open the lid of the charging case, leave the earbuds in the case and press and hold the button on the back of the charging case until the status light on the front flashes white. This shows that they're in pairing mode.
- Select the AirPods: In the list of Bluetooth devices found on your Android smartphone, select the Apple earbuds to establish the connection.
- Confirm the connection: As soon as the AirPods are connected to your Android device, this will be shown in the Bluetooth settings. You can now listen to music or take calls through the earbuds.
That's it! You should now have successfully reset your AirPods and connected them to your Android smartphone. If you run into problems in the future or the AirPods stop working properly, you can follow this guide again to do another reset.
What to do if your AirPods won't reset
It can happen that your AirPods won't reset successfully despite several attempts, or that the problems persist. In such cases, there are still a few things you can try before contacting Apple Support or an authorized dealer:
Fully charge your AirPods and the charging case: Make sure both the AirPods and the charging case have enough battery charge. Sometimes connection or functional problems can be caused by a weak battery.
Check the AirPods for dirt or damage: Take a close look at the AirPods and the charging case to make sure there's no dirt or damage that could affect how they work. Carefully clean the earbuds and the charging case with a dry, soft cloth.
Restart your device: Sometimes it helps to simply restart the device you want to connect the AirPods to. Turn it off and on again before trying to connect once more.
Reset network settings: On iOS devices you can reset the network settings to fix existing connection problems. To do this, go to Settings, then “General”, and choose “Reset”. Then tap “Reset Network Settings”. Keep in mind, though, that this also deletes all saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN settings.
Software update: Make sure the software on your device is up to date. Outdated versions can sometimes lead to compatibility problems.
If you've tried all these steps and your AirPods still don't work properly after the reset, or won't reset at all, you'll need to look for a replacement. Luckily, that doesn't mean you have to buy a new bundle. You can simply replace just the part that's causing the problems.
Conclusion – A reset is straightforward and solves many problems
You can reset your AirPods yourself in just a few steps. Resetting your AirPods should fix many problems. If not, you can buy individual parts of the bundle from us as replacement parts.
In our online shop we offer you single earbuds for the AirPods Pro and the second- and third-generation AirPods, as well as the charging case as replacement parts. We always ship within 24 hours of your order and don't charge any shipping costs. This lets you save real money while helping to avoid waste. After all, you only replace the part that no longer works perfectly.