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How to fix AirPods battery drain issues

Since its release in 2016, tech giant Apple’s AirPods have taken the digital world by storm. Its hands-free approach has made it an obvious choice over Apple’s older headsets.

AirPods Pro 2 offers an estimated six hours of listening time after being charged fully. But if you have been using them for some time now, you might have noticed that the battery of your AirPods tends to drain faster than advertised by Apple.

The battery drain issue has been faced by millions of users all over the world. Do not worry, though, as there is nothing wrong with your AirPods. So in this article, we will show you a few quickfire ways to troubleshoot and optimize your Airpods’ battery life.

Note: This guide covers fixes for AirPods (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Generation) and AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd Generations).

What could be causing AirPods battery drain?

Several reasons can cause your AirPods battery to drain quickly. Here is a ready reckoner of some possible reasons.

  1. Keeping the AirPods out of the case when not in use.
  2. Charging case malfunction.
  3. Battery optimization is turned off for your AirPods.
  4. Dirt and dust get accumulate in your AirPods and the charging case.

Note: Looking for ways to maintain AirPods battery health? Check out our AirPods battery guide for some great hacks.

How to fix the AirPods battery drain issue

No matter why your AirPods battery is draining, we will help you find the most effective solution for your AirPod battery draining issues. Each step is aimed at fixing a probable cause of concern.

  1. Factory reset AirPods
  2. Switch off automatic ear detection
  3. Always place your AirPods in the case
  4. Use AirPods battery optimization
  5. Update AirPods to the latest firmware
  6. Check and replace AirPods battery

1. Factory reset AirPods

Factory resetting your AirPods is one of the most sure-shot ways of fixing the battery drain issue. To reset your AirPods, connect them to your phone and keep them in the case. And then remove and forget them from your list of BlueTooth devices on your iPhone. After that, you can long-press the Setup button on your charging case for 15 seconds till the lights glow amber. Then reconnect your AirPods to your phone.

Check out our detailed guide on how to factory reset AirPods.

2. Switch off automatic ear detection

Apple put a lot of thought into designing this feature of your AirPod. Your AirPods can sense when they are in your ear. So if you are not wearing the AirPods, the music or video you are watching will stop automatically. It would resume again if you put the AirPods back in your ear.

While this is a very good invention by Apple, it does drain a lot of battery. So if you are facing issues with your AirPods battery, we suggest you turn off the automatic ear detection feature of your AirPods.

3. Always place your AirPods in the case

apple airpods 3

AirPods is a highly intelligent device that works based on the input from the sensors of both the left and right AirPods. When they are kept out of the case, the sensors are always alert if you suddenly decide to put them back in your ear.

This causes a lot of battery draining. So if you are in the habit of leaving your AirPods out and about, we suggest you change that and put the AirPods back in the case after you are done using them.

4. Use AirPods battery optimization

If you own the latest versions of the iPhone and AirPods, you should avail yourself of the battery optimization option from your phone’s settings menu.

  1. Connect your AirPods to your phone and open Settings.
  2. Tap and enter the Bluetooth option.
  3. Enable the Optimized Battery Charging option.

5. Update AirPods to the latest firmware

If you are using outdated firmware on your AirPods, battery issues tend to manifest. In such cases, we advise you to update the firmware of your AirPods to the latest version to resolve your battery draining issue.

6. Check and replace AirPods battery

Tip for Better AirPods Battery Life

Sometimes it might be the case that your AirPods have faulty battery or hardware. In such cases, the only course of action for you is to change your AirPods. It is impossible to replace the AirPods battery; thus, the Podswap is the only option.

AirPods battery drain issues are faced by numerous consumers all across the globe. Almost all of those issues could be solved if followed by the troubleshooting tips mentioned in the article. How did you fix your AirPods battery draining issue? Do let us know in the comments section.

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  • Mahit

    Mahit is an engineer by Education with a corporate stint to his name. He ditched the corporate boardroom wars in favor of the technology battleground. For the better part of a decade, he has worked for popular publishing outlets, including Dennis Publishing, BGR India, AppStorm, MakeUseOf, and iPhonehacks.

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