How to Fix AirPods Disconnecting from iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch
“Help, my AirPods are disconnecting randomly!” AirPods generally work great once they have been setup with an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, but rarely some AirPods users may experience frequent random disconnections. When this is occurring, the AirPods disconnect from the iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, and sometimes get stuck disconnecting and reconnecting with frequency, making them largely unusable. Fortunately some simple troubleshooting of this issue is usually sufficient to resolve the problem and get AirPods to connect reliably and stop disconnecting.
We’re focusing on AirPods disconnecting from an iPhone here, but the tips apply to troubleshooting the same issue with AirPods and iPad, and an associated Apple Watch too.
Before beginning, check the following with AirPods and the iPhone or iPad:
- Make sure the AirPods case battery is charged
- Make sure both the AirPods battery are also charged
- Ensure that Bluetooth is enabled on the iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch
- You will need the AirPods and iOS device to be near one another
You’ll essentially be forgetting and removing the Bluetooth device (in this case the AirPods), and then next going through the process of resetting AirPods and then setting them up again for use with iOS.
How to Fix AirPods Disconnecting from iPhone or iPad
- On the iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and go to “Bluetooth”
- Tap the (i) button next to the AirPods name, then tap on “Forget This Device”
- Restart the iPhone by turning it off and back on again, unlock the iPhone when it turns back on as usual
- Put the AirPods in the charge case and close the lid for 15 seconds
- Open the AirPods lid, then press and hold down the button on the AirPods case until you see the light flash orange several times, and then flash white
- With AirPods near the iPhone, wait for the AirPods setup process to appear on the iPhone or iPad screen
At this point the AirPods should work just fine with the iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, and the AirPods should stay connected constantly and no longer disconnect randomly or disconnect and reconnect frequently.
Fixing AirPods Disconnecting from Apple Watch
Restart the Apple Watch, ensure that Bluetooth is enabled on Apple Watch, and then use the same steps above for resolving AirPods disconnections with an iOS device. This should work to resolve AirPods connection difficulties or connecting dropping with Apple Watch.
Remember that if the AirPods battery drains down they will disconnect automatically as well, and a common reason that AirPods disconnect is that the battery simply runs out. Thus keeping track of battery levels can be helpful. You can check AirPods battery level in the Notification Center Batteries widget of iOS, by opening the AirPods case near the synced iPhone or iPad, and you can see their battery level on a Mac from the Bluetooth menu too, assuming they are synced with the Mac.
If you are continuing to experience problems with AirPods disconnecting, charge them and their case to 100% and then reset AirPods entirely, reboot the iPhone or iPad, and then go through the AirPods setup process in iOS again. If that doesn’t work, there may be some other problem with the AirPods, and you may wish to visit a certified Apple Repair Center or Apple Store for assistance.
Same exact problem. Only the left disconnects after a few seconds. All fully charged, deleted and reconnected as per instructions above, to no avail. Please help.
Worked like a charm. My right AirPod kept disconnecting every few minutes. I reset it but it didn’t work. Followed everything on this page exactly as instructed and it hasn’t disconnected for the last hour in the gym. Thank you!
My Airpods keep disconnecting from every kinds of devices; iphone, ipad, macbook, Sony Vaio notebook, Samsung Galaxy S10+ android mobile phone, etc; after every several seconds of connecting, starting with the right side then the left side after a few months.
My Airpods started this repeated auto-disconnect by one side. I tried every solutions I could find out in the intenet, but still not solved.
Check the AirPods Battery Status to 100%
Use Either Left or Right Microphone
Turn off Automatic Ear Detection to Fix My AirPods Keep Disconnecting
Forgetting and Re-pairing AirPods
Reset Network Settings
Changing Outputs on devices
I took the airpots to the official apple service in Thailand tried all the resetting including the Airpots and every apple devices and got nothing solved. Just wasted plenty of time.
Now this happened to both sides of my Airpots. Someone advised that the problem is the bluetooth unit of the Airpots have short lifespan. Fortunately, I didn’t try the expensive bluetooth replacement with the first broken before the second side followed.
Is Apple ignoring this low standard short-life device resulting in untrustworthy?
Am I one of the poor Apple followers…?
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I have the same issue. Only my left AirPod gets disconnected after about 4 min of use. Battery is 100% charged on both AirPods. I suspect that Apple
Is playing software gimmicks to make u buy their latest models. They played the same game when they launched newer iPhones and making older models so slow. Finally smart folks caught them fining hundreds of millions of dollars for the gimmicks Apple was playing. If hundreds of us are having the same issue, obviously Apple need to address it and get us a replacement. Annoying!
This is exactly what is happening with mine, have u fixed it
I have Airpod series 1 and 2 also, Airpod 1 kept from last few months which I didnt use, and recently My Airpod 2 I forgot somewhere and then when I took my airpod 1 for reuse then Im facing same disconnecting problem, connect only for few minutes like 5-10 minutes and then discoonect, I tried so many solutions but I couldnt find a way… hope
khush
lucknow
True all the efforts are in vein
Airport disconnecting frequently. Tried many things. Useless.
My AirPods are getting disconnected again and again. I have resetting it but was of no use. I switched off my iPhone and connected back again as mentioned in the steps above but I’m still facing this issue.
Left side AirPod disconnects automatically in 1 minute or when I am on call I tried everything but nothing helps what can I do ?
Recently i started facing this issue with My Airpods 1 and in particular left airpod disconnected from blutooth within a min and then when i put back the airpod in the case and then repair it started working for 1 min and disconnect again. I had gone through all different forums and followed whats recommended as a potential fix but nothing working. When i checked battery its showing well above 90%. Not sure if its issue with Airpods. Same issue i faced when connected to other devices
im facing the same problem with my left one. so, they are working the same or they will get improved?
Same problem left side disconnection.
Im facing this also, I tried so many times diffrent ways like recoonect, forget n change handset n bla bla bla but i couldnt find any way.
Khush
Lucknow
Same goes here, the funny thing is I bought mine same time as my wife and we have same exact issues disconnecting left airpod! I just fine it too coincidental that after releasing two new airpod and both out airpod started having this issues. its very suspicious, and it really are terrible if APPLE do this on purpose.
Hello, I purchased these new air pods brand new and every time I close the case and set the case down the air pods disconnect from my iPhone. Sometimes it’s even choppy like it’s skipping while I’m listening. I purchased these AirPods for work while traveling. I’ve done and followed your steps to see if it would fix the issue, it has not, please help with any assistance.
Hi
Recently i started facing this issue with My Airpods 1 and in particular left airpod disconnected from blutooth within a min and then when i put back the airpod in the case and then repair it started working for 1 min and disconnect again. I had gone through all different forums and followed whats recommended as a potential fix but nothing working. When i checked battery its showing well above 90%. Not sure if its issue with Airpods. Same issue i faced when connected to other devices
My air pods disconnect within two minutes. Nothing done. Useless now.
Thanks! This actually worked!
This worked. Thank you!
This saved me so much! Thank you! I almost thought my airpods were broken. Until I read your comment and immediately realized that the same thing was happening to me.
What I found was my AirPods were connected to my computer so they were wanting to connect to them instead. Make sure other devices aren’t connect to Bluetooth maybe that will help! 🙂
I have done all this process , but I have faced same problem again and again
Sometimes my AirPods would stop working while I was at the gym. My iPhone would be locked up in a locker, but it was still close enough for my AirPods to stay connected. After much frustration, I figured out that the iPhone and AirPods were competing for the AirPods. I think I have this solved by turning off Bluetooth on my iPhone right before I start working out. I came up with this idea and the solution when I realized that the ONLY place I ever had this problem was while I was at the gym. It never happened if I went out for a walk with just my Apple Watch and my AirPods. During the walks, the iPhone is at least 1000 feet away, so there’s no chance that the iPhone could stay connected to the AirPods. My gym is small enough so that it is possible to keep playing music from the iPhone even while it’s locked up in a locker. This is annoying but it’s nice to know that AirPods have this kind of range.
A complete unpair and re-pair is a bit drastic. I occasionally get into the situation where my music/podcast/whatever will play for ten seconds or so and then disconnect.
A simple solution is to put the AirPods back in the case, wait for fifteen seconds or so and take them out again.
It’s never failed to fix it.
BT connectivity to iPhones has always been an issue. Apple needs to address this, but refuses.
Sadly new iPhones don’t have a built in audio jack, forcing users to crappy BT devices that sound horrible and disconnect, or to PAY for an adapter. IMO this is just more ways Apple shows they don’t care about consumers past their money.