Are AirPods Pro Cases Interchangeable?

Following their release in 2016, Apple’s AirPods have become the most popular Bluetooth earphones out there. Apple has now released several versions of the AirPods, and all use very similar-looking cases. So, are the AirPod cases interchangeable?  

While researching AirPod Pro Cases, be sure to bookmark these popular articles: Do AirPods 1 And 2 Have The Same Case, Can You Connect Airpods Without A Case, and 33 Tips for Airpod Pros here on our website.

AirPods Pro cases are interchangeable with other AirPods Pro cases, so you can use someone else’s case or get a replacement one if yours is lost. However, you can only use an Apple AirPod Pro case with AirPods Pro; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-generation AirPods cases won’t work. 

Let’s look at which AirPods cases are interchangeable and whether you can use new AirPods with your original case. We’ll also walk you through the steps to pair your AirPods with a new case and vice versa. 

Are AirPods Pro Cases Interchangeable With Each Other?

AirPods Pro cases are interchangeable with each other, and you can use any AirPods Pro case to charge your AirPods Pro (on Amazon).

If you lose your AirPods case, you can always use a replacement case to charge your AirPods. However, you can only use an AirPods Pro case as a replacement case. 

When you buy a new AirPods Pro, you’ll get the charging case along with the purchase. The AirPods Pro case is compatible with both Lightning charging and wireless charging and has a longer battery life than regular AirPods cases. 

However, the AirPods Pro case is also quite expensive compared to the charging cases for other AirPods. Fortunately, you can track your lost AirPods case if at least one of the AirPods is inside.

Are AirPods Pro Cases Interchangeable With Standard AirPods Cases?

AirPods Pro cases aren’t compatible with standard AirPods cases. You can’t charge AirPods Pro in a regular AirPods case or use an AirPods Pro case to charge standard AirPods. They are incompatible by design. 

On the other hand, you can use the 1st-generation AirPods charging case with 2nd-generation AirPods and vice versa. Standard 1st-generation cases aren’t wireless charging compatible, and they still work with 2nd-generation AirPods cases that are Qi charging compatible. 

Unfortunately, certain advanced features and connectivity issues make it impossible to replace the AirPods Pro case with a standard AirPods case and vice versa. Most standard cases also don’t support wireless charging (although you can get a custom wireless charger-compatible 2nd-generation AirPods case). 

Can You Charge Your AirPods With Someone Else’s Case?

We’ve all been in that situation where you forget your AirPods case at home, and your AirPods run out of charge. But is it possible to use someone else’s case to charge your AirPods? 

Fortunately, you can use any AirPods case to charge your AirPods as long as it’s the same version as your AirPods. 1st and 2nd-generation AirPods can be charged with a 1st or 2nd-generation case, while AirPods Pro will only charge with an AirPods Pro case. 

The best part of charging your AirPods with someone else’s case is that you don’t have to worry about forgetting the previous AirPods or pairing your AirPods with the new case for it to charge.

Simply place the AirPods in the new case, and it will charge. However, if you want to pair the AirPods with any device, you’ll have to pair them with the new case first. 

So, next time your friend makes the excuse of incompatibility when borrowing their charging case, you’ll know what to say!

Can You Replace Just the AirPods Pro Case?

If you’ve lost your AirPods Pro or forgotten it on a long trip, your main concern will be to get a new case. There’s no way to charge the AirPods Pro without the charging case, and any alternative method that claims to help you do so could damage your AirPods.

But do you need to replace the AirPods Pro with the case, or can you replace the case? 

You can replace the AirPods Pro case without changing your AirPods Pro since all AirPods Pro use the same case. This is one of the main advantages of the AirPods Pro, and replacement cases are readily available. 

However, always make sure that you’re replacing the AirPods case with an authentic one. Using fake replacement cases is always a gamble since the case may or may not work. Some replacement cases will only charge the AirPods and won’t allow pairing to Apple devices. 

How to Connect a New Charging Case to Your AirPods Pro

If you lose your AirPods charging case and get an original replacement one, you’ll have to connect it to the AirPods Pro for proper pairing. Follow these steps to connect a new AirPods Pro case to the AirPods: 

1. Go into the Bluetooth Settings on your phone. 
   
2. Select your AirPods, click on the ‘i‘ icon and click ‘Forget.’
   
3. Open the new charging case and place both AirPods inside. 
   
4. Close the lid and reopen it. Wait for the light to flash amber. 
   
5. Leave the lid open and hold the status button down for 10-15 seconds or until you see the status light flash. 
   
6. If you have an Apple device nearby, the setup instructions should appear on the home screen. If you have an Android device, go onto ‘Bluetooth‘ and connect to the AirPods manually. 

The AirPods Pro case will automatically recognize the AirPods when they’re placed in the case. You can use the case to charge the AirPods without pairing, but if you want to use the AirPods, you’ll need to pair them with the case first. 

Can You Replace Just Your AirPods Pro?

While replacing a lost AirPods case is easy, you’re more likely to lose your AirPods instead. If you lose your AirPods, you can use the Find My Device app to find them.

This app helps you track the AirPods and plays a sound to locate their exact position. However, you’ll need to get new ones if you can’t find your AirPods. But can you keep the case and replace just the AirPods? 

You don’t have to purchase a new case if you’ve lost your AirPods. The old case will work with your new AirPods as long as they’re the same version.

However, if you’re buying directly from Apple stores, you’ll get a charging case with the AirPods Pro purchase anyways. If you buy your AirPods elsewhere, you can save money by purchasing the AirPods separately and using them with your existing case. 

However, just as with buying a new case, always take care not to get fake AirPods as they may not come with all the features as the original ones. Fake AirPods may also have problems pairing with the original case and, therefore, be a waste of money (unless they’re really good fakes). 

How to Connect New AirPods Pro to Your Charging Case

If you’ve got a new AirPods Pro, you’ll need to pair them with the charging case before connecting them to any device. Follow these steps to connect your AirPods Pro with the charging case: 

1. Go onto Bluetooth settings, select the old AirPods and click ‘Forget.’  
   
2. Place both AirPods inside the case. Open the case’s lid and wait for an amber light to flash. 
   
3. Press and hold the status button on the charging case until the status light flashes white. 
   
4. If you have an Apple device nearby, you’ll notice a setup animation on the home screen. Follow the instructions to pair the AirPods. If you have an Android device, go onto the Bluetooth settings and pair the AirPods manually. 

If the setup animation doesn’t show on the home screen of your Apple device, try pairing it manually. In most cases, this could be a sign that your AirPods are fake. 

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