The most common reason AirPods disconnect is that Bluetooth is off on your device, or your AirPods are paired with a different device

When AirPods stop connecting, the problem is usually one of three things: Bluetooth is disabled, your AirPods are trying to connect to the wrong device, or the pairing itself is broken. Start by checking whether Bluetooth is actually on. On an iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center and look for the Bluetooth icon — it should be lit up in blue. On a Mac, click the menu bar in the top right, select Bluetooth, and make sure it shows "Bluetooth: On". If Bluetooth is off, turn it on and wait 10 seconds for your AirPods to appear in the list of available devices.

If Bluetooth is already on, your AirPods may be connected to a different device. AirPods remember multiple devices and will try to connect to whichever one they last used. If you were using them with your iPad this morning and now want to use them with your iPhone, they may still be trying to reach the iPad. Open the Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use, find your AirPods in the list, and tap "Connect" next to them. This tells them to switch over.

Key Takeaways

  • Check that Bluetooth is turned on in Control Center (iPhone/iPad) or the menu bar (Mac) before assuming your AirPods are broken.
  • AirPods connect to whichever device they last used, so if you switched devices, you need to manually reconnect them on the new one.
  • If your AirPods appear in Bluetooth settings but won't connect, forget them and re-pair by holding the setup button on the case for 15 seconds.
  • Restarting your device clears temporary Bluetooth glitches that prevent connection, and should be your second step after checking Bluetooth is on.
  • If one AirPod connects but the other doesn't, place both back in the case for 30 seconds, then remove them and let them reconnect.

Restart your device to clear temporary Bluetooth problems

Many connection problems disappear after a restart because Bluetooth can get stuck in a bad state without actually being broken. The restart clears the Bluetooth cache and forces your device to rebuild the connection from scratch. On an iPhone or iPad, press and hold the power button until "slide to power off" appears, then slide to shut down. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, select "Shut Down", wait 10 seconds, then press the power button to restart.

While your device is restarting, place your AirPods back in their case for a few seconds, then remove them. This resets their Bluetooth radio as well. Once your device finishes restarting and you see the home screen, open Bluetooth settings again and look for your AirPods in the list. They should appear within a few seconds and connect automatically if they were paired before.

Forget and re-pair your AirPods if they appear but won't connect

If your AirPods show up in your Bluetooth list but tapping them does nothing, or if they connect for a few seconds then disconnect, the pairing information is corrupted. You need to remove them from your device's memory and pair them fresh. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods, tap the "i" icon next to them, and select "Forget This Device". On a Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods, click the three dots next to them, and select "Remove".

After you forget them, place your AirPods in their case and close the lid. Wait 5 seconds, then open the lid. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case (not the button on the AirPods themselves) for 15 seconds until the light inside the case flashes white. This puts your AirPods into pairing mode. Your device should now see them as a new device available to pair. Tap your AirPods in the Bluetooth list and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the pairing.

Check for software updates on both your AirPods and your device

AirPods receive firmware updates through your device, and if your device is out of date, the update may not install properly. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates. On a Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update. These updates often include Bluetooth fixes that resolve connection problems.

You cannot manually update AirPods firmware — it happens automatically when they are connected to your device and plugged in to charge. If you have been having connection problems, place your AirPods in their case, plug the case into power, and leave them connected to your device for at least 30 minutes. This gives the firmware time to update if an update is waiting. After that, disconnect and try pairing again.

One AirPod connects but the other doesn't

If only the left or right AirPod appears in your ear, the problem is usually that one AirPod lost its connection to the other. Place both AirPods back in the case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds. This forces them to resync with each other. Open the case, remove both AirPods, and wait for them to reconnect to your device. You should hear a chime in both ears when the connection is complete.

If one AirPod still will not connect after this, check that both AirPods are charged. Place them in the case and look at the light on the front — it should be green if both are fully charged, or amber if they are still charging. If the light is red, the case itself is out of battery and cannot charge the AirPods. Plug the case into a USB-C or Lightning cable (depending on your AirPods model) and let it charge for at least 15 minutes before trying again.

Check whether your device is in range and not in airplane mode

Bluetooth has a range of about 30 feet in open space, though walls and metal objects reduce this. If you have walked far from your device or there are many obstacles between you and it, your AirPods will disconnect. Move closer to your device and try reconnecting. If you are in a crowded place with many other Bluetooth devices, interference can also cause drops. Move to a quieter area or restart your device to clear the Bluetooth cache.

Check whether airplane mode is on. On an iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top right to open Control Center and look for the airplane icon — if it is lit up, tap it to turn airplane mode off. Airplane mode disables all wireless radios, including Bluetooth. On a Mac, click the menu bar in the top right and look for the airplane icon in the Wi-Fi menu. If airplane mode is on, click it to turn it off.

Reset your AirPods completely if nothing else works

If you have tried restarting, re-pairing, and updating and your AirPods still will not connect, a complete reset may fix the problem. This erases all pairing information and returns your AirPods to factory settings. Place both AirPods in the case and close the lid. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds — the light will flash amber, then white. Keep holding until the light flashes white again, which takes about 30 seconds total. Release the button and wait 10 seconds.

Your AirPods are now reset and will not be paired with any device. Open the case near your device, and your device should see them as a new pair available to pair. Tap them in Bluetooth settings and follow the pairing steps. If they connect successfully after a reset, the problem was corrupted pairing data. If they still will not connect, the AirPods themselves may have a hardware problem and may need service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting even after I pair them?

Repeated disconnections usually mean the pairing is corrupted or there is interference in your area. Forget your AirPods and re-pair them from scratch. If they still disconnect, try using them in a different location to rule out interference from other wireless devices. If disconnections happen everywhere, the AirPods may have a hardware issue.

My AirPods are in Bluetooth settings but say "Not Connected" — what do I do?

Tap on your AirPods in the Bluetooth list and select "Connect". If nothing happens, forget them and re-pair by holding the setup button on the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white. This clears the corrupted pairing and lets you start fresh.

Can I use my AirPods with multiple devices at the same time?

AirPods can be paired with multiple devices, but they can only connect to one at a time. If you want to switch from your iPhone to your Mac, you need to manually select them in the Mac's Bluetooth settings. They will disconnect from the iPhone and connect to the Mac instead.

How do I know if my AirPods case is out of battery?

The light on the front of the case tells you the battery status. Green means fully charged, amber means charging or low battery, and red means the case is out of power. If the light is red, plug the case into a USB-C or Lightning cable and wait at least 15 minutes before using it again.

What if my AirPods are too old to update?

AirPods receive firmware updates automatically when connected to a device with the latest software. If your device is running an old version of iOS or macOS, your AirPods may not receive updates. Update your device first, then connect your AirPods and let them charge for 30 minutes to allow the firmware to install.