As with any electronic equipment, there may be times when things go wrong. Why are your Airpods not connecting?
If your AirPods are not connecting, you may need to update the software and charge them. You can turn Bluetooth on and off or restart your device. To get your AirPods to connect, you may need to reset and repair them with your device. Try one at a time to check whether only one or both are faulty.
So, you’re here because you’re wondering why your AirPods won’t connect. Well, you don’t have to stress anymore because we’re here to help you with a number of ways you can fix the problem yourself!
Why Are Your AirPods Not Connecting?
Apple‘s Airpods are the perfect way you can bring wireless audio to any of your devices, especially if you have an iPad, iPhone, or Mac. Along with the high-quality sound, one of the best features of Airpods is the simple pairing with other Apple devices.
There are seven primary reasons why your AirPods won’t connect with your device. Let’s look at these reasons more closely and what you can do to fix them all by yourself:
You May Need To Update Your Software
The first thing you can do when diagnosing any issues you have with your AirPods, including problems with connecting, is to update your iOS or iPadOS software.
You can update your device’s software by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPad or iPhone.
If you see that there is an update available, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process successfully. By having the newest and most up-to-date software, you can rule out any issue with your AirPods.
You May Need To Charge Your AirPods
Charging your AirPods is one of the easiest and simplest things you can try when they aren’t connecting or working correctly.
You can simply place your Airpods back in their charging case and charge everything via a wireless charger or a Lightning cable.
Wait for the light on the charging case to turn green. This means that your AirPods are fully charged and ready to be used again.
Connect them to your device as you usually would.
Turn Your Bluetooth Off And On Again
One thing you should know is that Bluetooth connections are never perfect. You can see whether it is your Bluetooth causing you to have issues with your AirPods connecting by turning it on and off again.
There are several ways you can do this. However, the easiest and most effective way would be to open the Control Center on your device and press the Bluetooth symbol until it goes off. After about a minute, turn it back on again.
If you’re looking for another way to turn your device’s Bluetooth on and off, you can go to Settings > Bluetooth on your chosen device.
If you’re a big fan of Siri, you can make use of the simple voice command to Apple’s virtual assistant to put Bluetooth on and off or you!
Restart Your iPhone, Mac, or iPad
If you’re wondering why your AirPods are struggling to find a connection, now might be the perfect time to give your device a restart.
There are a few ways to restart your device, and it primarily depends on the age of your iPad or iPhone.
For a more modern iPhone, you can press its volume up button and then directly press the volume down button after that. Then press the side button.
You will then get the instruction to swipe across your phone’s screen to shut off your device. To restart, you can press the side button again.
Once you are able to see the Apple logo, it means that the start-up process is starting. This process for restarting an iPad is exactly the same if it does not have a home button.
Once you have successfully restarted your device, it is time to see if your AirPods can connect, and you can start listening to your favorite music again!
You May Have To Reset And Repair The AirPods With The Device
If the connection issues continue, it might be time to take some more drastic measures. If you make the decision to do a factory reset, it should completely wipe your AirPod’s memory and place them in the same exact condition as they were when you first bought them home from your shopping spree!
Gently place your AirPods in their charging case and close the lid to start the factory reset process. Wait for an additional 30 seconds after doing this.
Then, it’s time for you to open the lid of your AirPods’ charging case and keep it open. Next, go on your iPad or iPhone and open Settings, then click on the Bluetooth option.
Find the name of your AirPods, and then tap on the More info button next to its name. Click on Forget This Device, and confirm the command.
With the lid of the charging case still open, press on the setup button, which can be located at the back of the case for roughly 15 seconds.
You have to wait until the status light flashes amber, followed by white. Now that your AirPods are factory reset, it’s time to pair them with your device again.
Open the lid and place your AirPods close to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If it is successful, you will see a pop-up notification on your screen.
Follow the instructions given to you to connect your AirPods again, and add them to your iCloud account.
You might want to know that the third-generation Airpods Pro, as well as the normal AirPods, can only be connected with a single Apple ID at a time.
If you are trying to use those AirPods that were connected to another person’s Apple ID, the other person will need to remove the AirPods from their account before you can use them again.
Test A Single Airpod To Check Which One Is Faulty
You may or may not know of this, but each AirPod can work independently from the other earbud.
So, if you think the issue is confined to only one AirPod, there is a way for you to test it.
Remove one AirPod at a time from its charging case and see if it will connect to your device. If only one AirPod connects to your device while the other one does not, you will have a better sense of where the problem lies.
Your Software May Not Be Compatible With Your AirPods
You may have some trouble connecting your AirPods to your device because it may not be compatible! Let’s look at the different software requirements for AirPods, so you can determine if this is the problem or not:
- If you have first-generation AirPods, you will need an iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone with iOS 10 or later, an Apple TV with tvOS 11 or later, and an Apple Watch with watchOS 3 or later. For a Mac, you will need one with macOS Sierra or later.
- If you have the second generation Airpods, you will need an iPod touch, iPad, or iPhone with iOS 12.2 or later, an Apple TV with tvOS 12.2 or later, and an Apple Watch with watchOS 5.2 or later. When it comes to a Mac, you will need a Mac with macOS 10.14.4 or later.
- If you have the third generation AirPods, you will need an iPod or iPhone touch with iOS 15.1 or later. This also includes an iPad with iPadOS 15.1 or later, an Apple Watch with watchOS 8.1 or later, and an Apple TV with tvOS 15.1 or later. And finally, if you have a Mac, you will need a Mac with macOS 12 or later.
- If you have the AirPods Pro, you will need an iPod or iPhone touch with iOS 13.2 or later, an iPad with iPadOS 13.2 or later, an Apple TV with tvOS 13.2 or later, and an Apple Watch with watchOS 6.1 or later. If you have a Mac, you will need one with macOS 10.15.1 or later.
If Everything Else Fails, Call Apple
After trying all the techniques above and ensuring your AirPods are compatible with your current device, you should be good to go. However, if you are still struggling to get your AirPods to connect to your device, it might be time to talk to Apple.
Most AirPods come with a limited warranty of one year from your date of purchase.
So, if your AirPods are still in this timeframe, Apple could decide to fix any problems free of charge. However, if your AirPods have exceeded this timeframe, the situation could take a turn for the worse.
Luckily, there are several ways you can contact Apple to discuss support issues. If you’re looking for the best and easiest way, you can contact them through the Apply Support app available on your Apple device.
It will list all the Apple devices you own and shows your coverage, warranty, and more. This app also provides Apple users with a quick way to contact Apple directly.
You can make a quick appointment at the Genius Bar if you’re close to a physical Apple store.
Conclusion
Apple has undoubtedly outdone itself with the AirPods, which provides music lovers with secluded, high-quality music wherever they go. Unfortunately, there’s always the risk of problems, as AirPods are only electronic devices, which can always have defects or get damaged over time.
We hope we could have given you some clarity on the most common problems, what you can do to solve them, and when you should go directly to Apple instead!