How to Reset AirPods
Factory reset any AirPods model, including the buttonless AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Pro 3 cases and AirPods Max, then pair them again and restore your settings.
You will end up with AirPods back in their factory state, paired to your iPhone again, and set up the way you had them. Reset them when they stop connecting properly, play from one side only, cut out, or refuse to pair with a new device. Apple's order is to restart them first, by closing them in the case for at least 10 seconds, and to reset them only if that does not fix the problem.
A reset clears all pairing data and custom settings, so you pair them again as if you had just opened the box.
The process depends on your model. AirPods 1 to 3 and AirPods Pro 1 and 2 use a button on the back of the case. AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Pro 3 cases have no button and use a tap sequence instead. AirPods Max use two buttons on the headphones. We checked these steps against Apple's AirPods User Guide for iOS 27 and Apple's reset articles in September 2026.
Your AirPods and their charging case, with enough charge that the case's status light comes on. For AirPods Max, the headphones charged to at least 50 percent, which Apple asks for before a restart or reset.
Put AirPods in the charging case and close the lid
Place both AirPods in their charging case, seated fully so their charging contacts touch, and close the lid. Wait 30 seconds. A reset uses this longer wait in Apple's steps, not the 10-second wait from the restart in the intro. You read the reset off the case's status light, so if the light does not come on when you open the lid, charge the case before you go on.
Forget the AirPods from your device
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list of paired devices and tap the info icon (the "i" in a circle) next to the name. Tap "Forget This Device" and confirm. This removes the AirPods from every device signed in to the same Apple Account, which Apple called an Apple ID until iOS 18. If the AirPods do not appear in the list, skip this step and go straight to the reset.
Open the lid and trigger the reset
Open the charging case lid with the AirPods inside. What you do next depends on which AirPods you own. If your case has a setup button, it is a small circular button on the back. Press and hold it for about 15 seconds. The status light on the front of the case flashes amber, then flashes white. When the light flashes white, the reset is complete. Release the button. The AirPods are now in factory state, disconnected from all previous devices, and ready to pair as new. That is the procedure for AirPods 1 to 3 and AirPods Pro 1 and 2. Apple documents a different one for AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Pro 3, whose cases have no setup button at all. With the lid open, double-tap the front of the case while the status light is on, double-tap again when the light flashes white, then double-tap a third time when it flashes faster. The light flashes amber, then white, the same way.
Good to know: If the light does not flash amber and then white, Apple's own fallback is to close the case for 20 seconds, open it again, and repeat the procedure for your model.
Pair the AirPods again
With the case lid open and the AirPods inside, hold the case near your iPhone or iPad. A setup animation appears on your screen, similar to when you first got the AirPods. Tap Connect, then follow the on-screen prompts. The AirPods will pair with your device and sync across all devices on your Apple Account via iCloud. If the animation does not appear, go to Settings > Bluetooth, make sure Bluetooth is on, and look for the AirPods in the available devices list.
Reset AirPods Max (different process)
For AirPods Max, the buttons are on the headphones, because there is no charging case with a setup button. Charge them to at least 50 percent first. The listening mode button is the one you press to switch between noise cancellation and transparency, and the light sits next to the charging port. If you only want to restart them, hold the listening mode button and the Digital Crown until the light flashes amber, about 10 seconds, and let go at once, because Apple's AirPods User Guide warns that holding longer resets them. For a reset, Apple's instruction is to press and hold the listening mode button and the Digital Crown for 15 seconds, until the light flashes amber, then white. Release the buttons when the light flashes white. The AirPods Max are now reset. To pair again, hold them near your iPhone with Bluetooth on and follow the setup prompt. AirPods Max can belong to only one Apple Account, so if someone else used them before you, they have to remove them from their account first.
Reconfigure your settings after pairing
After re-pairing, your personalized settings are gone. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and reconfigure your preferences. This includes the name of your AirPods, what each AirPod does on double-tap or squeeze (play/pause, next track, Siri, noise control), ear detection on/off, and spatial audio settings. If you use AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods 5, or AirPods Max, reconfigure the transparency mode and noise cancellation preferences. If you have AirPods Pro, run the fit test to check that your ear tips are the right size for a proper seal. Wear the AirPods, open Settings, and tap your AirPods name at the top of the screen. Then select Ear Tip Fit Test on AirPods Pro 1 and 2 or Acoustic Seal Test on AirPods Pro 3.
If the problem is still there after a reset and re-pairing, update the firmware with the steps in FAQ 5 below and test again. If that does not fix it, contact Apple Support or book an Apple Store appointment for service. With AppleCare+, Apple replaces the battery at no extra charge once its capacity drops below 80 percent. To use your AirPods with a computer next, our guide on connecting AirPods to a laptop covers Mac, Windows, and Chromebook, and our guide on using noise cancellation on AirPods covers the listening modes you just set up again.
Questions we get asked about this
Answers from experience, not a textbook.
Yes. A factory reset erases all custom settings, including the device name, double-tap (AirPods 1 and 2) or press/squeeze (AirPods 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Pro) actions, ear detection preferences, and all pairing information. You will need to set these up again after re-pairing. The reset does not affect any content on your phone or other devices. Only the AirPods themselves are reset.
Yes, and they do not need a reset for it. AirPods pair with any Bluetooth device, not just Apple products. With the AirPods in the case and the lid open, Apple's steps are to press and hold the setup button on the back until the light flashes white, or on AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Pro 3, to double-tap the front of the case until it does. Then select them in the Bluetooth list on your Android phone, Windows PC, or other device. On a non-Apple device you can listen and talk but cannot use Siri, and automatic switching works only between Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account.
Check two things before you reset, because Apple's fix for one quiet AirPod starts with them. First, remove the ear tips if your AirPods have them and look at the speaker and microphone mesh on each AirPod. Do not push anything sharp into the openings. If there is debris, clean it off with a dry, soft-bristled brush. Second, open Settings, tap Accessibility, then tap Audio & Visual, and make sure the Balance slider sits in the middle. If both check out, reset the AirPods. If one side is still quieter after the reset, contact Apple Support for service.
Yes, but do the quicker fixes from Apple's steps for AirPods that will not connect first. Update your iPhone to the latest iOS, put both AirPods in the case and check that both are charging, then close the lid, wait 15 seconds, open it, and pair them again. Reset them if they still drop out after that. If they keep disconnecting after a reset and a firmware update, contact Apple Support.
Connect your AirPods to your iPhone. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the info icon next to your AirPods name. Scroll down to the About section. The firmware version is listed there. AirPods update firmware automatically, and there is no button to force it. To prompt an update, connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi, put the AirPods in their case, close the lid, connect the case to power, and keep it within Bluetooth range of the iPhone. Apple says to wait at least 30 minutes, then open the lid and check the version again.
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How to Reset AirPods
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