AirPods Max do turn off, but not the way you might expect
AirPods Max do not have a power button. Instead, they enter a low-power state automatically when you remove them from your head or close the Smart Case. They power down completely after 18 minutes of inactivity in the case, or after five minutes if you've manually put them into a dormant state by holding them in a specific way. If you want them truly off and not tracking or connecting, closing them in the case is the most reliable method.
The lack of a dedicated power button is intentional—Apple designed AirPods Max to manage power automatically so you don't have to think about it. But this design choice creates confusion for people who want direct control, especially if you're concerned about when the headphones are listening, connecting to devices, or draining battery.
Key Takeaways
- AirPods Max have no power button; they enter low-power mode when removed from your head or placed in the Smart Case.
- The headphones power down completely after 18 minutes inside the closed Smart Case, or after five minutes if manually placed in standby mode.
- Closing them in the Smart Case is the most effective way to may support they stop connecting to your devices and drain minimal battery.
- You can check the battery status and see which device they're connected to through your iPhone, iPad, or Mac's Bluetooth settings.
- If you want them completely disconnected from your Apple account and devices, you must unpair them through Bluetooth settings rather than just powering them off.
How the automatic power-down actually works
When you take AirPods Max off your head, they detect the motion through built-in sensors and when ready switch to a low-power state. Audio stops playing, and the headphones reduce power consumption significantly. However, they remain connected to your last-used device via Bluetooth during this time, so they can wake up when ready when you put them back on.
If you leave them out of the case for more than a few minutes, they stay in this low-power state indefinitely—they won't fully shut down just from sitting on a table. This is why closing them in the Smart Case is important: the case has a magnetic sensor that triggers a deeper shutdown. Once sealed in the case, they'll power down completely after 18 minutes of inactivity.
The five-minute manual standby option exists if you want faster shutdown without using the case. To set up it, hold the Digital Crown and the noise control button simultaneously for about three seconds until you hear a sound. This puts them into an even deeper sleep state, and they'll power down after five minutes instead of 18.
Why there's no traditional power button
Apple removed the power button to reduce the number of controls on the headphones and to prevent accidental shutdowns. With fewer physical buttons, there's less to break and less to learn. The trade-off is that you lose direct, when ready control over when the headphones are on or off.
This design assumes most people will use AirPods Max the same way they use other Apple devices—by putting them away when done, not by powering them down manually. For people who want more control, this can feel limiting, especially if you're concerned about privacy or battery drain.
Checking battery status and connection
To see whether your AirPods Max are actively connected and how much battery they have, open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad and look for the audio output tile. If AirPods Max appear there, they're currently connected. You can also check the Batteries widget on your home screen, which shows the headphone battery and case battery separately.
On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and look for AirPods Max in the list. If they show a battery percentage, they're powered on and connected. If they don't appear in the list at all, they've either powered down or disconnected.
These status checks don't turn the headphones on or off—they just show you their current state. Checking the battery won't wake them up if they're in the case.
Disconnecting them completely from your devices
If you want AirPods Max to stop connecting to any of your devices, you need to unpair them through Bluetooth settings, not just power them off. Powering them down only stops them temporarily; they'll reconnect automatically the next time you put them on.
On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth, find AirPods Max in the list, tap the info icon next to them, and select "Forget This Device." On Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth, right-click AirPods Max, and choose "Remove." This severs the connection completely and removes them from your Apple account's device list.
If you're selling, giving away, or returning AirPods Max, unpairing them is essential. straightforward powering them off won't prevent the next owner from connecting them to your account or accessing your device history.
What happens to battery when they're off
AirPods Max drain battery very slowly when powered down in the Smart Case. Apple states they can hold a charge for up to three weeks while stored in the case without use. In low-power mode (removed from your head but not in the case), they drain faster because Bluetooth remains active and they're ready to reconnect when ready.
If you plan to store them for an extended period, close them in the Smart Case. The case itself doesn't charge the headphones—it only triggers the power-down. Make sure the case has some battery before storing them long-term, because a completely dead case won't protect the headphones' charge as effectively.
Troubleshooting when they won't stay off
If your AirPods Max keep connecting to your devices even after you've put them away, they may not have fully powered down. Remove them from the case, wait a few seconds, and place them back in with the lid fully closed. Listen for a subtle sound or check your device to confirm they've disconnected.
If they're still connecting, try unpairing them and re-pairing them fresh. Sometimes a connection gets stuck, especially if you've recently switched between multiple devices. Go to Bluetooth settings, forget the device, then put AirPods Max back in pairing mode by holding the Digital Crown for several seconds until the LED flashes white.
If the headphones won't respond to any controls or seem stuck in a powered-on state, try a force restart. Hold both the Digital Crown and the noise control button for 15 seconds until you see the LED flash red and white. This resets the headphones without unpairing them from your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off AirPods Max without using the case?
Yes. Hold the Digital Crown and noise control button together for three seconds to put them into manual standby mode. They'll power down after five minutes. However, they'll still reconnect to your devices when you put them on again, so this isn't a true "off" state—just a deeper sleep.
Do AirPods Max drain battery when sitting on a table?
Yes, slowly. They remain in low-power mode with Bluetooth active, so they drain faster than when closed in the case. If you won't use them for hours or days, close them in the Smart Case to minimize battery loss.
Will AirPods Max automatically connect to my phone when I put them on?
Yes, if they're still paired with your account. They'll wake from low-power mode and reconnect to whichever device you last used them with. If you want to prevent this, you must unpair them through Bluetooth settings.
What's the difference between low-power mode and fully powered down?
Low-power mode keeps Bluetooth active so the headphones can reconnect when ready when you put them on. Fully powered down (in the case after 18 minutes) stops Bluetooth entirely and drains almost no battery. You can't control which state they're in—it depends on whether they're in the case.
Do I need to charge the Smart Case separately?
Yes. The case charges via USB-C and holds enough power to charge the headphones multiple times. The case doesn't charge the headphones while they're powered down—it only triggers the shutdown. Check the case battery in your Batteries widget to know when to charge it.