Connection problems are annoying enough. But when your AirPods won’t turn on, it doubles the frustration. But you don’t need to shop for replacements yet. Before you give up and spend another couple of hundred bucks on a new pair of Apple earbuds, there are a few fixes you can try to bring the old ones back to life.
Most of these methods work for all AirPods and AirPods Pro models, but a few won’t help with the AirPods Max due to different hardware.
Why My AirPods Don’t Turn On
When your AirPods quit on you, something’s wrong. Before you panic or assume they’re broken, check the hardware basics. Start with the power. Perhaps the earbuds aren’t seated right in the case, or there’s pocket lint shoved into the charging port. It happens. If they are not charging, try a different cable (lightning cords fray and fail most of the time). If the charging case won’t hold juice, there might be a dead battery in the shell.
Software is the other reason. If your phone has an old firmware, sync issues can happen. If AirPods still won’t connect after a reset and a software update, it could be physical damage or battery degradation. (Batteries don’t last forever, especially ones this small.) Look for cracks or moisture damage, but if they’re physically pristine and still won’t turn on, it’s likely an internal hardware failure.
What Do I Do When My AirPods Won’t Turn On?
If your AirPods won’t work, it doesn’t mean they are done and dusted. You can try to fix them with these steps to get them working again.
- Check AirPods Battery: First, make sure the batteries are in good shape before anything else. Put both earbuds in the case and plug it into a wall outlet using an iPhone or iPad charger. Don’t rely on a weak laptop port if you can help it. If you suspect the Lightning or USB-C port is busted or full of pocket lint, try a MagSafe or Qi wireless pad instead. It’s usually as fast and saves you from fiddling with a broken connector.
- Check the Charging Case Battery: The next thing is to see if the case has a problem. Take the AirPods out and connect the charger to the case. Without earbuds inside, the juice fills very fast—15 minutes of charging should give you around 3 hours of battery. If you won’t get that turnaround, the charging case’s battery is likely dead.
If your AirPods haven’t been used for a while, the earbuds and charging case likely have drained completely. Therefore, always charge them for at least 30 minutes before connecting them to your device.
- Try a Different Charging Cable: If you’ve been using the same cable for a while, especially if it’s not an official Apple cable, it’s very likely dead because third-party cords don’t survive long. If it’s frayed or gets old, that’s why the AirPods don’t charge. Replace it with a fresh charging cable to see if that fixes the problem, and better to always use the original cable.
- Clean AirPods from Dust and Debris: Clean the silver contacts at the bottom of your AirPods. These tips should make proper contact with the case’s charging pins, but dust or debris can create a barrier. Further, check the charging wells inside the case. When you put the AirPods in, they ought to snap into place. If you don’t feel the magnetic click or if it seems like they’re floating, something physical is blocking the connection. Use a dry, soft-bristle brush or microfiber cloth to clear debris. Avoid liquid cleaners or compressed air, as they can damage the sensors. Once clean, put the AirPods back into the case and make sure they’re properly seated.
- Check for Software Updates: If the hardware looks fine to you, but AirPods don’t wake up, it can also be a software glitch. AirPods update their firmware automatically while charging near the phone, but they must be turned on to install the updates. If buds don’t respond, update your iPhone or Mac first. Sometimes a fresh iOS version is enough to kickstart the connection between the devices and get things moving again. If you do manage to get them paired, you can see if the earbuds are up to date. Tap the “i” icon next to AirPods in Bluetooth settings, then scroll down to the “About” section to check the firmware version.
- Reset the AirPods: AirPods and case are fully charged but won’t turn on? Perform a complete reset and reconnect them to your device. Place AirPods in the charging case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds. Next, open the lid and hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds. Watch for the status light to flash amber first, then white. This removes all Bluetooth pairings and resets the firmware connections. After that, keep the iPhone or iPad near the open case to see pairing prompts on the screen. Follow these steps to reconnect.
AirPods Still Not Turning On? Contact Apple for Support
Once you’ve checked the cables, cleaned the contacts, performed a reset, and updated the software, a dead AirPods case likely means it’s time to get professional help. Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers can test battery health and identify internal circuit failures.
If the AirPods are under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, the repair or replacement is mostly free or discounted. Given how compact and sealed the Apple products are, DIY repair is not worth the risk because it’ll likely damage them permanently.
