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Embracing wireless AirPods means keeping track of their remaining battery level and ensuring they're charged and ready to go whenever you want to head out.
Over time, the batteries in your AirPods won't last as long as they used to, and you may find yourself struggling to listen to everything you want before it dies.
To combat this, let's look at everything you can do to prevent your AirPods' batteries from draining so fast.
1. Store Your AirPods in the Case
If you've been a long-time user of wired earbuds, you may feel it's harmless to take your AirPods out from your ear and leave them on the side until your next use.
One problem with this habit is, of course, potentially losing your AirPods. However, another issue is that if you don't store your AirPods in the case, they will continue to lose battery power. That's because the earbuds are still connected to your device's Bluetooth.
Even if you turn off Bluetooth, your AirPods remain in an active, ever-ready state to connect immediately for your convenience. Therefore, remember to put your AirPods back in their case when they're not in use to prevent your AirPods from losing charge.
2. Don't Open and Close Your AirPods Case Lid Repeatedly
Much like clicking a pen cap or pushing the slider of retractable USB drives, every single AirPods owner has probably been guilty of flicking the case lid open and shut repeatedly.
But each time you open and close the charging case, you activate your AirPods' Bluetooth and suddenly turn it off again. Sending endless instructions like this drains your AirPods' battery life.
This happens whether the AirPods are in the case or not. Once you've successfully paired and connected your AirPods, place the case somewhere your hands can't reach!
3. Disable Automatic Ear Detection
Notice how your AirPods perfectly pause a song or video when you remove one earbud from your ear and continue to play once you put it back in?
Automatic Ear Detection is the convenient feature that enables this function. But, needless to say, it also consumes your AirPods' batteries.
If Automatic Ear Detection isn't a must-have feature for you, you can turn it off:
- Go to the Settings app and select Bluetooth.
- Ensure that your AirPods are connected to your iPhone.
- Tap the More Info (i) button next to your AirPods.
- Now, use the toggle to turn off Automatic Ear Detection.
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4. Turn Off Noise Cancellation
Noise cancellation provides a better listening experience by blocking out sounds in your surroundings. However, the feature also consumes your AirPods' battery.
Only the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max have this feature; the standard AirPods do not. So, find out what AirPods you have, and if you're using the first two models, you can turn off noise cancellation to preserve battery life.
When your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max is connected to your device, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the More Info (i) button next to your AirPods. Under Noise Control, select Off.
5. Use Only One AirPod at a Time
Let's say you're about to watch a live stream that's more than two hours long, but you see your AirPods only have 40% battery left.
In this case, you can make the battery last as long as possible by using only one AirPod at a time. Meanwhile, leave your other AirPod to charge in the case.
This method isn't always ideal because it does affect user experience. However, it's the most practical way to prevent your AirPods from dying when you need them, as only half the battery power is being used at once.
6. Lower the Volume of Your AirPods
Turning up the volume to enjoy a song in its full glory is a satisfying experience. But if you're tapping into a 3-hour playlist and listening to it at near-maximum volume throughout, you'll likely notice that your AirPods are dying even though you just fully charged them.
Therefore, besides using only one AirPod at a time, lowering the volume can help to save battery life and prevent your AirPods' battery from draining too fast. This practice protects your ears as well; constantly blasting the volume is harmful in the long term.
7. Practice Good AirPods Charging Habits
Many of us are probably guilty of using up our AirPods' battery until it's completely flat. But if this is a regular occurrence, it's going to wear down your battery quickly. Thus, this may be why your AirPods aren't holding charge as well as before.
Place your AirPods back in its case to charge when it falls below 40 or 50 percent. The same applies to your AirPods case itself. Don't wait until the battery is empty before charging it.
Similarly, don't overcharge your AirPods either. While it's safe to keep your AirPods in its case when you're not using them, it might be easy to forget you're charging your AirPods case after you plugged it in. It's best to set a reminder to unplug it, and don't leave both your AirPods and its case to charge overnight.
8. Enable Optimized Battery Charging
The AirPods (3rd generation) and AirPods Pro have an Optimized Battery Charging feature that learns from your charging routine. This feature preserves the battery health because your AirPods will only charge past 80 percent when you're about to use them soon.
Taking care of the battery will help reduce further wear that would otherwise weaken your AirPods' charge-holding capabilities. You can go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap More Info (i) on your AirPods, and toggle on Optimized Battery Charging to enable the feature.
9. Reset Your AirPods
If you experience excessive battery drain on your iPhone, a go-to solution is to reset your device. The same goes for your AirPods.
Here's how to reset your AirPods if they're draining more than they should be:
- Place your AirPods in the case and close the lid.
- Wait for 30 seconds, then open the case lid.
- On your device, go to the Settings app and select Bluetooth.
- Tap the More Info (i) button next to your AirPods.
- Select Forget This Device.
- Tap Forget Device to confirm.
- With the lid still opened, press the round Setup button on your AirPods case for 15 seconds. The status light should flash amber, then white.
- Lastly, simply reconnect your AirPods to your device to use them again.
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10. Repair or Replace Your AirPods' Battery
If nothing works, it may mean that your AirPods need fixing. You can visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider to repair or replace the batteries in this case. This service doesn't usually replace the actual batteries, instead you get replacement AirPods. It's not usually free, but it is cheaper than buying brand new AirPods.
If you love your current AirPods, there's no need to upgrade your AirPods every year. Paying for a battery replacement is a good way to fix the issue. It's more eco-friendly as well because it ensures your old AirPods will be recycled however possible.
Preserve the Battery Life of Your AirPods
Like all tech devices, AirPods occasionally have hiccups here and there, but they can often be solved easily yourself. By using the methods explained here, you should find that it will help preserve your AirPods' battery better while you're watching videos, listening to music, or having a phone call.
When you frequently notice that the battery of your AirPods dies fast, it may also be time to review how you're caring for your device to ensure that you're not accidentally speeding up the battery's degradation process.
FAQs
10 Tips to Prevent Your AirPods Batteries Draining Too Quickly? ›
How to Slow AirPod Battery Drain. The two most effective ways to have your AirPod battery last longer are by turning off Automatic Ear Detection and the Double-Tap AirPod command. These take a lot of battery power even when they are on standby.
How do I slow down my AirPod battery? ›How to Slow AirPod Battery Drain. The two most effective ways to have your AirPod battery last longer are by turning off Automatic Ear Detection and the Double-Tap AirPod command. These take a lot of battery power even when they are on standby.
Is it OK to drain AirPods battery? ›While it's a good idea to max out each charge before recharging your AirPods, you never want to fully discharge the batteries.
What drains AirPods fastest? ›Don't Open and Close Your AirPods Case Lid Repeatedly
But each time you open and close the charging case, you activate your AirPods' Bluetooth and suddenly turn it off again. Sending endless instructions like this drains your AirPods' battery life. This happens whether the AirPods are in the case or not.
Your case holds multiple, full charges for your AirPods, so you can charge on the go. To keep your AirPods charged, put them in the case when you're not using them.
Why do my AirPods only last 1 hour? ›The most common reason why one AirPod dies faster than the other is that it's not getting enough charge in the case. Try cleaning the earbud and the case thoroughly and charging your AirPods again.
Why are my AirPods dying so fast? ›The AirPods case is damaged on one side
It could be that the AirPod that dies faster is completely fine, but it just isn't getting enough charge because its side of the charging case is damaged. Again, all you have to do is get in touch with Apple support and schedule a repair or replacement.
How Long Do AirPods Last: Their Average Lifespan. AirPods typically last about 2-3 years before most users feel the need to replace them.
How long does it take AirPods to get to 100%? ›When using a wired connection, a full charge for the AirPods case will take approximately an hour. Wireless charging will take longer than wired connection before reaching 100%. Based on our testing, it takes at least 30 minutes longer for wireless charging as opposed to wired.
Why do AirPods disconnect at 20%? ›If your AirPods disconnect a lot, ensure you have adequate battery charge. If you find your earbuds are under 20% charged, pop them in the charger until they're at 75% to try again. While in theory a low battery shouldn't ever cause dropouts, sometimes a low battery correlates with worse performance.
Why won't my AirPods charge to 100? ›
If your AirPods are not charging, make sure your case has its own charge and the charging light is on. Your AirPods should charge whenever they're in the charging case, but sometimes they don't work as expected. If all else fails, you might need to factory reset your AirPods or get them serviced by Apple.
Is it OK to leave AirPods in a hot car? ›Using AirPods in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life. Store your AirPods where the temperature is between -10º and 45º C (14º to 113º F). Don't leave your AirPods in your car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.
Which AirPod is best? ›Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
Apple wins again with its AirPods Pro, a set of in-ear Bluetooth headphones that features Apple's new H2 chip. This model has 2x more Active Noise Cancellation to keep out pesky sounds that can interfere with your listening.
It is not possible at all to overcharge your AirPods case because the AirPods battery is designed to stop charging once it's all juiced up 100%. You also might be wondering how long AirPods cases take to charge to avoid keeping it plugged in for too long.
Are AirPods waterproof? ›Your AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generation), AirPods (3rd generation), MagSafe Charging Case for AirPods (3rd generation), Lightning Charging Case for AirPods (3rd generation), and MagSafe Charging Case for AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are water and sweat resistant, but they are not waterproof or sweatproof.
How do I check the health of my AirPod battery? ›Open your AirPods case (with the AirPods inside) near the Bluetooth-enabled device and wait for the pop-up to appear near the bottom of your screen. Here, you can see the battery status of both your AirPods and charging case.
How much does it cost to replace an AirPod battery? ›Apple charges the following battery service fee for AirPods: AirPods 1st and 2nd generation: $49 for each AirPod. AirPods Pro: $49 for each AirPod. AirPods Max: $79.
What happens if the AirPod case dies? ›If the AirPods case is completely dead, then the AirPods will not turn off when you put them back in the case. They will just stay on even when inside the case with the lid closed. The earpieces will start discharging once the case drops to 0%.
Is it okay to charge AirPod case with AirPods inside? ›You can charge your case with or without your AirPods inside. Charging is fastest when you use an iPhone or iPad USB charger or plug into your Mac.
How long do the oldest AirPods last? ›Because the ultralow-power W1 chip manages battery life so well, AirPods deliver an incredible 5 hours of listening time on one charge. And they're made to keep up with you, thanks to a charging case that holds multiple additional charges for more than 24 hours of listening time.
Why are my AirPods blinking orange? ›
Flashing amber/orange light: Your AirPods are experiencing a pairing error. No light: Either they are not in use or have run out of battery. Connect with your device to verify the status.
Why is my AirPod case blinking green? ›A green flashing light on airpods can sometimes represent issues with charging, especially if the airpods are not present in the case. Some of the reasons include fault with charging cable, power source issue, or damaged charging case. We recommend you try charging the case using a different power source or cable.
Why are my AirPods battery dying so fast? ›If your AirPods are about to die, try turning down the volume and see if that works. Keep your AirPods from being too hot or too cold. One less well-known element that kills lithium-ion batteries is temperature. Extreme temperatures may hasten the battery loss of AirPods.
Why is one of my AirPods dying so fast? ›Even with both earbuds in, one mic may be used more than the other causing disproportionate battery drain. This is more likely to affect you if you have manually set to always use the microphone on one side. Verify this in Settings > Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list and select the “i” icon next to them.
Why is my AirPods case dying so fast? ›Make sure there is no debris blocking the charging contacts on the case or the AirPods Pro. Try charging the AirPods Pro with a different charging cable and plug. Try resetting the AirPods Pro by removing them from your ears and placing them in the charging case.
Why do AirPods charge so fast? ›One of the primary reasons AirPods charge quickly is their relatively small battery capacity. Each AirPod contains a 93 milliwatt-hour (mWh) battery, while the charging case houses a 398 mWh battery. These small batteries require less time to charge fully, resulting in a faster overall charging process.
How many years do AirPods last? ›How Long Do AirPods Last: Their Average Lifespan. AirPods typically last about 2-3 years before most users feel the need to replace them.
Why do my AirPods last less than 30 minutes? ›Over time, the lithium-ion batteries degrade and make each charge shorter and shorter. Simply put, they will run out of power more quickly as time goes on.
What do I do with my old AirPods? ›For free recycling of your old device, a prepaid shipping label, and instructions, see the Apple Trade In website. The symbol above means that according to local laws and regulations your product and/or its battery shall be disposed of separately from household waste.
Can you overcharge AirPods? ›It is not possible at all to overcharge your AirPods case because the AirPods battery is designed to stop charging once it's all juiced up 100%. You also might be wondering how long AirPods cases take to charge to avoid keeping it plugged in for too long.
Why is my AirPod case staying orange? ›
The steady orange or amber light on your AirPods and AirPods Pro can signify a battery concern. To get this out of the way, charge your AirPods, and you're good to go. However, a flashing or blinking orange light can result from a general connectivity concern.
Can you turn off AirPod case? ›On iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Go to Settings , tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, then turn Enable Charging Case Sounds on or off.
How long do AirPods last on 50%? ›With both AirPods and AirPods Pro, you'll get over 24 hours of total listening time or 18 hours of full talk time with multiple charges in your case. Apple suggests these usage times based on your earbuds being used at 50% volume with noise cancellation enabled.
How fast do AirPods charge to 100%? ›| AirPods | AirPods Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Charging time in case for a full charge | 20 to 25 minutes | 50 to 60 minutes |
| Full charge battery life | Up to 5 hours of listening time | Up to 6 hours of listening time |
Check the serial number
You'll have to remove the magnetic ear cushion to see it. Once you've obtained the serial number, head over to checkcoverage.apple.com. This webpage will show the relevant warranty and additional coverage details of the AirPods. If your AirPods are genuine, you'll see proper results.