What to Do When One AirPod Isn’t Charging
Your AirPods have enough power stored for 5 to 6 hours of listening time. Keeping your AirPods in their case when they’re not in use lets them stay charged.
According to the Apple website, you can use the charging case for many charges. With the charging case, you can extend your AirPods’ listening time from 5 to 30 hours. That’s a long stretch.
However, what do you do when one or both AirPods aren’t charging the way they should? Continue reading our troubleshooting tips on charging the latest earphones on the market.
Does Your AirPod Case Have Enough Juice?
You’ve heard the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” For devices like these, it holds where the charging case needs charging, too. The technology problems you face could be battery problems.
It’s easy to forget to charge the case since it can last for a long time after one recharge. The charger case stores enough power that you can stretch the 5 hours of listening time to 30.
However, when the case reaches its threshold, which is usually at 10%, it stops charging your AirPods. What do you do when the battery itself gets drained? All you have to do is recharge it.
To check the battery percentage on the charging case, place your AirPods back inside and close the case. Then, draw it closer to your phone, and, with the lid open, pull it nearer until the phone detects the case.
Your phone screen should display the battery percentage of the charging case and AirPods.
Without a phone, you can still gauge the battery status. The charging case emits an amber light to let you know it’s charging. The amber light shifts to green when it’s finally fully charged.
Is the Cord Functional?
When facing technology issues, try tracing back the chain of command. The charging case charges the AirPods, and the Lightning cable charges the charging case.
The lighting cable is compatible with other Apple devices. It can charge other devices, like iPads, iPhones, and iPods. Testing it out on other functional devices allows you to determine if it’s still usable.
If you notice your charging cable charges the case slower than before or not at all, it may be time to retire it.
Are Your AirPods Clean?
Wireless headphones have limited battery life. Unlike their corded counterparts, they also don’t have a connection to the charging case.
Inside the bowels of the AirPod charger case nests a 660 mAh battery. Wireless technology transfers energy from the battery to the device through electromagnetic induction. Two circuits, a transmitter, and a receiver, all work together to create a magnetic field.
Energy can travel in this magnetic field, creating an invisible conduit of transfer.
You can create this transfer bridge via contact with the AirPod stem with the charging port. Due to consistent exposure of the AirPods to outside elements, debris build-up is common.
When dirt and debris build up in the stem, it can disrupt the connection between the battery and the AirPod. This interrupts the energy transfer, and the battery isn’t able to do its job.
While the charging case could be fully charged, the problem may lie in the stem. If one AirPod is charging, but the other isn’t, it could be a singularity.
Don’t replace the whole unit! Explore options such as this AirPod Pro left replacement or right replacement. Buy bits and pieces of the entire unit and save yourself some cash!
Does the Charging Case Need Some Cleaning?
It’s not uncommon for the charging case itself to accumulate debris. It’s a receptacle and, therefore, prone to the entry of dirt from the AirPods.
Similar to debris getting stuck in the AirPod stem, it can disrupt charging contact.
If you’ve checked the cleanliness of the AirPod stem, and it still doesn’t charge, try the charging case. Make sure that there isn’t any debris disrupting the contact between the stem and charging ports. All your unit needs is a bit of housekeeping.
Do You Need a Charging Case Overhaul?
The core of troubleshooting tips is detective work of finding the faulty piece in the puzzle. If the charging junction between the stem and the charging case is fine, the problem may lie elsewhere.
Check if the Lightning cable is in proper function by testing it on other devices. Borrow a functional pair from a friend and try connecting them to the charging case.
If it doesn’t charge, the charging case could be the culprit.
Could the AirPods Themselves be Defective?
So, what’s next if you’ve checked everything? The cable works fine, the charging case is fully charged, and there’s no trouble with the charging junction.
It may be difficult to accept, but the problem may lie in the wireless earphones themselves. Check to see if both AirPods are faulty or if it’s only the one.
It’s time to face the music so you can go back to hearing the music. Try to find a replacement.
Replacing AirPods is quite heavy on the wallet. But there’s good news–you don’t need to replace the whole unit!
Did You Find These Troubleshooting Tips Useful?
Troubleshooting tips for hardware revolve around finding the problem component. Start with the charging case, which could have run out of juice. Evaluate the junction between the AirPod and the charging case to ensure a seamless connection.
Check that all the components have full function, even the Lightning cable. If all else fails, check to see if you can buy individual replacements. Get more tech-savvy with our other articles; check them out today!
Yvan Lebrun is a trusted expert in the field of product & service reviews. With over a decade of experience analyzing and comparing services online, he shares his valuable experience with readers at GoodSitesLike so consumers can make educated decisions before making a purchase.
