Why is one of my AirPods not charging, which is a problem most people face. If you are also having trouble with your one AirPod that is not charging, you should read this article-cum-guide. After thorough research, we have put in place all the relevant information that will help you overcome this trouble. Let’s start this.
With the advancement of technology, the use of AirPods is leading the market of wireless earbuds. But they can cause some issues when you use them. One such issue that you may face is that AirPods may not be charging like any other electronic product. Imagine the irritation, you are sitting to enjoy your favorite music, but you find your right or left AirPod silent.
Not only are you annoyed by this trouble but you may also contact the brand and return these earbuds. An annoying, and possibly expensive endeavor in either case. If you are facing the same issue, don’t worry. This article will help you in this regard.
After reading this, you will surely be able to resolve these issues at home. The comprehensive guide is of great help. First, we let you know the cause of the issue. After this, we will enlighten you on how you solve this issue. In short, a complete guide awaits you.
Why is One of the AirPods Not Charging?
If either of your AirPods is not charging, most probably it is due to an issue with the charging case. A brief background of the product will make things easier for you. The Apple AirPods accompany a 93 milliwatt battery. According to the brand, charging for 15 minutes will let you use this product for up to 2 hours of talk time, and 3 hours of listening.
But with the charging case, you can use these AirPods for up to 24 hours. Since the launch of the Apple AirPods of the 2nd Gen, the charging case has had two versions. One does support wireless charging while the rest does not. No matter what type of charging case you use, they are the singular way of charging your AirPods, or AirPods Pro. However, if you are experiencing trouble charging your device, it is most likely the problem with your case.
At the bottom of the case lies contact points that connect the chrome tips of your AirPods Pro, or AirPods to the charging plate which conducts power, and charges your headphones. Any interference between your AirPods and the contact points can cause disruption in power delivery and charge.
It prevents full charging. Some of the common causes can be dust at the bottom of the case, dirty AirPods’ stem, and defective charging case. How can you check whether both of your AirPods are charging? The following points are an answer to your question.
1: Check the iPhone Pop-up Indicator
Close to your iPhone bring your charging case that contains AirPods, or AirPods Pro. Then open the lid. A pop-up window on your iPhone would appear and rightly display the charging icon for your AirPods Pro, and AirPods.
2: Check the Battery Widget on the iPad, or iPhone
Secondly, you can get to know whether both the AirPods are charging by checking the battery widgets on your iPad, or iPhone. In this way, you will find the battery level and charging status of both AirPods.
3: Check the Bluetooth Icon on Menu Bar
For a Mac, the process of finding our charging status is different. For a Mac, open the Bluetooth icon from the menu bar, and point over your AirPods Pro, or AirPods from the device menu. Not only will it show the charging percentage of the left, and right earbuds but also of your charging case.
4: Check the Charging Status Light Indicator on the Charging Case
Locations of finding the status light are different on different AirPods. A detailed description is as follows:
- Wireless Charging Case (for both 1st, and 2nd Gen AirPods): On the front of the case
- Regular Charging Case (for both 1st, and 2nd Gen AirPods): Inside of the case, between the spaces for your AirPods.
- MagSafe Charging Case (for AirPods Pro, and AirPods 3rd Gen): On the front of the case
With the status light, your AirPods communicate with you. This does show the state of the charging case, and AirPods. If your small earbuds are inside the case, the light will show the battery status of AirPods upon opening the lid. And if your AirPods are out of the case, the light will signal the battery status of the charging case. Let’s describe what the light of different colors indicates.
Green
The green light indicates that either your earbuds are fully charged or there is a lot left.
Orange/Amber
The orange light indicates that charging of a couple of hours is left. In other words, it is a sign to charge your headphones.
White
Last but not the least, another color variant that the AirPods show is of white color. White means that your device is ready to pair.
Status Light: An Indicator of Fake or Authentic AirPods
Except for telling about the status of the battery, the status light is also an amazing way of distinguishing authentic AirPods from fake ones. Authentic wireless AirPods come with the status light that lies at the front part of the charging case. On the non-wireless charging variant, the status light will be between the spaces of your AirPods. But if your device has a status light anywhere else, it may be a knockoff.
How to Fix the Problem
As it was said earlier, the charging case is the place where your problem lies if one of your AirPods is not charging. So better it is to focus all your attention on this point. In the following section, we have enlisted a few suggestions that can help you fix the problem and help you charge your AirPods again.
1: Ensuring the Charging Case has more than 10% Battery
If your charging case has not 10% battery, it would not be able to charge your AirPods. Experience tells us that most people forget to charge their case because their battery lasts for a long time. So, make sure to charge for 15-20 minutes daily for good measures. While charging your headphones, you don’t need to worry about overcharging. The battery of these earbuds contains high-durability lithium-alcohol batteries. It means the charging case blocks the electric flow to AirPods once the latter is 100% charged.
2: Clean the Charging Case, and AirPods Tail
Dirty AirPods are a big no, and unsanitary, both from the perspective of music listening experience and aesthetically. Moreover, they can also become a source of an ear infection if not addressed timely. If you don’t clean your AirPods regularly, lint, dirt, or grime can accumulate on the tail, and stem of your AirPods Pro, or AirPods, and even at the bottom of your charging case.
These are all necessary connecting parts that are essential for the charging of your earbuds. But if not taken care of their cleanliness, they can seriously disrupt the charging capacity. In addition to this, the mess screen of AirPods is also a place where grime and dust can accumulate to cause damage and muffle the audio. So, if one of your AirPods is not charging, thoroughly clean the tail and your charging case. Before you begin, the following items must be prepared:
- Toothpicks
- Q-tips
- Periodontal brush
- An old or soft toothbrush
- Lint-free microfiber cleaning cloth
- Dry paper towels
Since proper cleaning is an art, this is how you can do this.
External Cleaning
In 70% isopropyl alcohol dip the cotton swab, and rub the dirty areas of the AirPods or charging case. To pick up any remaining dirt in the case lines, use a clean toothpick. After this, dry the case with tissue paper or a clean paper towel.
Internal Cleaning
For internal cleaning, clean the port with an old or soft toothbrush. With a dry and lint-free fabric, clean the tail of your earbuds. Besides that, what you should also clean are the internal contact points with a periodontal brush. But if you don’t have a periodontal brush, a regular straw cleaner can do the job. It is recommended to clean your AirPods thrice a month if you use them for 8 hours a day.
3: Reset the AirPods
When everything is ok with your AirPods, the problem may lie with the firmware. This includes charging and battery problems. By doing a reset, your AirPods will be back to the factory setting and you can right any underlying issue. But here the question arises how to do this? Luckily, we have an answer to this question as well.
Here is how you can do this:
- Go to settings, click the “I” button, and tap Forget This Device.
- By pressing the pairing button, and waiting until the status light turns into amber color, reset your AirPods or AirPods Pro.
- By opening the case lid, pair your earbuds with your phone while both are close to each other.
When Everything Fails, Consult a Genius
The solutions mentioned above are everything that helps you solve your problem. However, there are cases when AirPods still don’t charge even after you try everything that was mentioned above. Here is another way that you can seek help. Consult an expert or genius. When everything fails, you should go to the nearest Apple Store, and get help from an “Apple Genius.” He/she would tell you about the next best solution by determining whether you should repair your AirPods or replace them. Of course, we wish for the latter. After all, who does not want to get a brand new pair of Apple AirPods for free? And if you also want that, the following tricks can be of great help:
1: Free Replacement for Subpar units
AirPods that are not a year old and cannot last for 5 hours of listening to music will be replaced for free.
2: AppleCare+ Warranty
You can get a two-year warranty for your AirPods Pro or AirPods for $29. What it covers is a free replacement for any issue in a battery within this time frame.
3: “Battery Service”
Through this, three possibilities emerge for you to replace your AirPods at a discount if your product is out of warranty. It will take $49 to replace your charging case or one of the AirPods.
Closing Words
We hope this guide will help you solve the issue when one of your AirPods is not charging. Everyone who spends money on premium products such as AirPods Pro, and AirPod must get an uninterrupted, and blissful listening experience. But having an AirPod that is not charging can be a dampener. By following the above-mentioned ways, you can troubleshoot this issue at home. You can now reuse your earbuds as you were meant to, convenient and with a seamless audio experience.
