4 Reasons Your AirPods Keep Disconnecting And How To Fix!
Having AirPods that keep disconnecting can be really annoying, but there are some quick ways to fix this problem, once we figure out why it’s happening. One of the biggest joys of owning a pair of AirPods is how easy they are to use. Most of the time, it’s as simple as opening the sleek little case, pulling them out, putting them in your ears, and going about your business. But what about when you get ready for that run or business call and…nothing. Your AirPods aren’t connecting. What should you do then?
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Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting?
If your AirPods keep disconnecting, it’s usually because of one of the following issues:
- The battery is low
- The settings are wrong
- Your ears…and your ear settings need to be adjusted
- Your AirPods need to be repaired
One of the best things about AirPods is how easy they are to use and how effortless they make connecting to the outside world seem.
Whether you are sticking them in your ears to listen to a podcast while walking the dog, or using them for a business call while in your car, AirPods have made our lives substantially easier.
But, when they won’t connect, it can be super frustrating, especially given that they usually connect right away, and we aren’t prepared to deal with troubleshooting when they decide to malfunction. But stick with me and I’ll share with you some easy, quick tips to get your favorite accessory back up and running in no time.
I will admit it, even though I own an iPhone and a MacBook, I refused to buy AirPods for years. I thought my old, corded headphones were perfectly fine. And – truth be told – they were.
But…when I finally broke down and bought my first pair of AirPods, I fell in love. They are truly a gadget that is a game changer, and I am going to share with you a few secrets of how to keep them working in optimal shape so they will continue to be a game changer for you, too!
My Airpods Keep Disconnecting: How to Fix Them in Seconds
When AirPods were first released back in 2016, they quickly became one of Apple’s biggest sellers and gained popularity all over the world for giving consumers an opportunity to receive high-quality sound in a discreet, wireless way.
Whether you are using your AirPods for making an important phone call, listening to your favorite podcast, or jamming out to some great tunes, AirPods have become the go-to audio device for millions of people all over the planet.
Retailing for anywhere from $100 to $500, AirPods are a high-ticket gadget and we have come to rely heavily on their performance.
Having them malfunction can not only be irritating but can really affect whatever we are doing at the moment, especially if we are in a situation where we have no Plan B if our AirPods fail to work, or keep disconnecting from our other devices.
Most of the time, if your AirPods won’t stay connected, there is an easy solution.
1. The Battery is Low
If your AirPods won’t stay connected to your iPhone or other Apple device, this is a good thing to check first.
Oftentimes, a low battery will cause your AirPods to keep disconnecting while you’re using them. An AirPod case that’s in good condition should be able to keep a charge for up to 24 hours – some generations of AirPods are now boasting that they will hold a charge even longer than that.
That said, because our AirPods are known for staying charged for such long periods of time, it is easy for some users (me included!) to actually forget to plug in their AirPod cases on a regular basis. Losing track of the last time you fully charged your AirPods is a pretty easy habit to fall into.
If you think your AirPods are running low on battery life, plug in the AirPod case and put the AirPods inside. Then, put the AirPods next to your iPhone and open the case. You’ll be able to see what percent of battery life is left on your screen.
You’ll also know that the AirPods are actively charging if there is a lightning bolt icon showing up on your iPhone screen next to the photo of the earbuds.
Give your AirPods a chance to charge for a bit. Then, try to connect them again and see if a low charge was the reason they kept disconnecting.
2. The Settings Are Wrong
Here’s another potential quick fix if your AirPods keep disconnecting while you are using them.
It’s always a good idea to take a quick peek at your current setting whenever one of your Apple devices isn’t working as it normally does.
You can start by going to your Bluetooth setting on your iPhone (or whatever device you are trying to connect with your AirPods) and toggle off the Bluetooth setting. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
If that doesn’t help your AirPods connect correctly, you may need to do a deeper dive into the Settings menu.
On your iPhone (or other device) open up the Settings menu. Once there, find the current pair of AirPods you are trying to connect. Tap on the icon, then tap on the option “forget this device.”
This will fully disconnect your problematic AirPods from your other device for the moment. Wait a few seconds, then go back and re-pair the two together.
You won’t lose any data or information when you do this, but by disconnecting the AirPods completely from your iPhone or other Apple device, you may now find that the AirPods have reset, and are ready to connect and stay connected when in use.
3. Your Ears…and Your Ear Settings Need to be Adjusted
One of the great things about AirPods is how they can easily detect when they’ve been removed from your ears and thus stop emitting sound until they are re-inserted.
This cool little feature is called the Automatic Ear Detection feature and is really handy when you are listening to a podcast or lecture and get interrupted by someone needing to talk to you for a minute.
You may need to remove one of your earbuds for a moment, but don’t want to miss out on what you were just listening to. Apple knows this, so they invented the Automatic Ear Detection to allow you to remove one or both earbuds and have the audio on your other device pause until you reinsert the AirPod(s) into your ear.
This can be problematic, though, if your AirPods slip easily out of your ears, or they tend to not fit inside your ear canal correctly.
If this is the case for you, there are a couple of solutions. First, try cleaning your earbuds and seeing if you can create a more snug fit when you are wearing them.
If cleaning and rotating the earbuds doesn’t work, you can also turn off the Automatic Ear Detection feature on your AirPods. Simply go back to the Settings menu and tap on the Bluetooth icon. You will have an option to turn off the Automatic Ear Detection feature from there.
If that solves your problem then you shouldn’t have issues with your AirPods continuing to disconnect, but you won’t be able to use the Automatic Ear Detection feature unless you go back to Settings and turn it back on.
4. Your AirPods Need to be Repaired
Finally, if none of the above troubleshooting options have worked, your disconnecting problem may be with the AirPods themselves.
Like any high-end electronic, AirPods can become damaged, through exposure to liquids, being dropped, or just typical wear and tear.
AirPods do have a long life-cycle but will eventually need to be replaced, usually after three to four years if they are used regularly.
One way to know if the disconnection problem lies within the AirPods themselves is to try using one AirPod at a time. If one earbud is working properly, then you’ll know the disconnection problem is in the hardware of the other earbud.