Reset AirPods when they stop responding or you're giving them away

A factory reset clears all your AirPods' settings and disconnects them from every device they've paired with. You do this when they're not responding to taps or voice commands, when you're selling or giving them to someone else, or when you want to start fresh with a different device. The reset itself takes about 15 seconds and requires only your AirPods and the case they came in.

The steps differ slightly depending on which AirPods model you own — standard AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max — but the principle is the same: hold a button on the case until a light flashes amber then white. After that, your AirPods are blank and ready to pair with any device from scratch.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset erases all pairing information and settings, disconnecting your AirPods from every device at once.
  • For standard AirPods or AirPods Pro, hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber then white.
  • For AirPods Max, hold the noise control button on the left ear cup for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber then white.
  • After reset, your AirPods will not connect to any device — you'll need to pair them again as if they were brand new.
  • A reset is different from forgetting the AirPods in your device's Bluetooth settings, which only disconnects them from that one device.

Reset standard AirPods or AirPods Pro using the case

Place both AirPods in the charging case and close the lid. Wait a few seconds, then open the lid again. On the back of the case, you'll see a small circular button — this is the setup button. Press and hold it for about 15 seconds. You don't need to press hard; a steady hold is enough.

Watch the light on the front of the case. It will first flash amber, which means the reset is in progress. Keep holding. After a few more seconds, the light will flash white. That white flash means the reset is complete and your AirPods are now in pairing mode, ready to connect to a device as if they were brand new out of the box.

If the light never changes or only flashes amber and stops, the case battery may be too low. Charge the case for at least 15 minutes and try again. The case needs enough power to communicate the reset command to the AirPods inside.

Reset AirPods Max using the ear cup button

AirPods Max don't have a separate case button like the smaller models. Instead, you use the noise control button on the left ear cup. Hold the headphones in your hands or wear them — either position works. Locate the button on the outside of the left ear cup, toward the back.

Press and hold that button for 15 seconds. The light on the left ear cup will flash amber first, then white. Once you see the white flash, release the button. Your AirPods Max are now reset and ready to pair with a new device.

What happens after you reset

After the reset completes, your AirPods are completely disconnected from every device they were ever paired with. If you had them connected to your iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch, they're now forgotten by all four. They will not automatically reconnect to any of those devices.

Your AirPods will appear in pairing mode for about 15 minutes. During that window, you can open the Bluetooth settings on any device and pair them as if you just unboxed them. If you don't pair them within 15 minutes, they'll go to sleep and you'll need to reset them again to get back into pairing mode.

Any custom settings you had — like which ear controls volume, which device they prefer, or which Siri voice you chose — are all erased. When you pair them to a device again, they'll use the default settings for that device.

Reset vs. forgetting your AirPods on one device

It's straightforward to confuse a factory reset with straightforward forgetting your AirPods in your device's Bluetooth settings. Forgetting them only disconnects them from that one device. They stay paired to your other devices and keep all their settings. You do this when you want to re-pair them to the same device with fresh settings, or when you're troubleshooting a connection problem on just one phone or computer.

To forget your AirPods on a single device, go to that device's Bluetooth settings, find your AirPods in the list of paired devices, and tap the option to forget or remove them. That's it. They'll stay connected to your other devices. A factory reset, by contrast, erases them from everywhere at once.

Use forget when you're keeping your AirPods but having trouble with one device. Use reset when you're giving them away, selling them, or starting completely fresh across all your devices.

Troubleshooting a reset that doesn't work

If you hold the button for 15 seconds and the light doesn't change, or only flashes amber once and stops, the most common cause is a low case battery. Plug the case into power for at least 20 minutes, then try the reset again. The case needs enough charge to send the reset signal to the AirPods inside.

If the case is charged and the light still won't flash white, try this: place the AirPods in the case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds. Open the lid and try the reset button again. Sometimes the AirPods need a moment to fully power down before they can reset.

If you've tried both steps and the light still won't respond, your AirPods may have a hardware issue. At that point, contact Apple Support with your AirPods' serial number (found on the case or in your device's Bluetooth settings under the AirPods name). They can tell you whether repair or replacement is an option.

Before you reset: back up your settings

If you're planning to give your AirPods to someone else or sell them, a reset is the right move — it erases all your personal pairing data. But if you're resetting because of a problem and want to keep using them yourself, consider what you'll lose. Any custom audio settings, like adjusted bass or treble if you use an equalizer, will be gone. Your preferred device order will reset. Siri language and voice choices will go back to default.

There's no way to back up these settings before a reset. Once you reset, they're gone. If you think you might want them back, write down your custom settings before you reset — which device you preferred, what equalizer settings you used, which Siri voice you chose. Then you can manually set them the same way after you pair your AirPods again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to reset my AirPods if I'm just switching to a different iPhone?

No. If both iPhones are signed into the same Apple ID, your AirPods will automatically appear in the Bluetooth list on the new phone and reconnect without any action from you. A reset is only necessary if you're giving the AirPods to someone else, selling them, or if they're not responding and you want to clear all pairing data.

Will resetting my AirPods erase the find my AirPods location history?

Yes. The reset erases all data stored on the AirPods themselves, including any location history. However, if you had your AirPods registered in Find My on your Apple ID, that registration is cleared when you reset. The AirPods will no longer show up in Find My until someone pairs them to a device and registers them again.

Can I reset just one AirPod if the other one isn't working?

No. The reset button on the case resets both AirPods at the same time. You cannot reset a single AirPod individually. If only one AirPod is having problems, try forgetting them on your device and re-pairing, or charging both for at least an hour. If that doesn't fix it, one AirPod may need repair through Apple.

How long does it take for AirPods to reset?

The actual reset takes about 15 seconds of holding the button. You'll see the light change from amber to white within that time. After the reset completes, your AirPods enter pairing mode for about 15 minutes, during which you can connect them to a new device.

What if I reset my AirPods by accident?

There's no undo for a reset. However, if you reset them by accident and they're still in pairing mode (the 15-minute window after the white light), you can when ready pair them back to your device and they'll reconnect as if nothing happened. If the pairing window has closed, just open your device's Bluetooth settings and pair them again — they'll work normally once paired.