Quick Tips
- Ensure the AirPods charging case has enough battery and that the AirPods are properly aligned in the case. Clean the charging contacts to remove any dirt and debris blocking the charging flow, and try using a different charging cable or adapter.
- If that doesn’t work, inspect the charging components for any physical damage, reset your AirPods, and contact Apple Support if these methods don’t help.
AirPods are among the best TWS earphones out there, especially if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. They connect to other Apple devices seamlessly and deliver a well-rounded experience.
However, like most electronic devices, AirPods aren’t immune to problems. They occasionally run into one. One such (common) problem is when the AirPods stop charging altogether.
Fortunately, though, most AirPods charging problems are caused by one of several trivial reasons and can, therefore, be fixed with simple troubleshooting.
In this guide, we’ll help you diagnose the problem with charging your AirPods and list all the possible fixes you can attempt to fix your AirPods’ charging problems.
Table of Contents
How to fix AirPods Not Charging Problem
Quick Fixes for AirPods Not Charging
- Ensure the charging case has enough battery: If your AirPods are not charging when you put them in the case, ensure they have enough battery life. At least a 10-15% charge in the Airpods case is recommended to charge the airpods in the case.
- Ensure proper alignment: Ensure Airpods are aligned properly to the magnetic chargers when placed in the case. You will hear a magnetic swap when they are properly aligned. If not, gently press the Airpods to see if it fits perfectly. Don’t hard press the airpods, as it may cause damage.
- Clean the Charging Contacts: Dirt or debris on the Airpods charging connectors or in the charging case port can block the flow of electricity and prevent airpods from charging. Clean both the Airpods and charging case to to fix the issue. Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the contacts, and avoid using liquids or abrasive materials. You can use the Airpods cleaner kit with specialized tools to clean minute gaps that a regular cloth cannot reach.
- Try a different cable and adapter: A faulty charger or a defective charging cable can cause AirPods to not charge. Try using a different cable or adapter to see if the problem persists.
Advanced Troubleshooting Methods
Inspect the Components Involved in Charging
Check for any visible damage in the components involved in charging, such as the charging case, AirPods, Charging cable, adapter, or wireless charger if you are using wireless charging. There are many ways to determine if your charging cable, adapter, AirPods case, or AirPods are not working.
- Check for any physical damage on the Airpod’s magnetic charging tips.
- Try a different charging cable and adapter to check whether the current cable or adapter has any issues.
- If the cable and adapter work perfectly, Try placing the AirPods on a wireless charging pad to see if they charge. If they do, there might be an issue with the charging port on your AirPods case.
- Use the Battery widget on your iPhone to check the battery status of your AirPods case if there is an issue with the notification light.
Related Read: How to Rename AirPods on iPhone/iPad/Mac
Reset Your AirPods/case
Reset your Airpods to fix the problem. When you factory reset your AirPods, chances are that this will fix any problems caused by software or firmware glitches. This works for all.
How to reset your Airpods
- Put your AirPods into the charging case and close the lid.
- Wait 30 seconds, and then open the lid of your AirPod case.
- Go to your iPhone and open Settings.
- Click on Bluetooth and tap on the i button next to your AirPods.
- Tap Forget This Device and click on Forget Device again to confirm the action.
As soon as you do that, your AirPods will be reset, and your iPhone will no longer recognize them. Moving forward, if you’d like to reconnect them to your iPhone or any other Apple device, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the setup button on the back of the charging case with the lid open until the status light flashes amber and turns white.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your AirPods to your iPhone again.
Update Your AirPods’ Firmware
By default, all AirPods automatically get updated to the latest firmware version as soon as they are available. However, there may be times when this might not happen. You’d be stuck with older firmware on your AirPods, which could be one of the reasons behind various AirPods issues, including the charging problem.
To avoid these issues in the future, make sure your AirPods are on the latest firmware. With your AirPods connected to your iPhone, open Settings and go to Bluetooth. Tap the i button next to your AirPods to view all their details.
Here, tap on Version under ABOUT to reveal the firmware version for your AirPods. If you’re on AirPods 2 and above, the current firmware version is 4C165. On the first-gen AirPods, this should be 6.8.8.
In case your AirPods is not on the latest version, follow the steps below to update AirPods firmware:
- Put your AirPods into the charging case.
- Connect the charging case to a power outlet via a Lightning cable. If this doesn’t work, put your AirPods on a wireless charging base. ( If you have any issues, you can also update your Airpods wirelessly, Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi, and your AirPods will be within Bluetooth range of your companion iPhone).
- Ensure that your iPhone has an internet connection, and Bring your iPhone close to your AirPods. (You don’t need to have them connected.)
Your iPhone will automatically look for a new update. If one is available, it will automatically install it, and your AirPods will be updated to the latest firmware.
Contact Apple Support
If you follow all of the fixes in this guide but still can’t get your AirPods to charge, it could most likely be due to a hardware issue—a bad battery or structural damage to some internals. The best way to approach this problem is to contact Apple Support or take your AirPods to the nearest service centre to get them tested.
If your AirPods are under warranty and have a hardware issue, Apple will replace them with a new pair. However, if they are out of warranty, you may be charged (Get an estimate here) to fix them, depending on the issue.
Why is My AirPods (Case) Not Charging?
There are various reasons why your AirPods or AirPods case would stop charging unexpectedly. It could be because some lint is clogging up your AirPods’ charging connector and, in turn, hindering the charging process or because of some software issue causing your AirPods to malfunction.
There could be a problem with the charging brick, cable, or wireless charger (if you’re using one to charge your AirPods) preventing you from charging your AirPods.
Of course, damaged hardware is also possible. In this case, the best solution would be to contact Apple Support. But before we make that assumption, let’s apply some basic troubleshooting steps to fix the charging issues on the AirPods.
Tips to Avoid AirPods Not Charging Issue
If you managed to recuperate your AirPods or the AirPods case indeed, you must ensure you don’t end up with the AirPods case not charging issue once again. For that, we have some tips for you:
- The AirPods and their case are both vulnerable to liquid damage. When not in use, keep the AirPods and the case away from liquids or food you may consume.
- Do not overcharge the AirPods case.
- Avoid using AirPods in extreme temperatures.
- Use a recommended lightning cable and charger combo to charge the AirPods case.
- Keep AirPods and the case clean.
FAQs About AirPods Not Charging
2. How do I fix my AirPods case not charging?
If your AirPods Pro case is acting up and not charging using a wired or wireless charger, it could be due to some problem with the charging connector or a software/firmware glitch. Follow the fixes listed in the guide above to troubleshoot both kinds of problems.
In case none of the fixes work, you may want to take your AirPods to an Apple service center to get them checked. For, in some instances, it could also be a battery issue with the charging case itself, which may be causing the problem.
3. How to Fix One AirPod Not Charging?
Usually, when one of the AirPods fails to charge, it's more likely to be a software/firmware issue. In which case, your best bet is to update the firmware to see if that fixes the problem. If it doesn't—or if your AirPods are already running the latest firmware—you must reset your AirPods to factory settings and then reconned them to your iPhone.
Most of the time, this should fix the problem. If not, you may want to try out some of the fixes—like cleaning the charging case and the AirPods themselves—to see if that helps. In the worst-case scenario, it can be a hardware problem, which would require you to reach out to Apple to get it fixed.
4. How long does it take to charge the AirPods case?
The AirPods charging case takes about an hour to fully charge and can be used for about 30 hours depending upon the AirPods model. The AirPods themselves, when placed in the case, should take just about 20 minutes to fully charge. Just in case you don't know, you can continue using the AirPods while the case is being charged. The LED will stay solid white when the case is fully charged.
5. Why is my AirPods case dying so fast?
AirPods cases are designed to last up to 24 hours of listening time, but some users have found that their cases die sooner. Your AirPods case might be dying faster than you expect for a few different reasons. Some of the reasons why your AirPods case may be dying so fast include normal wear and tear, accidental spills, and damage from other objects.
Over time, lithium-ion batteries degrade which makes each charge shorter. The battery will eventually run out of power more quickly as time goes on. This is because it doesn't lose power—it actually starts to use up all of its power quicker than it can recharge.
6. How to Tell if AirPods are Charging?
You can use the 'Today View' or ask Siri to know if your AirPods (and their case) are charging or not. But you can also rely on the light. If your AirPods are in the case and it's showing a red or amber light, that means the case is charging them. When they're full, the light should be green when you open it.
If your AirPods are in the case and the lid is open, the light will show you how much charge is left on your AirPods. If you take them out of their case and leave it open, the light will show you how much charge is left on the case itself.
7. Is it Bad to Leave AirPods Charging Overnight?
No, it is not dangerous to leave your AirPods in their case overnight if the case is not connected to a power source or otherwise being charged. This is the best way to store them!
In any case, if you are wondering whether you should leave your AirPods case connected to power overnight, that is not advisable since lithium-ion batteries like those found in Apple products do not do well when left to charge longer than necessary. Leaving a device charging overnight can shorten the battery's lifespan.
