AirPods were stolen: What to do? The instructions [2024 Update]

Have your AirPods or AirPods Pro been stolen? That's annoying. But don't worry. In this article, we'll explain briefly what you can do now. In the best case scenario, you'll soon have your AirPods back in your hands after reading this article. 

My AirPods were stolen: what should I do? 

Here we describe all the effective options you have if your AirPods have been stolen. We recommend that you go through these options step by step. Let's get started right away: 

1. How to locate and find stolen AirPods

The AirPods can be tracked using Apple’s location services.Apple tracked if they are linked to the owner's iCloud account and the Find My iPhone feature is enabled. 

Here are the steps to locate the AirPods: 

1. Use the "Where is?" app: Open the Find My app on aApple device that is connected to the same iCloud account as the AirPods. 

2. Select AirPods: Select the AirPods from the list of devices in the Find My app. Start locating: Click Play Sound to play a sound on the AirPods to help you locate them. This works as long as the AirPods are within range of the connected device. 

3. Location on the map: If the AirPods are out of range, the Find My app will show their last known location on a map. This can help determine their rough location. 

It's important to note that the location feature will only work if the AirPods are turned on and connected to a device that's connected to the internet. If the AirPods are offline or have been turned off, the location feature may not work. In this case, you'll only see the location where they were last online. 

You can find out more about locating AirPods and the “Find My” app here. 

2. Lock stolen AirPods: Here's how

If locating didn't work, the next step is to lock your AirPods. And how does that work? 

Several possibilities:

1. You can use the Find My app to lock your AirPods so that thieves cannot do anything with them.
   
   
2. Inform theApple Support about the theft. They can give you further instructions and add the AirPods serial number to a possible blacklist.

3. What happens if AirPods are reported lost? 

Reporting AirPods as lost in the Find My app means you are putting the AirPods into Lost Mode. 

This usually involves locking the AirPods to prevent others from using them. 

In addition, you can often also leave a message that appears on the display of the connected device. 

This message could include contact information so that someone who finds the AirPods can contact the rightful owner. It's possible that your AirPods weren't stolen at all, but simply found by someone else. 

4thCan the police find stolen AirPods or AirPods Pro? 

Does it make sense to notify the police by filing a police report with the local authorities? 

Yes, that can be a good idea. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible to increase your chances of recovery. 

5thApple Contact support:

After you have reported the theft of the AirPods to the local authorities, it is also advisable toApple Contact support. You can inform them about the theft and ask for assistance. 

TheApple Support can provide instructions on how to lock the AirPods in the Find My app and may also add the AirPods' serial number to a potential blacklist to further restrict their use.

It is important to act as quickly as possible to take advantage of the security features and increase the chances of recovery. TheApple Support can also provide further guidance and advice to help you manage the loss and ensure the security of your personal information.

6. Does theApple -Insurance for stolen AirPods? 

Apple offers a so-called "Apple Care+ with theft protection", which serves as insurance for certainApple products, including AirPods. Here are some things you should know:

1stApple Care+:

Apple Care+ is an extended warranty and service program fromApple , which provides additional protection for certainApple products, including AirPods.

2. Theft protection:

The "Apple Care+ with Anti-Theft Protection is specifically designed to cover the theft of AirPods. If your AirPods are stolen, you canApple to get a replacement.

3. Requirements and costs:

However, theft protection is not automatically available in everyApple Care+ plan. There may be additional costs and specific conditions. Check the exact details when youApple Care+. But of course this is no longer of any use after the AirPods have been stolen. The insurance must have already been taken out beforehand.

4. Location services:

It is important to note that theApple Location services (Find My) can play a role. In some cases, theft protection can only be used if you have previously reported the theft to the location services.

5. Reporting the theft:

In case of theft, it is important to report the incident to the local police as soon as possible and toApple to use location services.

What can I do if only a single AirPod or AirPod Pro is stolen? 

If you have lost just one AirPod and have not been able to recover it, you can use our online shop You can also purchase individual AirPods. 

Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not offer separate replacement parts, such as just a right or left AirPod. 

However, in our online shop you have the opportunity to purchase individual original AirPods.This is much more cost-effective than purchasing a full set of AirPods.

To ensure that you can continue to enjoy music in the usual quality or participate in video conferences, we advise against using inferior replacement parts. 

We source complete original sets fromApple and disassemble them to offer the individual components. This of course also gives you the full manufacturer's warranty. 

Purchasing individual spare parts also promotes sustainability. By replacing only the part that has been lost or broken, resources are saved and waste is avoided. All other parts of your set that are still intact do not have to be disposed of, but can continue to be used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you locate the AirPods when they are turned off? 

When the AirPods are off or out of range, you will see a "No location found" or "Offline" message. In such cases, it is usually possible to find their last known location and get directions to it. However, it should be noted that when the AirPods are offline, playing sounds or using the Find Nearby feature is not available. As soon as the AirPods are back online, a notification will appear on the iPhone or the correspondingApple device through which they are controlled.

How can I find the owner of AirPods? 

The ability to find the owner of AirPods depends on several factors. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Check nearby Bluetooth devices:

If the AirPods are near another Bluetooth-enabled device (like an iPhone), you might want to check to see if they're listed there. Tap your device's Bluetooth settings and look for available devices.

2. Lost and Found Services:

Some countries or regions offer lost and found services where you can report or find lost items. You may want to check to see if such services exist in your area and if the AirPods have been reported.

3.Apple Contact support:

If all else fails, you couldApple Contact support. They may be able to help you identify the owner, especially if the AirPods are registered.

4. Social media or local ads:

You could check local social media or classifieds sites to see if anyone has reported lost AirPods. Sometimes such finds are shared online.

Can you use stolen AirPods? 

Technically, stolen AirPods could be used by someone else, assuming the thief can pair them with another device. AirPods use Bluetooth to connect wirelessly to other devices, so unless the AirPods have been locked by the original owner or removed from their iCloud account, they could be connected to another device.

However,Apple Security mechanisms implemented to make it harder to steal or lose AirPods:

1stiCloud lock:

If the original owner has Find My iPhone enabled and the AirPods are linked to their iCloud account, the AirPods may not be able to be used with a different iCloud account.

2. Location services:

The original owner can try to locate and lock the AirPods using location services in the Find My app, which would limit their use.

3. Blocking byApple Support:

The rightful owner can also contact theApple Contact support to have your AirPods locked and possibly take further steps.

Can you deactivate stolen AirPods? 

Yes, the rightful owner can deactivate stolen AirPods. Here are some ways this can be done:

1. iCloud lock:

If the original owner has Find My iPhone enabled and the AirPods are linked to their iCloud account, they can be locked using the iCloud website or Find My app. This will prevent the AirPods from connecting to any other device.

2ndApple Contact support:

The rightful owner can contact theApple Contact support and report the stolen AirPods.Apple can then take steps to restrict the use of the stolen AirPods.

3. Location services:

Location services can be enabled through the Find My app to track the location of stolen AirPods. This not only allows you to locate the AirPods, but can also be used to lock them.

How do I recognize stolen AirPods? 

It can be difficult to tell at first glance if AirPods have been stolen, as they are not necessarily marked as such on the outside. However, there are some signs that could indicate that the AirPods may not have been purchased legitimately:

3. Suspicious sale:

If someone is selling AirPods at a noticeably low price, it could be an indication that they were stolen. Be cautious if the price seems too good to be true.

4. Missing original packaging or accessories:

Legitimate sellers would normally sell the original packaging and accessories (charging cable, charging case) with the AirPods. If the original packaging is missing, this could indicate stolen goods.

5. Lack of connectivity to iCloud:

If the seller has not unpaired the AirPods with their iCloud account, this could indicate that they may have been stolen. Check this before purchasing to make sure the AirPods have been properly reset.

6. Unusual transaction locations:

Be cautious if the transaction location or circumstances of the sale are unusual. If the sale takes place in a public place, it may be less suspicious than meeting in a secluded location.

7. Verifying the serial number:

You can check the serial number of your AirPods to see if they have been reported stolen.This information can be obtained from the local authorities or theApple Support can be requested.

It is important to emphasize that these signs do not necessarily guarantee that the AirPods have been stolen.