Apple is supposed to be at the forefront of easy-to-use technology. That’s why we’re willing to pay that extra money Apple demands compared to the competition, so it can be frustrating when things don’t work how they’re supposed to. So, if you’ve been asking yourself, “Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting?” Read on to learn why it’s happening and how to fix it.
Solved: Why Do My AirPods Keep Disconnecting?
Here are the possible causes of your AirPods intermittently disconnecting and how to resolve the issue:
Check the Battery
AirPods performance is significantly impacted by their battery life since they are wireless, which could be why if your AirPod pros keep disconnecting. Unfortunately, the low battery may make your AirPods stop working with your devices. Before attempting other fixes, ensure your AirPods have enough battery life to rule out this possible reason.
Attempt to keep the battery of your AirPods between 20% and 80% and check if the disconnects continue. Here’s how to check the battery life of your AirPods on an iOS device:
- Open the lid of the AirPods’ case while holding them closer to the device.
- The amount of battery life left will show up on the screen a little while later.
To view the battery level of your AirPods, you could also use the widget and the status light.
Improve Bluetooth Connection Stability
Even with a fully charged battery, you may notice your AirPods keep disconnecting from your iPhone. An unstable Bluetooth connection could cause this.
AirPods use Bluetooth technology to connect to the devices. Bluetooth is vulnerable to interference from solid surfaces like doors, walls, and your body. Interference may occur because of something as small as just your body.
Interference with Bluetooth can also be brought on by radio frequencies from various wireless devices like your WiFi. The effective range decreases when more things are positioned in the way of your device and your AirPods. Try turning on other nearby wireless devices and moving your AirPods closer to the audio source to determine if this is the case.
Clean the AirPods
Extreme wax accumulation, dirt, and moisture in your AirPods could also result in Bluetooth interference, making your AirPods randomly disconnect from your device.
Here are the steps you can follow to clean the AirPods using 70% isopropyl alcohol to lightly wet a cotton swab and a lint-free cloth.
- Clean the surface of your AirPods with a lint-free cloth.
- To reach the small crevices where the cloth couldn’t use the cotton swab.
- Use a soft and dry toothbrush to remove the loose dirt.
- Afterward, use a lint-free towel soaked with alcohol to wipe everything down.
While cleaning your AirPods, ensure you do not use a lot of pressure and force, as AirPods are exceptionally delicate, and you can easily damage them with too much power.
Reset Bluetooth
If your AirPods Pro earbuds keep disconnecting, often it’s because the Bluetooth settings have been changed. You can reset the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad to their initial operating condition to resolve unclear instructions or settings problems.
Here is how you can reset Bluetooth on your device:
- On your iOS device, open Settings.
- Click on the Bluetooth option.
- Turn Bluetooth off.
- Wait a few seconds and switch it on again.
Any software problems that interfere with your AirPods Bluetooth connection should be resolved.
You can also Clear the Bluetooth cache on iOS to do this. Here are the steps to do so:
- On your iOS device, open Settings.
- Click on the Bluetooth option.
- Here, you will see an i icon on the paired devices. Click on it.
- Choose the Forget This Device option.
- A pop-up page will appear. Select the Confirm option.
- Repeat these steps to forget all the paired devices.
- Restart your device.
- Reconnect the AirPods to the device.
Reset your AirPods
If one AirPod keeps disconnecting from your device, it most likely could be an issue with the AirPods firmware.
Any history of previously paired devices is erased when your AirPods are reset. This will simply return them to their original settings to ensure that the device is first to pair with the AirPods.
Here is how you can reset your AirPods:
- Open your iOS device, and go to Settings.
- Select the Bluetooth option and click on the i icon on the right side of your paired AirPods under paired devices.
- Choose the Forget This Device option.
- Make sure to charge your AirPods fully.
- After they are charged, bring the AirPods case close to your device and open it.
- Now click the Setup button on the case for twenty seconds.
- Once the indicator starts flashing amber from white, your AirPods are now reset.
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Reset iOS’s Network Settings
Your iOS device’s network settings are in charge of keeping track of information about your network preferences, WiFi, VPN configuration, and Bluetooth connections saved on your device. If you’re wondering, “Why do my AirPod pro keep disconnecting?”, one of the reasons could be that there was some problem with network settings.
All saved data relating to the mentioned connections will be removed if the network settings are reset. Since all the network settings will be reset to their default values, doing this should resolve your connection issue with the AirPods.
Here are the steps to reset your iOS network settings:
- On your iOS device, open Settings.
- Choose the General option.
- Click on the Transfer or Reset option.
- Select the Reset option.
- A window will now appear. Select the Reset Network Settings option.
- Enter your iOS device’s passcode. That will reset all the network settings.
Disable the Ear Detection
Each AirPod has sensors that detect when it is being used and when it is not. Sometimes, this sensor may have difficulties determining whether they are in the ear or not, which causes them to lose connection to save battery. The Ear Detection may be activated by a tiny shift in posture, leading to disconnection.
Here are the steps for disabling ear detection on your iOS device:
- Wear both your AirPods after connecting them.
- Open Settings on the iOS device.
- Choose the Bluetooth option.
- Click the i icon on the right side of your paired AirPods.
- Turn the Automatic Ear Detection off. This will hopefully solve the issue of the AirPods won’t stay connected problem.
Deactivate Automated Switching
iOS multipoint Bluetooth, also known as automatic switching, enables the AirPods to change audio sources across devices connected to the same iCloud. So, if you’re facing the AirPods pro disconnecting issue, this might be one of the problems.
When your two iOS devices are connected, AirPods automatically determine which one is playing a sound and make it the source.
Here are the steps to turn off the automatic switching:
- Wear your AirPods after connecting them to your iOS device.
- On your device, go to Settings.
- Select the Bluetooth option.
- Click on the i icon on the right side of the paired AirPods.
- Choose the Connect to this iPhone option.
- Now choose the When Last Connected to This iPhone option.
Update Your iOS device
You can run into bugs or errors that have already been fixed in a later version of iOS if your iOS version is outdated. Technical issues with your AirPods and device may be among these errors. If you’re wondering “Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting with a full battery?” the issue is most likely with your device rather than the AirPods. You should verify that you have the most recent iOS version if your AirPods aren’t connecting.
Here are the steps to update your iOS:
- Make sure to back up your device, so you do not lose all your data.
- Charge your iOS device fully and connect it to WiFi.
- On your device, open Settings.
- Choose the General option.
- Click on the Software Update option.
- Check if it needs an update.
- Click on the Download and Install option.
For an automatic update, go to your Settings, choose the General option, click on the Software Update and choose the Automatic Update option. This will ensure your device stays up-to-date and hopefully prevent the AirPods disconnecting issue from arising again.
Update your AirPods Firmware
Your AirPods operate on software like your iOS iPhone. This enables them to perform the calculations required for features such as automatic switching, ANC, and ear detection. Sometimes, certain bugs can cause them to malfunction, so if your AirPods keep disconnecting, this could potentially fix the problem.
The firmware should be updated automatically when your AirPods are connected to an iOS device. But, here are the steps to check your version of AirPods firmware:
- Connect the AirPods to your iOS device.
- On your iOS device, go to Settings.
- Click on the Bluetooth option.
- On the right side of the paired AirPods, click on the i icon.
- Check the version of your firmware in the Version row.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do AirPods Work the Same on Android and Windows Devices?
Apple AirPods work with Android phones. But, AirPods wireless communication is not supported by specialist technology. They feature standard Bluetooth technology, similar to the majority of mobile devices. This means you can pair your AirPods with any Android or Windows device that supports Bluetooth.
I’ve Tried All of These Methods, and My AirPods Are Disconnecting. What Should I Do?
If none of the above-mentioned methods work, you should consult an Apple genius. You may occasionally be able to identify the issue with the AirPods’ electronics. There is a possibility that the electronic parts within your AirPods may be defective and be the source of occasional performance issues if they have undergone physical damage over time.
Why Do My AirPods Pro Keep Disconnecting?
There are plenty of reasons why this could be happening. Fixing the issue could include resetting the AirPods or your iOS device, resetting network settings, or simply cleaning the AirPods.
Why Do My AirPods Keep Disconnecting With Full Battery?
If you remove potential battery issues from the equation, the issue would most likely be caused by firmware. You should update it on the AirPods and ensure your device is up to date too.
Related Reading: The Best Apple Watch Alternatives
Wrapping Up the Disconnected AirPods Guide
It’s unfortunate that there’s not one common solution to answer the question, “Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting?” But none of the above fixes take a particularly long time to implement, so you should have them working properly again in no time. Let us know in the comments which method worked for you.
Still not working? It may be time for a new set of AirPods or one of the best AirPod alternatives.
Chris is a spreadsheet expert and content writer for Productivity Spot and Spreadsheet Point. He has a double Bachelor's Degree in Teaching and has been working in the education industry for over 11 years. His experience makes him adept at breaking down complex topics so that everyone is able to understand.
