AirPods have been around since 2016, and it didn’t take long before they became the most popular Apple accessory. AirPods are designed to work flawlessly with every type of Apple device. However, unfortunately, things don’t always go to plan.
From the outset, customers have been experiencing AirPods connection problems where they randomly disconnect now and again. Presumably, you are one of these people.
But, have no fear. I’m going to run through all the potential reasons why Airpods Keep Disconnecting – How to fix it, and provide you with the toolkit to hopefully fix this problem.
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Why Do AirPods Disconnect?
There are several reasons why this happens, and they can generally be put in one of three categories.
- Software problems – Recent software updates can often create a connection problem, as can conflicting settings.
- Hardware problems – Connection issues can be caused by faulty hardware.
- Signal interference problems – Wireless interference from other devices can often be the cause of the problem.
Whatever the issue is, there is usually a fix for it. It might be simple or tricky, but rest assured, there are normally always ways to fix AirPods disconnecting.
Airpods Keep Disconnecting – How to fix it
Before doing anything, you need to check which iOS software version your Apple device is running and whether it is compatible with the model of AirPods you have.
If you have a pair of AirPods Pro, then you’ll need to be running iOS 13.2 or any later update. If you have a set of AirPods 3, then you’ll need iOS 15.1 at a minimum.
However, if your software is up-to-date, then the problem must lie somewhere else. Here are a few quick fixes that will hopefully solve the issue.
Make sure your battery is charged
You’re probably sure this isn’t the problem, but you’d be surprised how many times this issue is the culprit.
For example, it’s possible that one AirPod isn’t charging properly, or maybe your charging case had run out of power when you put them on charge. It’s even possible that the case isn’t charging properly. So, here’s what to do.
- Check the charge in your case and if necessary, give it a boost using a USB cable.
- Put your AirPods in the charging case and make sure the charging light is orange.
- Leave them in for ten minutes and then see if they still disconnect.
- Check the battery status of the case and the AirPods in the iPhone Batteries widget.
Disconnect, Forget, and Reconnect the AirPods
If turning the AirPods off and on again has failed to help, then you should try disconnecting and reconnecting them as if it was the first time.
- First, disconnect your AirPods from every device, place them back in the charging case, close the lid, and wait for at least 20 seconds.
- In your Bluetooth settings, select your AirPods and select “forget.”
- Now open the charging case lid and press and hold the setup button on the back until the indicator light goes from flashing amber to white.
- You have now completed a hard reset.
- Now you can pair them again with your iPhone or other Apple device.
Update AirPods Firmware
Even if you are running iOS software compatible with your AirPods, you may not have received the latest updates. This could be why your AirPods keep disconnecting. There may well be a bug fix in the latest firmware update that could solve this problem.
- Place your AirPods in the charging case.
- Go to settings in your iPhone and locate the AirPods in the Bluetooth menu devices tab.
- There will be an ‘i’ icon next to the AirPods. Tap it, and if there is a firmware update available to download, this will happen automatically.
- Once the update is finished, un-pair and re-pair your AirPods and see if you still have any problems.
- Make sure your iPhone has received the latest iOS update, as there may well be bug fixes in there that could stop your AirPods from disconnecting.
Check Bluetooth
Another obvious one, but there may be a problem with your Bluetooth connection staying on. Of course, your AirPods are reliant on a solid Bluetooth connection to work properly. So, you need to check that it is activated and staying connected. This is very simple to check.
- Go to Bluetooth in your device settings.
- Make sure the Bluetooth is on. It will be indicated by the green color.
- Turn it off, then on again, wait for 20 seconds, and retry using your AirPods.
- When testing the connection on your AirPods, keep the Bluetooth tab in settings open. This way, if they disconnect again, you can see if the Bluetooth is still connected or not.
Check audio device output
There is a remote chance that the reason your AirPods are not working properly is that they are not selected as the sound output on your iPhone or Apple device.
Your Apple device should choose AirPods as the sound output automatically if you have them in your ears. However, there could be a glitch. So, you’ll need to know how to manually select your AirPods as the output.
- First, get some music playing on your phone.
- Then tap the AirPlay tab below the listed song.
- Choose AirPods from the list.
You should now be hearing the music through your AirPods. If you’re on a call and having connection issues, you can check whether your AirPods are the chosen output option by tapping on the speaker icon.
Turn off Automatic Switching
AirPods are capable of switching automatically between various Apple devices once audio starts playing. There’s a possibility that this function isn’t working correctly, and your AirPods are switching to another Apple device when they are not supposed to.
This feature can be disabled completely by following these steps:
- Go to your iPhone’s settings and tap on Bluetooth.
- Tap on the ‘i’ icon by the AirPods.
- Select “Connect to this iPhone.”
- Choose “When Last Connected to This iPhone.”
- Do this for every Apple device that you own.
Turn off Automatic Ear Detection
It could be that your AirPods are having a problem with detecting whether or not they are in your ear. This can be checked on by turning the Automatic Ear Detection off.
- Go to your iPhone’s settings and tap on Bluetooth.
- Tap on the ‘i’ icon by the AirPods.
- Find “Automatic Ear Detection” and switch it off.
If your AirPods are no longer disconnecting, then there was probably a glitch in the ear detection system.
Turn iPhone WiFi off
Another of the main reasons for AirPods disconnecting could be a network connection. A glitch in the network settings could stop your device from connecting with your AirPods. It’s worth resetting the network settings on your device to see if this fixes things. Take the following steps:
- Go to iPhone Settings and tap the General tab.
- Tap “Reset iPhone” and select “Reset Network Settings.”
- You will be asked to enter your device password.
- Once entered, tap “Reset Network Settings” once again.
- Reconnect your AirPods to see if this solved the problem.
Clean the AirPods
If you haven’t cleaned your AirPods in a while, this could be the root cause of the problem. Too much dirt and grime accumulated can mess with the proximity sensors and affect the connection. Charging can also be affected by this.
Cleaning AirPods is easy if you follow these simple steps.
- You’ll need a Toothbrush, a Toothpick, some Cotton Swabs, a Lint Free Cloth, and 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.
- Apply the alcohol to the toothbrush and cotton buds and very gently clean the outer surfaces and edges of the AirPods. Whilst you’re at it, clean the charging contacts in the case.
- Any remaining dirt or wax can be extracted using the toothpick.
- Finish the cleaning by rubbing everything down with the lint-free cloth dampened with alcohol.
- With any luck, your connection issues will be solved.
Need More AirPods Information and Advice?
We can help with that. Take a look at our detailed articles on Can Reset AirPods Be Tracked, Simple Tips to Keep AirPods From Falling Out, AirPods Blinking Orange? How to Fix It, Do AirPods Work Well on Android Devices, and How to Clean Your AirPods Pro for more useful information.
Also, check out our in-depth reviews of the Best AirPods Alternative, the Best Apple AirPods Pro Alternatives, the Best iPhone Earbuds, the Best Wireless Earbuds For Small Ears, the Best True Wireless Earbuds, and the Most Comfortable Earbuds you can buy in 2023.
Airpods Keep Disconnecting – How to fix it? – Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now know why your AirPods keep disconnecting and the various ways you can fix this problem. As you can see, it could be one of several different issues. Thankfully, all of them have a relatively easy, quick fix to get you back on track and enjoying your favorite tunes once again.
Until next time, happy listening.
