Apple's AirPods are designed to work seamlessly with all of Apple's Bluetooth-supporting devices, and the wireless earbuds usually live up their billing, but that doesn't mean they work perfectly for everyone one hundred percent of the time.


A particularly irritating problem that can sometimes occur with any model of AirPods is when one AirPod drops the connection intermittently or stops working altogether for no apparent reason. If you've been hit by this bug, following the steps below should help you resolve it.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap the name of your AirPods, just below your Apple ID banner. Alternatively, tap Bluetooth, and then tap the 'i' icon next to your AirPods in the list.
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the menu and tap Forget this Device.
    airpods forget device 1

  4. Ensure that both AirPods are in their charging case, the case is closed, and that the case has charge.
  5. Locate the small button on the back of the case, near the bottom. It's flush with the case and the same color as it, so you might need to feel about for it. If you have AirPods 4, Apple has moved the capacitive button to the front of the case, concealing it just below the status light.
    airpods airpods pro setup button

  6. Open the charging case lid.
  7. For AirPods 4 (both models), double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white. For all other AirPods models, press and hold the button for at least 15 seconds. If you are using a first-generation or non-wireless second-generation/third-generation AirPods charging case, the case's internal light between the AirPods will flash white and then amber, indicating the AirPods have reset. If you are using a Wireless Charging Case for AirPods Pro or AirPods 4, you can find this light on the front of the case.
  8. Now, close the lid of your AirPods case and then open it up again.
    airpods paired card

  9. Hold the AirPods case with open lid next to your iPhone or iPad. Your iOS device should recognize the AirPods and you'll see a popup to connect them.

If the above steps don't solve the problem, try resetting your iPhone's network settings. In the Settings app's main menu select General ➝ Reset ➝ Reset Network Settings, then try re-pairing your AirPods by repeating the steps above.

Time for new AirPods or AirPods Pro?

Check our constantly updated guide for best deals on AirPods.

Related Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3
Related Forum: AirPods

Top Rated Comments

comp.doc Avatar
86 months ago
I’ve only had to do the nuclear fix twice in two years of ownership. Most of the time simply popping them back in the case for a few seconds does the trick.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Smith288 Avatar
86 months ago
Or suck the wax out of it. LOL

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/5xrrhu/one_side_louder/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djlythium Avatar
86 months ago
What if both AirPods are working, but for about 50% of their advertised talk time due to battery degradation? o_O
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HoosBruce Avatar
86 months ago
Ive had mine for 2 years and almost 2 months (January after the launch), and mine last anywhere between 30-60 min. I've used them nearly every day, so I'm not complaining, I'm just impatiently waiting for the next gen
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
joeblow7777 Avatar
86 months ago
So if your Airpods aren’t working try un-pairing and re-pairing with your device.

That’s the Bluetooth equivalent of turn it off and back on again, which does in fact solve most problems. :D
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HMFIC03 Avatar
86 months ago
I’ve had this issue occur also. The simple and quick solution I found was just placing the malfunctioning AirPod back in it’s charging case for a moment. Problem solved.
True but PITA when it happens at a half marathon.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon: New Features for Your iPhone and Release Date

Monday October 27, 2025 7:55 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. Below, we outline key details about iOS 26.1. Release Date Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...
maxresdefault

Apple TV 4K Could Still Launch Before 2025 Ends: All the Rumored Features

Monday October 27, 2025 4:51 pm PDT by
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors. ...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1 Release Candidates

Tuesday October 28, 2025 1:07 pm PDT by
Apple today provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1 updates for testing purposes. The RCs betas come a week after Apple released the fourth betas. The new betas can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

M6 MacBook Pro: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Monday October 27, 2025 9:15 am PDT by
Apple this month refreshed the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with its new M5 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected to follow in early 2026. However, these machines will represent the final update to the current design, with Apple reportedly developing a completely new version of the MacBook Pro packed with next-generation hardware...
macos tahoe

Here Are Apple's Release Notes for macOS Tahoe 26.1

Tuesday October 28, 2025 1:21 pm PDT by
Apple today provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of macOS Tahoe 26.1, which means the update will likely see a public launch next week. The release candidate includes notes on what's in the update, so we have a full picture of the new features that Apple has included. macOS Tahoe 26.1 adds AutoMix support over AirPlay, improved FaceTime audio...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

8 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday October 30, 2025 4:42 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Another Vehicle Brand Gaining iPhone Car Keys Support

Tuesday October 28, 2025 5:27 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to bring support for its digital car key feature to Jetour vehicles, according to evidence uncovered on Apple's backend by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. Introduced in 2022, Car Keys allows an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock a vehicle through the Wallet app. A digital version of a car key is stored in Wallet, and unlocking can be done by holding an Apple Watch or...
ipad mini 7 feature blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Wednesday October 29, 2025 7:13 am PDT by
Rumors are stoking excitement for the next-generation iPad mini that Apple is reportedly close to launching. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to...