- Jun. 22nd 2022 6:30 am PT

AirPods not working? Whether you’re having issues getting them connected or with charging, trouble with sound, or something else, follow along for 5 ways to fix AirPods. We’ll also cover how to check if you’re eligible for a free AirPods Pro replacement from Apple.

Apple’s AirPods normally offer a super seamless experience setting up the headphones and handy features like automatic pairing and switching between your Apple devices. But like all devices, AirPods aren’t immune to connectivity issues and other glitches.

Below we’ll cover 5 steps that should help you get AirPods working again.

With your AirPods in the charging case, bring them near your iPhone and open the lid. You should see the battery appear for both the case and the AirPods.

Apple recommends making sure the AirPods case is fully charged and letting your AirPods charge inside for at least 30 seconds before trying to use them. Of course, if your AirPods are very low on battery, let them charge up longer.

If your AirPods don’t charge, there could be debris blocking the metal charging contacts on the bottom of the AirPods or at the bottom of the charging case. Be careful not to damage the pins at the bottom of the charging case if you attempt to remove any build-up or debris.

If your AirPods charging case is dead and won’t charge, try a different Lightning cable (or use the flip side of the one you have), or try charging wirelessly if you have a charging case with wireless support.

Get in touch with Apple Support or head to your closest Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider if your AirPods and/or case still won’t charge.

Sometimes what appears to be AirPods not working can just be debris or build-up blocking the speaker or mic grilles. For AirPods Pro, you’ll need to pull the ear tips off to clean the speaker grilles.

We’ve got a full tutorial on how to clean both AirPods and AirPods Pro but the TL;DR is:

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A collection of tutorials, tips, and tricks from the 9to5Mac team helping you fix and get the most out of your favorite gear.

AirPods offers a cord-free wireless audio experience with up to 5 hours of battery life. They are rechargeable through the included case that get you up to 24 hours on a single charge. AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro support wireless (Qi) charging, Hey Siri, and include the H1 chip.

Michael is an editor for 9to5Mac. Since joining in 2016 he has written more than 3,000 articles including breaking news, reviews, and detailed comparisons and tutorials.

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