Use Find My to locate your AirPods

The fastest way to find your AirPods is through the Find My app, which shows their location on a map if they are powered on and connected to the internet. Open Find My on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, tap or click the Devices tab, select your AirPods from the list, and you will see their last known location. If they are nearby, you can play a sound to help you track them down by ear.

Find My works because your AirPods stay connected to your Apple ID even when they are not in your ears. As long as they have battery and are within range of a network — either your own Wi-Fi or someone else's — their location updates in the app. If your AirPods are dead or offline, Find My shows where they were last seen, which is still useful if you left them in a specific place.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Find My on any Apple device signed in with your Apple ID, tap Devices, and select your AirPods to see their location on a map.
  • If your AirPods are nearby but you cannot see them, tap Play Sound to make them emit a beeping noise that grows louder.
  • Find My only works if your AirPods are powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data, or if they are in range of another Apple device on your account.
  • If Find My shows your AirPods in an unfamiliar location, you can mark them as lost, which prevents anyone else from connecting to them.

Play a sound to locate AirPods in your home

Once you have opened Find My and selected your AirPods, tap the Play Sound button. Your AirPods will emit a loud beeping tone that increases in volume, making them much easier to hear if they are hiding under a couch cushion, in a jacket pocket, or wedged between furniture. The sound plays for two minutes or until you tap Stop.

This method works best when your AirPods are within your home or a building where you have Wi-Fi. If they are outside your Wi-Fi range, the sound will not play unless they are connected to another Apple device on your account, such as a family member's iPhone or iPad.

Check the last known location if your AirPods are offline

If your AirPods are dead or turned off, Find My still displays the last place they were seen before losing power or connection. This location is marked on the map and can help you retrace your steps — for example, if the last known location is your gym, you know to check there first.

The accuracy of the last known location depends on how recently your AirPods were online. If they died hours ago, the location may be several hours old. If you remember the approximate time you last used them, that can narrow down where to search.

Mark your AirPods as lost to prevent unauthorized use

If you believe your AirPods are truly lost or stolen, tap the information icon next to them in Find My and select Mark as Lost. This prevents anyone who finds them from connecting them to their own Apple ID or using them with a different device. Your AirPods will remain locked to your account until you unlock them or erase them.

When you mark AirPods as lost, you can also add a phone number or email address that will appear on the screen of anyone who tries to use them. This gives a finder a way to contact you if they want to return them. You can change or remove this information at any time through Find My.

Use Bluetooth settings if Find My is not available

If you cannot access Find My for some reason, you can still search for your AirPods using your iPhone or iPad's Bluetooth settings. Go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and look for your AirPods in the list of connected or previously connected devices. If they appear, they are powered on and in range. If they do not appear, they are either off or out of Bluetooth range.

This method does not show you a map or play a sound, so it is less helpful than Find My, but it confirms whether your AirPods are powered on and nearby. Once you know they are in range, you can search your when ready surroundings by ear or by checking the places you use them most often.

Check common places you use your AirPods

Before relying on technology, search the places where you most often use or remove your AirPods. Check your car — the seat, cup holder, door pocket, and floor. Look in your gym bag, backpack, or work bag. Search your nightstand, bathroom counter, and the area around your desk. Many lost AirPods are found in these spots because people remove them without thinking and set them down nearby.

If you have a routine — for example, you always remove your AirPods when you get home — retrace that routine step by step. Check the entryway, the kitchen counter, your bedroom, and anywhere else you typically go first. This often works faster than waiting for Find My to load.

Set up Find My before you lose your AirPods

Find My is turned on by default when you set up a new pair of AirPods with an Apple device, but it is worth confirming. Open Find My on your iPhone or iPad, tap the Devices tab, and make sure your AirPods appear in the list. If they do not, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select Find My, and turn on Find My iPhone or Find My iPad.

You can also enable notifications so that Find My alerts you when your AirPods leave a location you set — for example, your home or office. This feature, called Notifications, helps you catch a lost pair before they go too far. Tap your AirPods in Find My, scroll down, and tap Notifications to set this up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find my AirPods if they are completely dead?

No, but Find My will show you the last place they were seen before the battery died. This location can help you search the right area. Once you charge them, they will reconnect to Find My and show their current location.

What if my AirPods show a location that is not where I left them?

Your AirPods may have moved if someone else picked them up, or if they were in a bag or pocket that traveled. If the location is unfamiliar and you believe they are lost or stolen, mark them as lost in Find My to lock them to your account and prevent use by others.

Do I need Wi-Fi for Find My to work?

Your AirPods need either Wi-Fi or a connection to another Apple device on your account to show their location. If they are only connected to Bluetooth on your phone, Find My will show their last known location but not their current one.

Can I find my AirPods if I do not have my phone with me?

Yes, you can use any Apple device signed in with your Apple ID — a friend's iPhone, an iPad, or a Mac. Open Find My, select your AirPods, and you will see their location on that device's map.

What happens if I mark my AirPods as lost and then find them?

Open Find My, select your AirPods, tap the information icon, and select Mark as Found. They will unlock and work normally again. You can also remove any contact information you added when you marked them as lost.