AirPods and AirPods Pro are some of the best truly wireless headphones you can find and are an absolute no-brainer if you have Apple devices. Fast connections, easy access to information, seamless device usage with iPhones, iPads and Macs and of course their excellent sound quality is why AirPods are so popular. However, like any piece of tech, AirPods aren’t without their problems, and it’s the worst to just get them for free when you’re wearing a pair. If you remember to plug in your headphones, the lack of charge may be due to another reason. Here’s what to do if your AirPods and AirPods case won’t charge.
Quick answer
If the AirPods case is not charging, check the lightning cable or wireless charger. You should clean the inside of the case, the charging port, and the hotspots of the AirPods to make sure dirt or debris isn’t blocking the connection. Try updating the AirPods firmware or resetting the connection. If all else fails, you can get a replacement AirPods case for between $59 and $89, depending on the model.
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Why isn’t my AirPods case charging?
Lily Catz / Android Authority
There are many reasons why your AirPods and AirPods case may not be charging. But the good news is, most of the time, the issue is due to something simple and easy to fix. Dirt or any blockage around the contact point will stop the headphones from charging in the case, or they simply aren’t seated properly. Dirt or debris around the charging port of the AirPods case, faulty charging cables or wireless charging pads, and random software glitches can also be to blame.
If the case or AirPods are damaged, exposed to water, or have dead batteries, you may experience charging problems. In these cases, your only option is to get a replacement.
How to repair AirPods without charging the case
Check the battery level of the bag
If your AirPods won’t charge in the case, it might be because there’s no battery life left. If the case doesn’t have battery life, you won’t be able to charge the headphones either. There are a few ways to test the battery life of your AirPods case.
If the AirPods are in the case, open the lid and close it to your iPhone or iPad. A window will appear on the screen showing the remaining battery of the individual AirPods and the case. Open the AirPods while wearing them. Gadgets screen on the iPhone or iPad. of Batteries The widget shows the battery levels of each headset and the charging case. And go to on Mac control centerClick on Bluetooth icon, and hover over the name of your AirPods to see the mouse’s battery level.
You can get a simple display of the battery level of the charging case without your devices. When the AirPods are in the case, check the charge level indicator on the case. A green light indicates a full charge, while an orange light indicates the case is less than a full charge cycle. If you don’t see any light on the AirPods or AirPods Pro case, the case has no charge.
Clean the inside of the AirPods and the charger
Dirt and debris around the contact point will prevent the AirPods from charging in the case. Check out our guide on how to clean your AirPods and AirPods Pro to make sure there’s nothing blocking the earbuds. It’s a good idea to clean the inside of the AirPods case.
Also, keep in mind that AirPods won’t charge in the case if the headphones aren’t properly seated. They generally fit into place without a problem, but there may be cases where the headset doesn’t sit properly. Take out the AirPods, put them back in the charging case, wait a few minutes and see if they are charging now.
Update or reset AirPods firmware.
Apple releases firmware updates for AirPods to fix bugs and improve performance. These updates are usually automatic and happen behind the scenes when you connect AirPods to your iPhone or iPad. However, if you haven’t used AirPods for a while, the lack of a firmware update can also cause charging problems.
Check out our guide on how to update your AirPods’ firmware to make sure you have the latest version. Note that you’ll need an iPhone, iPad, or Mac previously connected to the headset to complete the manual update.
If cleaning and charging the AirPods, checking the headphone position, and updating the firmware don’t work, you may need to reset the AirPods and start over.
How to fix AirPods case not charging
Zach Khan / Android Authority
The only way to charge AirPods is by using the case, so if the case itself doesn’t charge, it’s a big problem. Check the battery level of the case using the steps mentioned above and don’t forget to clean the inside, outside and charging port to prevent dirt and debris from causing charging problems. You can also try updating the firmware or resetting the AirPods. But if the AirPods case is not charging, there are two more steps to go through.
Check the charging cable or wireless charger
And checking the charging cable or wireless charger. Every AirPods case has a Lightning charging port, and the wrong cable can cause problems. Check if the cable is frayed or broken, and plug in other devices to see if the problem is with the cable itself.
If you have new AirPods or AirPods Pro, you can also use a wireless charger to charge the case. However, compatibility or alignment issues can cause problems with wireless charging. Make sure you’re using a MagSafe wireless charger, a Qi-certified charger, or an Apple Watch charger. Place the AirPods case in the center of the pad with the status light up. If you see the status light for several seconds, you’ve set the issue correctly.
Get a replacement AirPods case
Zach Khan / Android Authority
If none of the above steps work, your only option is to contact Apple customer care and get a replacement AirPods case. The good news is that you can easily replace your AirPods case. The bad news is that Apple may not cover replacements even if you have AppleCare Plus. Depending on the model, you’ll have to pay between $59 and $89 for a new charging case.