AirPods Sleep Mode: Do AirPods Pro Go To Sleep?

The AirPods Pro have been one of Apple’s most successful launches, thanks to great new features such as Automatic Ear Detection and Noise Cancellation. However, some users complain that the AirPods battery gets depleted even when it’s not in use. So, do the AirPods Pro go to sleep?

AirPods Pro go to sleep when you’re not using them. Sleep mode is a power-saving mode where only essential functions such as ear detection and proximity sensors are active. However, you can turn off some of these features to extend the battery life even further. 

Let’s take a closer look at what happens to your AirPods Pro when they’re not being used and what you can do to prolong their battery life. 

Do AirPods Pro Go Idle When They’re Not in Use?

The AirPods Pro will go idle and enter a power-saving mode when they’re not in use. This is similar to the sleep mode on many other devices — only essential functions will stay on.

If you take out the AirPods without pausing the audio, the AirPods will automatically enter sleep mode thanks to Automatic Ear Detection. 

However, the AirPods remain functional even when they’re idle. The ear detection sensors and proximity sensor stay active and slowly drain the battery even if the AirPods are idle.

From my persona experience, the battery will drain very slowly when the AirPods Pro is in power-saving mode; it might take 8-10 hours for the battery to drop just 10-12%. 

When AirPods Pro go into power-saving mode, they will automatically pair with your device when the Bluetooth is switched on or if you place the AirPods in your ears. So, while AirPods do go to sleep mode, they can easily be activated without having to wait for them to pair or restart. 

Best Ways to Preserve AirPods Pro Battery Life

Even though your AirPods go into sleep mode when they’re not in use, the batteries will still drain slowly, unless you place them in the charging case. But what if you want to preserve the AirPods Pro battery life while you’re not using them? 

Here are some ways to preserve the battery life of your AirPods Pro: 

Keep the AirPods in the Charging Case

If you want to keep your AirPods charged when not in use, make a habit of storing them in the case. While the AirPods will still use some power when in the case, the battery will stay at 100% because the AirPods charge faster than they consume power. 

Turn Off Automatic Ear Detection

If you turn off this feature, the AirPods won’t connect automatically when you place them in your ears, but they won’t consume extra power either. 

Turn Off the Double Tap AirPod Command

Turning off the double-tap AirPod command will also preserve the AirPods Pro battery. To turn off this feature, follow the same steps for turning off Automatic Ear Detection but select ‘Double-Tap AirPod‘ instead and disable it. 

How Often Should You Charge Your AirPods Pro Case?

It takes around an hour to charge your AirPods Pro case, and the case will charge the AirPods up to five times before needing to be recharged.

However, you shouldn’t wait for the AirPods case’s battery to run out before you recharge it. Always try to recharge the AirPods Pro case when the battery is around 30%. 

If you’ve fully charged your AirPods case, it should last for 1-2 days — if you use your AirPods moderately. And even if you use your AirPods continuously, you’ll only need to charge the case after about 24-30 hours. 

The best way to see whether your AirPods case needs a charge is to look at the battery life. To do that, place the AirPods in the charging case and pair them with your phone.

Go into settings, then Bluetooth, and click on the ‘i‘ icon next to your AirPods. You’ll be able to see the battery life of both the AirPods and the charging case.  

Does Overcharging AirPods Pro Hurt Their Battery?

You can’t overcharge an AirPods Pro because the case will automatically stop charging when it’s at 100%. However, charging the AirPods and case to 100% will slowly reduce the battery life over time. If you want to preserve the AirPods battery for longer, disconnect the charger when the battery is 70-80% charged. 

The same goes for most phones, smartwatches, and other devices with lithium-ion batteries. Also, avoid using the AirPods until the battery is dead before charging them; letting the battery run out completely gradually reduces its life.