How to Quickly Factory Reset Your AirPods and AirPods Pro (2024)

Get your AirPods reset back to factory settings within minutes

Whether you’re troubleshooting, selling, or pawning your AirPods, a proper reset is crucial.

An incomplete reset may lead to future unnecessary issues.

Follow this guide to thoroughly reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro within minutes.

Step 1: Put AirPods Back in Charging Case And Wait

• Place your AirPods inside the charging case and close the lid for at least 30 seconds. This will ensure your AirPods can recharge a little and have enough battery to connect to the case.

If the charging case has a low battery, charge it for at least 15 minutes before attempting a reset. A reset will not be successful if the charging case does not have enough power.

Step 2: Unpair AirPods From Connected Apple Devices

With iOS 16 or later, you can easily access a dedicated AirPods settings section directly within the Settings app of your iPhone.

1. Place your AirPods near the Apple Device you want to connect to.
2. Go to “Settings”. You will see a tab with your AirPods’s name. Tap it.
3. You will reach your AirPods setting page. Scroll all the way down and tap “Forget This Device”.

If your iPhone is running an OS version older than iOS16, do the following to unpair your AirPods:

1. On your iOS device, go to Settings and select Bluetooth.
2. Find the AirPods you want to reset and tap the “i” icon beside it.

3. Tap “Forget This Device” to forget the AirPods from it.

Unpairing the AirPods will remove the AirPods from all the connected devices you signed in with your Apple ID.

Step 2.1: Using “Find My” to unpair AirPods From Apple ID (Alternative)

Alternatively, you can use the “Find My” app to unpair the AirPods from your Apple ID account.

1. On your Apple devices, open up the “Find My” app.
2. On the “Devices” tab, you will see a list of connected Apple Devices tied to your Apple ID.
3. Click on the AirPods you want to unlink from, and click “Remove This Device“.

Step 3: Press and Hold the Setup Button to Complete the Reset

1. Open the charging case’s lid and locate the setup button at the back of the case.
2. Press and hold the setup button for ~15 seconds, and the status light on the case will start flashing white. When the light turns from flashing amberto flashing white, release the setup button. Your AirPods are now reset.

Reconnecting your AirPods

Once you have reset your AirPods, you can reconnect your AirPods back to your Apple device. Open the case’s lid and bring it near the Apple Device. You will be prompted to setup the AirPods again. Complete the setup steps to reconnect your AirPods.

How to Reset AirPods without an Apple Device?

For users on platforms like Android or Windows, the reset process for AirPods is largely the same. However, instead of using iOS settings, you must access your device’s Bluetooth settings.

From there, locate your AirPods in the list of devices, select them, and opt to ‘Forget’ or remove the device. To re-pair your AirPods after resetting, manually initiate the pairing mode and connect through your device’s Bluetooth settings.

Oh no, my AirPods have earcups! How do I reset it?

The steps to reset AirPods Max differ entirely from the AirPods and AirPods Pro.

1. On the right ear cup, locate both the Digital Crown and the noise control button.
2. Press and hold both buttons simultaneously.
3. Keep an eye on the status light next to the charging port.
4. Wait until the light changes from flashing amber to flashing white, which should take about 15 seconds.
5. Once the light is flashing white, release both buttons. The AirPods Max is now reset.

What Happens if AirPods are Still Linked to a Previous Owner’s Apple ID

To use second-hand AirPods with your Apple ID, the prior owner must remove them from their account to prevent access issues and disable location tracking via “Find My.”

Without unlinking, you forfeit features like automatic device switching and could be susceptible to the former owner tracking the AirPods’ location.

What to Do When AirPods Won’t Reset

If your AirPods fail to reset after trying the above steps, here are a few suggestions on what you can do:

1. Charge your AirPods: Make sure it has enough battery to do a complete reset
2. Clean the AirPods and its charging case: Clear any debris on the connector between the AirPods and the charging case
3. Drain the Battery: Drain the battery and recharge it to 100%
4. Check if AirPods are Fake
5. Contact Apple Support