There is no doubt that Apple AirPods are some of the most popular Bluetooth earbuds on the market. In a single holiday season, they sold over 27 million units. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that Apple users are immune to AirPod problems.
AirPod tech issues can arise even with perfectly functioning AirPods–luckily, they usually have a simple solution. For example, when your left AirPod is not working, inserting and removing it from the case usually fixes the problem.
But what if those standard AirPod troubleshooting tips don’t work, and you need to do an AirPod reset?
Hold onto your AppleCare+ subscription, because hope is not yet lost. Let’s talk about how to perform the AirPod reset–and what it does.
AirPod Troubleshooting Before a Reset
If you are running into earbud issues, you should try a few things first. Chances are, one of these simple fixes will solve your problem:
- Make sure your AirPods are fully charged
- Make sure the contacts on the bottom of the AirPods and inside the case are clean
- Make sure you have turned on Bluetooth
- Make sure the AirPods case is registered on your iPhone when you pop open the lid
If you have tried all these things, and your AirPod problems persist, it’s time to reset.
How to Perform an AirPod Reset
Fortunately, a complete AirPods reset is very quick and easy. Follow the steps below.
- Open the case and insert your AirPods as you would normally use them
- Open the Settings App
- Find your AirPods; they should be beneath your name and family section
- Scroll down to the very bottom and select Forget This Device
- Put the AirPods back in the case, but keep the lid open
- Now, hold that button on the back of the case for approximately 15 seconds
- Once you see an amber light, you can pair the AirPods again with your iPhone
Ta-da! Your AirPods are now completely reset back to factory settings. Note, they will not require a firmware update after doing this.
What Does the AirPod Reset Do?
Like many devices, the reset simply returns your AirPods to their factory settings. This wipes out all user information and makes it as if your AirPods were brand new. This tends to eliminate any software issues, which are the main cause of AirPod problems.
In some rare cases, the AirPod reset may not solve your problem. This means that it is not a software issue, but a hardware one. In that case, you may need to seek out AirPod replacement parts or contact AppleCare.
Fix Your AirPods Today
An AirPod reset is an excellent way to solve the vast majority of AirPod problems. It only takes a few minutes, and then your AirPods will be functioning as if they were brand new. However, if the AirPod reset does not fix the problem, then you may require a hardware fix.
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