The AirPods are Apple’s wireless earbuds that offer great sound quality, easy pairing, and smart features. However, they need to be charged regularly in their case to keep them working properly. If your AirPods are not charging in the case, you may encounter some issues or problems with your devices or battery. In this content, we will explain the potential reasons why AirPods may not be charging in the case and what troubleshooting steps can be taken to resolve the issue.
AirPods Not Charging in Case: Troubleshooting the Issue
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods not charging | Low or dead case battery | Charge the case with a cable or wireless pad |
| AirPods not charging | Dirty or damaged contacts | Clean the contacts with a soft cloth or cotton swab |
| AirPods not charging | Outdated firmware | Update the firmware on your iOS device |
| AirPods not charging | Improper placement | Make sure the AirPods snap into place |
| Case not charging | Faulty or loose cable | Try a different cable or power source |
| Case not charging | Dirty or blocked port | Clean the port with a soft cloth or toothpick |
| Case not charging | Software glitch | Reset the case by holding the button for 15 seconds |
| Case not charging | Hardware defect | Contact Apple for repair or replacement |
Reasons and Solutions for AirPods Not Charging in Case
There are several possible reasons why your AirPods may not be charging in the case, such as:
- Low or dead case battery. If your case battery is low or dead, it may not have enough power to charge your AirPods. To check your case battery level, open the lid with your AirPods inside and hold it close to your iOS device. You should see a status light and a battery icon on your device screen. If the light is orange or there is no light at all, it means your case battery is low or dead and needs to be charged.
- Poor or faulty connections. If your connections are poor or faulty, it may prevent your case from charging or your AirPods from making contact with the case. This can be caused by a damaged or incompatible cable, adapter, or wireless charger; a dirty or blocked Lightning port or wireless charging coil; or a misaligned or loose AirPod or case lid.
- Dirty or damaged AirPods. If your AirPods are dirty or damaged, it may affect their charging contacts or sensors and prevent them from charging properly in the case. This can be caused by dust, debris, lint, moisture, corrosion, cracks, etc., on your AirPods or their ear tips.
- Software or firmware issues. If your software or firmware is outdated or corrupted, it may cause some glitches or errors that may interfere with your charging process or functionality. This can be caused by skipping updates, resetting settings, pairing issues, etc., on your AirPods or your iOS device.
To troubleshoot these issues and try to fix them, you can follow these steps:
- Charge your case. Make sure your case has enough power to charge your AirPods by plugging it into a power source using the cable and adapter that came with it. You can also use a Qi-compatible wireless charger if you have the Wireless Charging Case for your AirPods. The status light should turn on for a few seconds and then turn off while continuing to charge. If the light does not turn on or flashes repeatedly, try using a different cable, adapter, or wireless charger.
- Clean your connections. Make sure your connections are clean and clear by removing any dust, debris, lint, etc., from the Lightning port or wireless charging coil of your case using a soft brush or a dry cloth. You can also use compressed air to blow out any particles from the port or coil. Do not use any liquids or sharp objects to clean them.
- Align your AirPods. Make sure your AirPods are aligned and seated properly in the case by feeling for a magnetic snap when you insert them into the case slots. You should also make sure that the lid of the case closes securely without any gaps or resistance. If your AirPods are not aligned or seated properly, they may not make contact with the charging contacts in the case and may not charge.
- Clean your AirPods. Make sure your AirPods are clean and undamaged by wiping off any dust, debris, lint, moisture, etc., from them and their ear tips using a soft, dry cloth. You can also use a cotton swab to gently clean the charging contacts on the bottom of each AirPod. Do not use any liquids or sharp objects to clean them.
- Update your software or firmware. Make sure your software or firmware is up to date by checking for any available updates on your iOS device and following the instructions to install them. You can also check for any available updates for your AirPods by placing them in their case and opening the lid near your iOS device. Your device will automatically download and install any updates for your AirPods if they are connected to Wi-Fi.
Indicators and Error Messages for AirPods Not Charging in Case
There are some specific indicators or error messages that may appear when your AirPods are not charging in the case, such as:
- No status light or battery icon. If you do not see any status light on your case or any battery icon on your iOS device when you open the lid with your AirPods inside, it may indicate that your case or your AirPods are not charging or have no power.
- Orange status light or low battery icon. If you see an orange status light on your case or a low battery icon on your iOS device when you open the lid with your AirPods inside, it may indicate that your case or your AirPods have low battery and need to be charged.
- Flashing status light or error message. If you see a flashing status light on your case or an error message on your iOS device when you open the lid with your AirPods inside, it may indicate that there is a problem with your case or your AirPods and they need to be reset or repaired.
These indicators or error messages can suggest the underlying problem or cause of your AirPods not charging in the case and help you troubleshoot them accordingly.
Causes and Issues Related to the Charging Case
There are some common causes or issues related to the charging case itself that may prevent your AirPods from charging properly, such as:
- Dead or defective battery. If your case battery is dead or defective, it may not hold any charge or provide any power to charge your AirPods. This can be caused by age, wear and tear, overcharging, overheating, etc., of your case battery.
- Damaged or incompatible cable, adapter, or wireless charger. If your cable, adapter, or wireless charger is damaged or incompatible, it may not deliver any current or voltage to charge your case. This can be caused by cuts, frays, bends, breaks, etc., of your cable, adapter, or wireless charger; or by using a non-Apple or non-Qi-certified cable, adapter, or wireless charger.
- Dirty or blocked Lightning port or wireless charging coil. If your Lightning port or wireless charging coil is dirty or blocked, it may not make any contact or connection to charge your case. This can be caused by dust, debris, lint, moisture, corrosion, etc., in or around your Lightning port or wireless charging coil.
- Misaligned or loose lid. If your lid is misaligned or loose, it may not close securely or activate the charging contacts in the case. This can be caused by dirt, debris, lint, etc., in the hinge of the lid; or by dropping, bending, twisting, etc., of the lid.
To address these issues and try to fix them, you can follow these steps:
- Replace your battery. If your case battery is dead or defective, you may need to replace it with a new one. You can contact Apple Support online, by phone, or by visiting an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. They can diagnose your case and offer you a battery replacement option depending on the warranty status of your case.
- Replace your cable, adapter, or wireless charger. If your cable, adapter, or wireless charger is damaged or incompatible, you may need to replace it with a new one. You should use the original cable and adapter that came with your case; or use a Qi-compatible wireless charger if you have the Wireless Charging Case for your AirPods.
- Clean your Lightning port or wireless charging coil. If your Lightning port or wireless charging coil is dirty or blocked, you may need to clean it with a soft brush or a dry cloth. You can also use compressed air to blow out any particles from the port or coil. Do not use any liquids or sharp objects to clean them.
- Align your lid. If your lid is misaligned or loose, you may need to align it by gently pushing it back into place until it clicks. You should also make sure that there is nothing in the hinge of the lid that prevents it from closing securely.
Hardware-Related Causes and Defects for AirPods Not Charging in Case
If the troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, there may be some potential hardware-related causes or defects that might require further assistance or repair for the AirPods or the charging case, such as:
- Faulty charging contacts. If the charging contacts on the bottom of each AirPod or inside each slot of the case are faulty, they may not transmit any power to charge the AirPods. This can be caused by defects in materials or workmanship of the charging contacts.
- Faulty sensors. If the sensors on each AirPod that detect when they are in the case are faulty, they may not activate the charging process for the AirPods. This can be caused by defects in materials or workmanship of the sensors.
- Faulty Bluetooth chip. If the Bluetooth chip on each AirPod that communicates with the iOS device and updates the battery status is faulty, they may not show any accurate information about the charging level of