The most common reason AirPods disconnect is that Bluetooth has been turned off, the AirPods are out of range, or the pairing information got corrupted and needs to be reset
AirPods use Bluetooth to talk to your phone, tablet, or computer. When that connection breaks, it usually falls into one of three categories: something turned Bluetooth off, the devices drifted too far apart, or the pairing itself became corrupted and needs to be cleared and redone. Most of the time, the fix takes less than two minutes.
The good news is that you do not need to buy new AirPods or contact Apple support for most connection problems. The steps below cover the situations that account for the vast majority of disconnects — and they work whether you own AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or the standard AirPods.
Key Takeaways
- Check that Bluetooth is actually turned on in your phone or computer settings, since it sometimes gets disabled without you noticing.
- Move your AirPods and your device closer together — Bluetooth works best within 30 feet, and walls or metal objects can reduce that range.
- If moving closer and toggling Bluetooth does not work, forget the AirPods in your device settings and pair them again from scratch.
- Restarting your phone or computer fixes connection problems more often than most people expect, especially after software updates.
- If one AirPod connects but the other does not, the disconnected one usually needs to be reset by holding the button on the back of the case.
Check that Bluetooth is actually on
This sounds obvious, but Bluetooth gets turned off more often than you would think — sometimes by accident when you swipe down from the top of your screen, sometimes by a setting that disables it automatically when you leave home, and sometimes after a software update.
On an iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center. Look for the Bluetooth icon (it looks like a sideways fan). If it is greyed out, tap it to turn Bluetooth back on. On Android, swipe down twice to open the full quick settings menu and tap Bluetooth. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, go to System Settings, then Bluetooth, and make sure it says "On". On Windows, open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, and check that Bluetooth is toggled on.
Once Bluetooth is on, wait a few seconds. Your AirPods should appear in the list of available devices. If they do not, move to the next step.
Move your AirPods and device closer together
Bluetooth has a range of about 30 feet in open space, but walls, metal objects, and other wireless devices can cut that in half. If your AirPods are in another room or your phone is in a bag across the room, move them closer.
Bring your AirPods within 10 feet of your phone or computer and wait 10 to 15 seconds. If they connect, you know the issue was range. If they still do not connect, move to the next step.
Restart your phone or computer
Restarting clears temporary glitches that prevent Bluetooth from working properly. This step fixes the problem more often than most people expect, especially after a software update.
On an iPhone, hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off the phone. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo. On Android, hold the power button until a menu appears, tap Restart, and wait for the phone to come back on. On a Mac, click the Apple menu and select Restart. On Windows, click the Start menu, select the power icon, and click Restart.
Once your device is back on, check whether your AirPods connect automatically. Most of the time they will.
Forget the AirPods and pair them again
If restarting did not work, the pairing information itself has likely become corrupted. The fix is to delete the AirPods from your device's memory and pair them again from scratch.
On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, tap the info icon (a circle with an "i"), and select Forget This Device. On Android, go to Settings, tap Connected devices or Bluetooth, find your AirPods, and tap Forget or Unpair. On a Mac, go to System Settings, click Bluetooth, find your AirPods, click the X next to them, and select Remove. On Windows, go to Settings, click Bluetooth & devices, find your AirPods, click the three dots next to them, and select Remove device.
Now open the case of your AirPods and hold them close to your device. On iPhone and iPad, a setup screen should appear automatically — tap Connect and follow the prompts. On Android, go to Bluetooth settings, tap Pair new device, and select your AirPods from the list. On Mac and Windows, hold the setup button on the back of the AirPods case for about 10 seconds until the light flashes white, then go to Bluetooth settings and select your AirPods.
Reset one AirPod if only one connects
Sometimes one AirPod connects to your device but the other does not. This usually means the disconnected AirPod has lost its connection to the other one and needs to be reset.
Put both AirPods in the case and close the lid. Wait 15 seconds. Open the case and hold the setup button on the back for about 15 seconds until the light inside flashes amber, then white. This resets both AirPods. Now hold the case close to your device and pair them again using the steps above.
If only one AirPod still does not connect after this reset, that AirPod may have a hardware problem. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store to have it checked.
Check for software updates on your device
Bluetooth problems sometimes appear after your phone, tablet, or computer receives a software update. Apple and other manufacturers release small updates to fix these issues, so checking for updates can solve the problem.
On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap General, and select Software Update. On Android, go to Settings, tap About phone, and look for System update. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, go to System Settings, and click General, then Software Update. On Windows, click the Start menu, go to Settings, click Update & Security, and select Check for updates.
If an update is available, install it and restart your device. Then try connecting your AirPods again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting even after I pair them?
Repeated disconnects usually mean either Bluetooth interference from other devices, a software bug on your phone or computer, or a hardware issue with the AirPods themselves. Try moving away from other wireless devices (like routers or microwaves), restart your device, and check for software updates. If disconnects continue, forget and re-pair the AirPods.
Can I connect my AirPods to two devices at the same time?
AirPods can be paired to multiple devices, but they only connect to one at a time. When you want to switch, go to Bluetooth settings on the new device and select your AirPods. They will disconnect from the first device and connect to the second. This usually takes a few seconds.
What if my AirPods are in the list of Bluetooth devices but will not actually connect?
This means the pairing information is corrupted. Forget the AirPods using the steps above, then pair them again from scratch. Make sure your device's Bluetooth is on and the AirPods case is open and close to your device during the pairing process.
Do I need to reset my AirPods if I switch to a new phone?
No. You can pair your AirPods to a new phone the same way you would pair them to any other device — just go to Bluetooth settings and select them. You do not need to reset them unless they are not showing up in the Bluetooth list or will not connect after you try pairing.
Why does only one of my AirPods show up in Bluetooth settings?
Both AirPods should appear as a single device in your Bluetooth list, not as two separate ones. If you see them listed separately, or if only one appears, put both in the case, close the lid for 15 seconds, then hold the setup button for 15 seconds until the light flashes white. This resets them and usually fixes the problem.