The most common reason AirPods disconnect is that Bluetooth has turned off, the AirPods are out of range, or they're paired to a different device

When your AirPods stop connecting, the problem is usually one of three things: your phone or computer has lost the Bluetooth signal, your AirPods have switched to pairing with another device you own, or the AirPods themselves need to be reset. Most of the time you can fix this in under five minutes without calling support or resetting anything permanent.

The steps below work for AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods (2nd and 3rd generation), and AirPods with a charging case. If you have the original wired AirPods, they don't use Bluetooth and won't have these problems.

Key Takeaways

  • Check that Bluetooth is turned on in your phone or computer's settings — it turns off sometimes without you noticing.
  • If your AirPods are paired to multiple devices, they may have connected to a different one; check which device they're currently paired to.
  • Forgetting and re-pairing your AirPods clears out old connection data and fixes most connection problems.
  • If nothing works, put your AirPods in their case for 15 seconds, then take them out and hold the setup button until the light flashes white.

Check that Bluetooth is actually on

Bluetooth turns off on its own sometimes, especially after a software update or if you've been in airplane mode. On an iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center and look for the Bluetooth icon. If it's greyed out, tap it to turn Bluetooth back on. On Android, swipe down twice to open Quick Settings and tap Bluetooth. On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

After you turn Bluetooth on, wait 10 seconds and see if your AirPods connect automatically. If they do, you're done. If they don't, move to the next step.

Make sure your AirPods aren't paired to a different device

AirPods can be paired to multiple devices at once, but they can only connect to one at a time. If you use AirPods with both an iPhone and a Mac, they might have switched to your Mac without you realizing it. Open the device you're trying to use them with and look for your AirPods in the Bluetooth menu. On iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and look for your AirPods in the list. On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar. If your AirPods show up in the list but aren't connected, tap or click them to connect.

If your AirPods are connected to a different device, you'll need to disconnect them there first. Open that device's Bluetooth settings, find your AirPods, and tap or click the "i" icon next to them, then choose "Forget This Device" or "Disconnect". After you do that, go back to the device you want to use and try connecting again.

Forget and re-pair your AirPods

Forgetting your AirPods clears out the connection data stored on your phone or computer. This fixes most problems that don't go away after turning Bluetooth off and on again. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, tap the "i" icon next to them, and tap "Forget This Device". On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, find your AirPods, click the "x" next to them, and click "Remove".

After you forget them, put your AirPods back in their case and close the lid. Wait 10 seconds, then open the case and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the light inside flashes white. Your AirPods are now in pairing mode. On your phone or computer, go back to Bluetooth settings and look for your AirPods in the list of available devices. Tap or click them to pair. Your phone or computer will ask you to confirm — do that, and they should connect.

Reset your AirPods if pairing doesn't work

If your AirPods still won't connect after you forget and re-pair them, a full reset usually fixes it. Put both AirPods in their case and close the lid. Wait 30 seconds. Open the case, take out both AirPods, and put them back in the case. Close the lid again and wait another 30 seconds. Open the case and hold the setup button on the back for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber, then white. This resets your AirPods to factory settings.

After the reset, your AirPods won't be paired to anything. Go to your phone or computer's Bluetooth settings and pair them the same way you did when you first got them. Your AirPods should now connect and stay connected.

Check the battery and clean the charging contacts

AirPods that are completely out of battery won't connect. Open your AirPods case near your phone or computer — your device will show you the battery level of both AirPods and the case. If the AirPods show 0%, put them in the case and let them charge for at least 15 minutes. If the case itself is dead, plug it in with the Lightning cable that came with your AirPods.

If your AirPods charge but still won't connect, the charging contacts might be dirty. Take a dry cotton swab and gently wipe the metal contacts inside the case where the AirPods sit. Also wipe the small metal dots on the bottom of each AirPod. Dirt and lint can block the connection between the AirPods and the case, which sometimes causes pairing problems. After you clean them, put the AirPods back in the case and try connecting again.

What to do if your AirPods connect but keep disconnecting

If your AirPods connect at first but then drop the connection every few minutes, the problem is usually interference or distance. Move closer to your phone or computer — Bluetooth works best within about 30 feet, and walls and metal objects can block the signal. If you're in a crowded place with lots of WiFi networks or other Bluetooth devices, move to a quieter area and try again.

If you're close to your device and still having trouble, forget and re-pair your AirPods again. Sometimes the connection data gets corrupted and causes drops. If that doesn't work, check for software updates on your phone, computer, or AirPods. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update. Updated software often fixes connection bugs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my AirPods keep connecting to the wrong device?

AirPods automatically connect to whichever device you used them with most recently. If you want them to connect to a specific device, disconnect them from the other devices first. Go to Bluetooth settings on each device, find your AirPods, and tap "Forget This Device" or "Disconnect". Then pair them fresh with the device you want to use.

Can I fix AirPods that won't charge?

If your AirPods won't charge, first clean the charging contacts with a dry cotton swab — dirt blocks the connection. If that doesn't work, try a different Lightning cable or charger. If the case still won't charge but the AirPods do charge when you use a different case, your case may be broken and needs replacement.

What does the light on my AirPods case mean?

White light means your AirPods are ready to pair or are already paired and working. Amber light during setup means they're resetting. If the light is off, the case is out of battery. If the light flashes red, there's a hardware problem and you should contact Apple support.

Do I need to unpair my AirPods before selling them?

Yes. Go to your phone's Bluetooth settings, find your AirPods, tap the "i" icon, and tap "Forget This Device". Then reset the AirPods by holding the setup button for 15 seconds until the light flashes white. This removes all your data and lets the new owner pair them fresh.

Why won't my AirPods connect to my Mac if they work fine with my iPhone?

Your AirPods are probably still connected to your iPhone. Open your iPhone's Bluetooth settings, find your AirPods, and tap "Disconnect". Then go to your Mac's Bluetooth settings and try connecting. AirPods can only connect to one device at a time, so you have to manually switch them between devices.