Say goodbye to charging and connection issues with this comprehensive guide to resetting your AirPods.
Apple recommends using the AirPods’ reset feature to fix charging, connection, and other issues.
However, resetting AirPods can be confusing for users unfamiliar with the technology. This is especially true if you have second-hand AirPods 3 or AirPods Pro 2, which require an additional step before resetting them.
Luckily, resetting your AirPods can be done with the press of a button. You can also reset newer AirPods models if you know the Apple ID they’re linked to. Read on to learn why resetting your AirPods is necessary, how to do an AirPods Pro reset, and how to reset used AirPods.
In This Article
- How to Reset Your AirPods or AirPods Pro
- How to Factory Reset Your AirPods Without a Phone
- What to Do When AirPods Won’t Reset
- FAQs on Resetting AirPods
- Conclusion
How to Reset Your AirPods or AirPods Pro
Apple has designed the AirPods to be intuitive and convenient to use. That’s why resetting your AirPods 1, 2, and 3, or your AirPods Pro 1 and 2, shouldn’t be difficult. Simply follow these steps for a fuss-free reset.
Not sure which version of AirPods you have?: Learn how to identify your AirPods Model
The same reset procedure should work for all iOS devices (including iPhone, iPad, or Mac).
- Restart your AirPods by placing them inside the charging case and closing the lid for at least 30 seconds.
- On your iOS device, go to Settings and select Bluetooth.
- Tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods and select Forget This Device.
Doing this will disconnect your AirPods from all devices where you’ve signed in with the same Apple ID.
- Open the charging case’s lid and hold the setup button at the back of the case until the status light changes from amber to white.
Check out this article if you’re unsure where to find the status light for your AirPods model.
- With the lid still open, place the AirPods close to any of your Apple devices to reconnect and initiate the setup process.
Learn more about what the setup button on your AirPod case does and how it works.
How to Factory Reset Your AirPods Without a Phone
Don’t have your phone with you? Not an issue. It’s easy to reset your AirPods without unpairing them from your phone.
Here’s how you can factory reset and disconnect AirPods from all devices without using your phone:
- Place both AirPods into the charging case. Open the lid.
- Locate the Setup button on the back of your AirPods case.
- Press and hold the Setup button for 15 seconds. The status light should change from flashing amber to white.
- Close the lid. Your AirPods are fully reset.
What to Do When AirPods Won’t Reset
If your AirPods still fail to reset after trying all the steps outlined above, there might be something else going on. In that case, here are a few more solutions you can try:
Clean your AirPods and case
Dirt and debris can get stuck on your AirPods’ stem or within your case, hindering your AirPods from achieving full contact with the charging plate. When this happens, your charging case may become unable to recognize your AirPods, thus preventing you from performing a proper reset.
To clean your AirPods and case, you can simply wipe them with a lint-free cloth or paper towel and Q-tips damp with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Focus on the AirPods’ tail and the inside of the charging case.
If you encounter trouble with hard-to-remove dirt, you can also use a toothpick for added precision. Just make sure to be extra careful when using pointy toothpicks to prevent scratching your AirPods and case. Also, only use your AirPods and case when they’re already completely dry.
For more information, here’s how to give your AirPods a thorough and well-deserved clean.
Contact Apple Support
If none of these methods get your AirPods to reset successfully, it could be a hardware problem.
For this, the best thing you can do is to contact Apple support for assistance. Before you do, ensure you have the serial number of your AirPods ready for verification purposes.
Worried that your new AirPods could be cheap knockoffs? Put your mind to rest and find out if your AirPods are the real deal or fake replicas.
You could also head down to the nearest Apple Store and let their Apple-certified technicians check if they qualify for a replacement and if they still have warranty coverage.
FAQs on Resetting AirPods
- Can you reset second-hand AirPods?
- Can you reset stolen AirPods?
- Can AirPods be tracked after resetting them?
- What does resetting AirPods do?
Can you reset second-hand AirPods?
Yes, it’s possible to reset second-hand AirPods. However, there’s a catch: AirPods can only be associated with one Apple device at a time. Although AirPods can connect to devices using different Apple IDs, features such as Find My AirPods will only be accessible to the AirPods’ primary user.
This means that, for you to use second-hand AirPods fully, they must be fully reset and unlinked to the original owner’s Apple ID first.
Additionally, the original owner’s Apple ID must already be disconnected from the AirPods so that you can access “Forget This Device” from the Find My app prior to resetting.
If the original owner’s Apple ID is still linked to the AirPods, your best bet is to reach out to them and ask them to disconnect their account. Otherwise, you can still reset the AirPods to prevent them from being tracked.
For more information, you can also check these articles discussing how to disconnect AirPods from an Apple ID, or how to remove AirPods from iCloud.
For earlier versions of the AirPods (AirPods 1 and 2), resetting is enough to unlink the associated Apple ID. However, added features on newer AirPods models ensured that changing ownership of the AirPods isn’t so easy.
Can you reset stolen AirPods?
Yes, stolen AirPods can still be reset. However, before doing so, you risk being tracked by the original owner or facing other privacy issues—even if you didn’t know the AirPods you bought were stolen.
This is because AirPods linked to an Apple ID will show up in Find My, which can expose your location. Luckily, you can reset stolen AirPods so they can’t be tracked anymore.
Can AirPods be tracked after resetting them?
Resetting AirPods will prevent them from being tracked. However, this won’t disconnect the AirPods from the original owner’s Apple ID, especially for more secure models like the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 1 and 2.
What does resetting AirPods do?
Resetting AirPods is a great way to fix issues with charging or connecting to your device. This functionality restores your AirPods to their original settings when they were brand new, thus eliminating problems that may have come up as you configured your AirPods.
The reset feature can also be used to unlink an Apple ID from the AirPods 1 and 2.
However, if you’re looking for an answer to how to remove the previous owner from AirPods Pro 1 and 2 or AirPods 3, the reset feature won’t be enough. For these models, the original owner must personally remove the AirPods from their Apple account.
Conclusion
As you can see, the AirPods’ reset feature is extremely useful in addressing charging, connection, and other issues.
We hope this article has explained why resetting is essential and how you can do it. Now, you can enjoy using your AirPods without worrying about getting disconnected or being unable to charge them. Plus, if you’re considering buying second-hand AirPods, you now know what to look for to make the best of them.
Did these tips help you with resetting your AirPods? Think we missed anything? Let us know in the comments!
FAQs
How to Properly Reset Your AirPods and AirPods Pro in Under 5 Minutes? ›
Press and hold the Setup button for 15 seconds. The status light should change from flashing amber to white. Close the lid. Your AirPods are fully reset.
What if I charge my AirPods for 5 minutes? ›If you charge your AirPods (3rd generation) for 5 minutes in their case, you get around 1 hour of listening time11 or around 1 hour of talk time.
How do I reset my AirPods Pro to factory settings without my phone? ›- Place both AirPods inside their AirPod charging case. ...
- Keep the lid of the AirPods charging case open and locate its setup button.
- Press and hold the setup button with the lid open until its LED changes from a flashing white to an orange color.
However, another issue is that if you don't store your AirPods in the case, they will continue to lose battery power, which is a major reason why your AirPods' batteries die so fast. That's because the earbuds are still connected to your device's Bluetooth.
Why won t my AirPods fully reset? ›Clean Your AirPods' Tail and Charging Port
If your AirPods won't reset and there's no amber light on the case, a dirty charging port or AirPod tail could be the reason behind it. Over time, lint and other debris can build up in the charging port or tail of your AirPods.
Hold the button until the status light starts flashing amber a few times and then flashes white. You AirPods have now been fully reset. You will need to re-pair your AirPods to your devices in order to use them again.
Is it OK to charge AirPods to 100%? ›Deep discharge cycles are extremely damaging for the battery. If you do let it get to 0, make sure you charge it at the next possible opportunity, because the longer the charge is at 0 the deeper the discharge (due to "phantom drain" and other things). Don't charge to 100%.
How long do AirPods charge to 100%? ›| AirPods | AirPods Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Charging time in case for a full charge | 20 to 25 minutes | 2 hours |
| Full charge battery life | Up to 5 hours of listening time | Up to 20 hours of listening time |
On 20% of charge on your Airpods battery, the listening time on the various models is as shown below; Apple AirPod (2nd Gen) – 1 hour. Apple AirPod (3rd Gen) – 1 hour 12 minutes. Apple AirPod Pro (2nd Gen) – 1 hour 12 minutes.
Does resetting AirPods remove Apple ID? ›You can reset your AirPods without removing them from your Apple ID; you'll usually do this if they aren't working properly.
Can AirPods be tracked? ›
If you have AirPods Pro (2nd generation), you can find the precise location of each of your AirPods and the charging case. Open the Find My app on an iPhone or iPad that you previously paired with your AirPods. Tap Devices, tap the name of your AirPods, then tap Find.
Why does 1 AirPod drain faster? ›Whenever you pull your AirPods out of the case, they automatically choose one unit to serve as the active microphone while the other only functions as a speaker. And this unit that's using the microphone will drain faster.
What is the lifespan of AirPods? ›How Long Do AirPods Last: Their Average Lifespan. AirPods typically last about 2-3 years before most users feel the need to replace them.
Why do my AirPods keep dying at 100%? ›It's possible that your AirPods are simply getting old. As they age, their batteries won't retain as much charge as they used to, meaning the AirPods will drain at different rates.
How long does it take to hard reset AirPods? ›Resetting Apple AirPods Max is similarly easy
To reset factory reset AirPods Max, press and hold the noise control and digital crown buttons for 15 seconds until the LED flashes amber, and then white. The AirPods Max will then be returned to factory settings, and you can reconnect it to your devices.
As the previous owner: In the Find My app, get in pairing range > tap AirPods > Remove This Device > Remove. If the previous owner hasn't unpaired them, you will get a message the AirPods are paired to another Apple ID.
How long does it take to reset AirPods? ›Put your AirPods in their charging case, and close the lid. Wait 30 seconds. Open the lid of your charging case, and put your AirPods in your ears.