Imagine you are watching your favorite movie and one of your AirPods suddenly goes silent. Your weekend plans are falling apart and you’re probably now getting ready to call Apple or send back your AirPods.
Either way, a tedious and possibly expensive option.
Although AirPods are one of the best wireless headphones available, they can experience issues over time, such as one AirPod not charging like any other digital product.
Before shelling out extra money for a new pair of Airpods, there are a few things you can do to fix this problem.
In today’s episode of Airpod Saving, we provide the best solution if one of your Airpods is not charging.
Here are the main reasons why one of your Airpods is not charging
If your right or left AirPod or AirPod Pro isn’t charging, the charging case is most likely the problem.
For your information, Apple AirPods have a 93mWh battery. According to Apple, you can talk for up to 2 hours or listen for up to 3 hours after a 15-minute charge.
And AirPods have 24 hours of battery life when using the charging case.
Since the introduction of the Apple AirPods (2nd generation), there have been two versions of the charging case. Both devices support wireless charging, but only one.
These are the only ways to charge your AirPods or AirPods Pro, regardless of the type of charging case you have.
So if the AirPod isn’t charging, it’s most likely the case that’s to blame.
The chrome tips of your AirPods or AirPods Pro are connected to the charging plate via contact points at the bottom of the case, which transmit electricity and charge them.
Any obstruction between the contact points and the AirPods or AirPods Pro can block power and prevent full charging.
The legs of dirty AirPods, dust on the bottom of the case, and even faulty charging cases are some of the most common culprits.
Your AirPods can provide up to five hours of listening time or two hours of talk time when fully charged.
You can get three hours of listening time or an hour of talk time from your AirPods by charging them for about 15 minutes after they run out of power. However, batteries may show signs of wear and tear.
Your charging issue is most likely related to the AirPods’ contact points.
AirPods have three important electrical contacts:
- The head of the USB cable plugs into a power outlet or socket.
- The contact point of the Lightning connector on the case.
- Contact points on the case for Airpods.
The chances that one of these contact points has a problem or a bad battery increases when your AirPods stop charging or charge slowly.
Important checks to make before troubleshooting one Airpod not charging
The following vital checks will allow you to pre-boot to fix one of your Airpod not charging issues:
- Your iPhone or iPad’s battery widget needs to be checked
- Check the iPhone Popup Alert
- Check the Bluetooth icon in your Mac’s menu bar.
- Take a look at the charging case status indicator light.
Your iPhone or iPad’s battery widget needs to be checked
The charging status and battery level of your left and right AirPods or AirPods Pro can be seen by checking the battery widgets on your iPhone or iPad.
Check the iPhone Popup Alert
Bring your iPhone to the charging case that contains your AirPods or AirPods Pro. The battery charging icon for your AirPods and AirPods Pro should show up in a pop-up window on your iPhone when the case is open.
When using AirPods or AirPods Pro in the devices menu on Mac, you can open the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and hover over them.
It will show the amount of charge left in both the charging case and the left and right earbuds.
Take a look at the charging case status indicator light.
Depending on the style of your AirPods case, you can place the status light in different places:
- Wireless charging case (for AirPods 1st and 2nd generation): Located on the front of the case.
- (For AirPods Pro and AirPods 3rd generation) MagSafe Charging Case: Located on the front of the case.
- Regular Charging Case (First and Second Generation AirPods): Between the slots for your AirPods on the inside of the case.
Your AirPods let you know what’s going on with a status light. This displays the battery life of your AirPods or charging case.
When you open the lid and place the AirPods inside, the battery will be visible against the light.
The status indicator will display the battery level of your charging case when your AirPods are not connected.
Green means your Airpods or charging case have enough battery or are fully charged.
Please note that there are only a few hours left if the indicator turns yellow or orange and charges.
The other status light color available for AirPods with wireless charging is white. This indicates that the AirPods are ready to be paired.
Fixed: One Airpod not charging
If you haven’t read the entire article, don’t worry; You can start here. Whenever one of your AirPods or AirPods Pro is not charging, there is always a problem with the charging case.
Because of this, it is advisable to focus solutions on this area.
We’ve covered some ideas for restarting charging for another AirPod below.
- Insert and then remove Airpods.
- Clean the charging case and the back of your Airpods.
- Check the charging cable.
- Make sure the charging case contains a battery that is more than 10% charged.
- Reset your Airpods.
- Consult a technician
Insert and then remove Airpods
One of your AirPods or AirPods Pro may not charge properly if it is not touching the charging plate at the bottom of the charging case.
This happens when they are not fully or incorrectly placed in the charging case. On the other hand, foreign objects can prevent AirPods or AirPods Pro from being securely placed in the charging case.
Luckily, simply reinstalling the AirPod can fix this issue.
AirPods mounts can interfere with proper charging. If the attachment is not installed properly, it may prevent the AirPod from fully charging.
- Remove any accessories attached to the Apple device.
- Remove any AirPods that are not charging.
- Replace it and check if your phone is charging.
Clean the charging case and the back of your Airpods.
Dirty AirPods are dirty and unacceptable both in appearance and in terms of user listening experience. Not to mention that if not taken care of in a timely manner, they can become a source of ear infections in the future.
However, if you don’t clean them regularly, dirt, lint, or grime may soon appear on the stem and tail of your AirPods or AirPods Pro, as well as on the bottom of the charging case.
These are vital connectors that carry electricity from the charging plate at the bottom of the case and can drastically disrupt charging capabilities if not kept clean.
But let’s not forget the mesh screen on AirPods, where dirt and grime left on it for long enough can interfere with music and make matters worse.
So, if one of your AirPods isn’t charging, focus on cleaning out the charging case and tail. Here is a list of what you need to prepare before you start:
- Cotton buds or cotton swabs
- toothpicks
- Periodontal brush soft or old toothbrush
- Unused paper towels
- Lint-free microfiber cloth
Outdoor cleaning
- Use a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol to wipe the dirty areas of the charging case.
- Remove any remaining dirt along the body lines with a clean toothpick.
- Dry the case using a fresh paper towel.
Cleaning inside
- Using a soft bristled toothbrush, clean the charging port.
- Clean the back of your AirPods with a dry, lint-free cloth.
- Using a periodontal brush, clean the internal contact points. If you don’t have a periodontal brush, a simple brushing with a straw will suffice.
AirPods should be cleaned every 3 days of listening.
If you use your AirPods 8 hours a day, you should clean them at least three times a month. Clean your ears regularly to keep your AirPods free of additional dirt.
Check the charging cable
The charging cable you are using to charge your AirPods should be checked first. Apple recommends charging your case with an iPad or iPhone charger.
See if using a different iPhone/iPad charger makes a difference.
Instead, connect your AirPod charging case to your MacBook and check if the green status light is on.
To rule out possible problems with the charging cord, we advise you to ask a friend to borrow an iPhone/iPad charger and test it.
Once you close the charging case lid, double-check that your AirPods are properly positioned inside.
Your AirPods won’t charge if they don’t make enough contact with the charging ports.
Make sure the charging case contains a battery that is more than 10% charged.
Basically, your charging case won’t be able to charge AirPods if it has less than 10% battery life.
Experience shows that people often forget to charge their cases because the batteries last so long. So, just in case, charge it daily for 15 to 20 minutes.
When it comes to AirPods, you don’t have to worry about recharging. This is because the charging case in their long-life lithium-ion batteries automatically stops or blocks the electrical flow once it reaches 100%.
Follow these steps to check the battery:
- Bring your phone closer to the case that contains your AirPods.
- Has the lid been opened?
- The screen should automatically display the battery level.
Reset your Airpods
There is always a chance that your AirPods have a firmware issue when something goes wrong.
This includes battery and charging issues. Your AirPods can go back to factory settings and possibly fix any underlying issues by doing a reset.
Here is how you do it:
- Go to “Settings”, press i and select “Forget this device”.
- Holding the pairing button waiting until the status light turns amber will reset your AirPods.
- Open the cover of the case while your phone is nearby and re-pair your AirPods.
Consult a tech guy
Home remedies like the ones we listed above have limited effectiveness.
Even after you’ve tried all of the above and more, there are times when one AirPod still won’t charge. But that doesn’t mean we have to give up right now.
If all else fails, your best bet is to visit your nearest Apple Store and speak to an Apple Doctor. The technician will be able to assess whether replacing your AirPods is the best course of action and will know what to do next.
Conclusion
Anyone who spends money on high quality products like AirPods or AirPods Pro expects an uninterrupted and enjoyable listening experience. But one Airpod that won’t charge can have serious negative consequences.
We hope this guide has shown you how to solve this problem in as many free ways as possible.
Now you can get back to using your AirPods or AirPods Pro with stylish, practical, fully charged and seamless sound just like they were meant to be.
FAQ
Why is my right AirPod not charging?
Make sure your case is charged and the charging light is on if your AirPods aren’t charging. Whenever your AirPods are in the charging case, they should be charging. If all else fails, you may need to factory reset your AirPods or have Apple repair it.
Should you buy Apple AirPods?
Apple AirPods are popular for several reasons, including their portability, ease of use, reliability, high sound quality, and the ability to bring Siri to life in your ears. Plus, they can pair with any Bluetooth device, including smart TVs and smartphones, even though they work best when used with an Apple product.
Why is my left AirPod Pro not charging?
Check to see if the charging icon is displayed next to the AirPod when you bring AirPods close to iPhone after removing any accessories such as foam ear pads. If your AirPod is still not charging, you may need to clean the charging case, AirPod rod, or contacts if they are dirty.
Why won’t one Airpod charge in the case?
If your AirPods or AirPods Pro are not in contact with the charging plate at the bottom of the charging case, sometimes they will not charge properly. This happens if you have not fully or incorrectly placed them in the charging case.