Got an issue with your AirPods or AirPods Pro? Have you tried turning them off and on again?
That might sound like a stock answer from your office’s IT helpdesk, but resetting your buds to their factory settings can solve a lot of bugs, including some charging issues, plus you’ll want to do it if you’re planning to sell them.
Resetting your AirPods only takes a couple of minutes and after you’ve done it they’ll act as if they’re brand new, so you can either pass them on to their new owner or set them up again and get back to listening to your favourite playlists and podcasts.
Read on to find out how it’s done.
What we used
- iPhone 12 Pro
- AirPods Pro (process is identical if you’re using a standard pair of AirPods)
The short version
- Open the lid of the case
- Tap the ‘i’ icon next to your AirPods in the Bluetooth menu
- Tap ‘Forget This Device’
- Hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds
Step
1Put the AirPods in the case
Close the lid and wait at least 30 seconds. When your 30 seconds is up, reopen the lid and put the case to one side. Make sure the lid doesn’t accidentally close.
Step
2Open the Settings menu on your iPhone or iPad
Now choose the Bluetooth option, which shows all the devices that you’ve previously connected. Your AirPods will be listed here, probably with your name in front of them. Select the circular, blue ‘i’ icon next to their name and another menu will pop up.
Step
3Choose Forget This Device
This menu allows you to change the noise-cancelling mode, customise the controls and much more, but if you scroll right to the bottom you’ll see an option to ‘Forget This Device’. Press this and another confirmatory box will pop up with ‘Forget Device’ written in red. Select this to confirm. This will remove your AirPods from all the devices on your iCloud account.
Step
4Hold down the reset button on the case
On the back of your AirPods case, just below the hinge, you’ll see a small circular button. With the lid of the case still open, hold this button down for 15 seconds, until the status light flashes amber and then white. On a standard AirPods case this light is inside between the buds, but if yours have wireless charging or you have AirPods Pro it’s on the front.
FAQs
Once the AirPods have been reset, simply open the case near an iPhone, iPad or iPod and follow the steps that appear on the screen.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
