Why Do My AirPods Keep Disconnecting? 10 Easy Fixes

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Since Apple is at the forefront of easy-to-use technology, many people are willing to pay that extra money. That’s why it can be frustrating when things don’t work how they’re supposed to. Wondering, “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 disconnecting and how to resolve the issue:

1. Check the Battery

Since they’re wireless, AirPod performance is significantly impacted by their battery life. This could answer why your AirPod pros keep disconnecting. 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. To check the battery life of your AirPods on an iOS device:

  1. Open the lid of the AirPods’ case while holding them closer to the device.
  2. The amount of battery life left will show up on the screen a little while later.
An example of the screen that shows fully charged AirPods

To view the battery level of your AirPods, you could also use the widget and the status light.

Related: Have an iPhone? Get dozens of apps for one low cost!

2. Improve Bluetooth Connection Stability

Even with a fully charged battery, your AirPods may keep disconnecting from your iPhone. An unstable Bluetooth connection might be the culprit.

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.

3. Clean the AirPods

Extreme wax accumulation, dirt, and moisture in your AirPods can result in Bluetooth interference and random disconnection.

  1. Clean the surface of your AirPods with a lint-free cloth.
  2. To reach the small crevices, use a soft, dry toothbrush to loosen buildup.
  3. Wipe everything down using a lint-free towel soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Don’t use a lot of pressure and force. AirPods are exceptionally delicate and you can be damaged fairly easily.

4. Reset Bluetooth

If your AirPods Pro earbuds keep disconnecting, it’s often because the Bluetooth settings have been changed. Reset the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad to their initial operating condition.
To reset Bluetooth on your device:

  1. On your iOS device, open Settings > Bluetooth option
  2. Click on the Bluetooth option.
    Turn Bluetooth Off
  3. Wait a few seconds and switch it on again.

Any software problems that interfere with your AirPods Bluetooth connection should be resolved.

On iOS, you can also Clear the Bluetooth cache:

  1. On your iOS device, open Settings > Bluetooth option.
  2. Click on the “i” icon under “my devices.” Open the properties of a device
  3. Choose the Forget This Device option.
  4. A pop-up page will appear. Select the Confirm option.
  5. Repeat these steps to forget all the paired devices.
  6. Restart your device.
  7. Reconnect the AirPods to the device.

5. Reset your AirPods

If one AirPod keeps disconnecting from your device, it may 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.

To reset your AirPods:

  1. Open your iOS device, and go to Settings.
  2. Select the Bluetooth option and click on the “i” icon on the right side of your paired AirPods under paired devices.
  3. Choose the Forget This Device option.
    Forget this device for AirPods
  4. Make sure to fully charge your AirPods.
  5. Bring the AirPods case close to your device and open it.
  6. Now click the Setup button on the case for twenty seconds.
  7. Your AirPods have been reset once the indicator starts flashing from white to amber.

Related Reading: Best iPad Alternatives

6. Reset iOS’s Network Settings

Your iOS device’s network settings track information about the network preferences, WiFi, VPN configuration, and Bluetooth connections saved on your device. If your AirPod Pross keep disconnecting, there may be some issue with network settings.

If the network settings are reset, all the network settings will be reset to their default values. Therefore, this should resolve your connection issue with the AirPods.

To reset your iOS network settings:

  1. On your iOS device, open Settings > General > Transfer/Reset.
  2. Select the Reset option.
  3. In the window, select the Reset Network Settings option.
    Why Do My AirPods Keep Disconnecting: Reset the Network Settings
  4. Enter your iOS device’s passcode to reset all the network settings.

7. 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:

  1. Wear both your AirPods after connecting them.
  2. Open Settings on the iOS device.
  3. Choose the Bluetooth option.
  4. Click the i icon on the right side of your paired AirPods.
  5. Turn the Automatic Ear Detection off. This will hopefully solve the AirPod connectivity issue.

8. 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:

  1. Wear your AirPods after connecting them to your iOS device.
  2. On your device, go to Settings.
  3. Select the Bluetooth option.
  4. Click on the i icon on the right side of the paired AirPods.
  5. Choose the Connect to this iPhone option.
  6. Now choose the When Last Connected to This iPhone option.

9. 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 your AirPods keep disconnecting with a full battery, the issue is most likely related to your device rather than the AirPods. First, verify that you have the most recent iOS version:

Here are the steps to update your iOS:

  1. Make sure to back up your device, so you do not lose all your data.
  2. Charge your iOS device fully and connect it to WiFi.
  3. On your device, open Settings > General option > Software Update.
  4. Check if it needs an update.
  5. Click on the Download and Install.

For an automatic update, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Update. This will ensure your device stays up-to-date (and may prevent your AirPods disconnection issue in the future).

automatic ios updates how to change

10. 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:

  1. Connect the AirPods to your iOS device.
  2. On your iOS device, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
  3. On the right side of your paired AirPods, click on the “i” icon.
  4. 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 isn’t supported by specialist technology. The standard Bluetooth technology is similar to the majority of mobile devices, meaning that you can pair your AirPods with any Android or Windows device as long as it supports Bluetooth.

What Do I Do If I’ve Tried All of These Methods and My AirPods Keep Disconnecting?

If none of these methods work, consult an Apple Genius. If the electronic parts within your AirPods are defective, they may be the source of occasional performance issues.

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

If you’re tired of wondering why your AirPods keep disconnecting, our above fixes offer quick methods for a variety of issues! You should have them working properly again in no time. In the comments, tell us 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.

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