Why Your AirPods Won't Charge and How to Fix It

The most common reasons AirPods stop charging

AirPods fail to charge for one of five reasons: the charging case battery is dead, the charging contacts are dirty, the Lightning cable or port is damaged, the AirPods themselves have a hardware fault, or the case has a software glitch that a reset can fix. Start by checking whether the case itself has power — if the case battery is empty, your AirPods cannot charge no matter what else is wrong.

The second most common culprit is dirt or debris on the metal charging contacts inside the case. These tiny gold or silver dots sit at the bottom of each AirPod slot and on the inside of the case lid. If they are covered in lint, earwax, or oxidation, power cannot flow from the case to the AirPod battery.

A damaged Lightning cable, a bent or corroded Lightning port on the case, or a faulty USB power adapter will also prevent the case from charging, which means your AirPods stay dead. Less often, one or both AirPods have an internal battery failure and cannot hold a charge even when the case works perfectly.

Key Takeaways

Clean the charging contacts inside the case and on each AirPod with a dry cotton swab or soft brush, because dirt blocks power flow even when everything else works.
Charge the case itself first by plugging it into a different USB power adapter and cable, because a dead case cannot charge your AirPods.
Force-restart your AirPods by holding the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber, which clears software glitches that prevent charging.
If the case charges but your AirPods do not, the problem is either dirty contacts or a hardware fault inside the individual AirPod.

Clean the charging contacts first

Before you replace anything, clean the metal contacts. Use a dry cotton swab, a soft dry cloth, or a soft-bristled brush — never use water, alcohol, or any liquid. Gently rub the three small gold or silver dots at the bottom of each AirPod slot inside the case. Then clean the matching contacts on the bottom of each AirPod itself, and the contacts on the inside of the case lid if your model has them.

Lint, earwax, and dust are the most common blockers. Oxidation — a thin dark film that forms on metal over time — is the second. If the contacts look dark or tarnished, a dry cotton swab rubbed gently back and forth for a few seconds usually restores contact. Do not scrape or use abrasive materials, because you can damage the contacts permanently.

After cleaning, place each AirPod back in its slot and close the case. Wait 30 seconds, then open it and check whether the LED light on the front of the case shows a charging indicator. If you see amber or red, the case is charging your AirPods. If the light does not appear or stays off, move to the next step.

Charge the case with a different cable and adapter

Plug your AirPods case into a different USB power adapter and Lightning cable than the one you normally use. Many charging problems are actually cable or adapter failures, not case failures. If you have another Apple device — an iPhone, iPad, or Mac — use its charger and cable to test.

Plug in the case and wait two minutes. Check the LED light on the front of the case. If it lights up amber or red, your original cable or adapter was the problem. If the light still does not appear, inspect the Lightning port on the bottom of the case for bent pins, corrosion, or debris. A bent pin inside the port will prevent any cable from making contact, and you will need to have the case replaced.

If you see the LED light turn on with the new cable, your original Lightning cable is damaged and should be replaced. Apple sells replacement Lightning cables, as do many third-party manufacturers. Make sure any replacement cable you buy is certified for your AirPods model — older AirPods Pro use a different connector than newer models.

Force-restart your AirPods

A software glitch can prevent your AirPods from recognizing that they are in the charging case, even though power is flowing. A force restart clears this glitch. Place both AirPods in the case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds. Then open the lid and locate the small setup button on the back of the case.

Press and hold the setup button for 15 seconds. The LED light on the front of the case will flash amber, then white, then go off. This means the restart is complete. Open the lid again and wait 30 seconds. The light should now show a charging indicator — usually amber or red — which means your AirPods are charging normally.

If the light does not appear after the restart, the case battery itself may be dead. Charge the case for at least 30 minutes using a different cable and adapter, then try the force restart again. Some cases take longer to respond when the battery is very low.

Check whether the case battery is actually dead

If the case does not show any LED light at all — not even a brief flash — the case battery may be completely empty. Plug it into a power adapter and leave it connected for 45 minutes without opening it. Then open the lid and check for the LED light. If it still does not appear, the case may have a hardware fault.

You can also check the case battery level from an iPhone or iPad. Open the Bluetooth settings, find your AirPods in the list of connected devices, and tap the information icon next to the name. The battery percentage for the case will appear at the bottom of the screen. If it shows 0 percent, the case needs to charge for at least an hour before your AirPods can charge.

If the case battery percentage shows above 0 percent but your AirPods still will not charge, the problem is either dirty contacts, a damaged Lightning port, or a fault inside one or both AirPods themselves.

Determine if one AirPod or both are faulty

If the case charges and the contacts are clean, but one AirPod charges while the other does not, the problem is inside the non-charging AirPod. Place the working AirPod in the case and close the lid. Wait two minutes, then open the lid and check the LED light. If it shows a charging indicator, that AirPod is charging normally.

Now remove the working AirPod and place the non-charging one in the same slot. Close the lid and wait two minutes. If the LED light does not appear or shows a different color than before, the AirPod has a battery or charging circuit fault. This cannot be repaired at home and requires a replacement from Apple or an authorized service provider.

If both AirPods fail to charge even after cleaning the contacts and restarting the case, the problem is likely inside the case itself — either the charging circuit or the battery. In this case, the entire case will need to be replaced.

When to replace your AirPods or case

If you have cleaned the contacts, tested with a different cable and adapter, force-restarted the case, and one or both AirPods still will not charge, a hardware fault is the cause. Apple offers mail-in repair and replacement through its support website. You can also visit an Apple Store or an authorized Apple service provider to have the AirPods or case evaluated in person.

Replacement costs vary depending on whether you need to replace one AirPod, both AirPods, or the case. AppleCare+ coverage, if you purchased it with your AirPods, will cover battery replacement at no cost. Without coverage, out-of-warranty replacement typically costs between 40 and 100 dollars depending on the model.

Before you contact Apple, write down exactly what you have already tried — cleaned contacts, tested different cables, force-restarted the case, and checked the battery percentage. This information will help the support team diagnose the problem faster and determine whether a replacement is necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the LED light on my case flash amber instead of green?

Amber means the case battery is low and needs to charge. Green means the case is fully charged. If the light flashes amber and your AirPods are inside, they are charging, but the case itself needs power soon. Plug the case in for at least 30 minutes to bring the case battery above 50 percent.

Can I charge my AirPods with a non-Apple cable?

Yes, any certified Lightning cable will work. The cable itself does not have to be made by Apple — many third-party manufacturers produce certified Lightning cables that work identically. Make sure the cable is certified for your specific AirPods model, because older AirPods Pro use a different connector than AirPods Pro 2nd generation.

What if my AirPods charge in the case but die when ready when I take them out?

This usually means the AirPod battery is failing and cannot hold a charge. The AirPod is charging while in the case, but the battery drains within minutes of use. Contact Apple support or visit an Apple Store to have the AirPod replaced under warranty or AppleCare+.

Is it safe to leave my AirPods in the case charging overnight?

Yes. AirPods and their case have built-in protection that stops charging once the battery reaches 100 percent, so leaving them plugged in overnight will not damage the battery. However, charging to 100 percent every single day will slowly reduce battery lifespan over years of use.

Why does only one AirPod charge when both are in the case?

The charging contacts on one AirPod or one slot in the case are likely dirty or damaged. Clean both contacts with a dry cotton swab. If cleaning does not work, that AirPod has a hardware fault and needs to be replaced by Apple.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.