Do Your AirPods Keep Disconnecting? Here are 13 Easy Fixes!

What You Need To Know

• Your AirPods keep disconnecting for a number of reasons
• Make sure your AirPods are fully charged, have the most updated software, and your they are not far away from your phone or other audio device
• Typically avoiding Bluetooth interference and reconnecting your AirPods will resolve the issue

Introduction

AirPods can sometimes be a frustrating especially when you are faced with connectivity issues. Have you ever wondered why your AirPods keep disconnecting from your device?  In this post we discuss the common causes for this erratic behavior.  We explore various factors such as unstable Bluetooth connections, low battery power, outdated software, and interference from other devices.  Luckily, the fixes to this issue are quick and easy!  Read on to stop this annoying (but common) problem many AirPod owners face.

The Most Common Reasons Why Your AirPods Keep Disconnecting

Unstable Bluetooth connections

A common reason why your AirPods keep disconnecting is due to instability with the Bluetooth connection between your AirPods and iPhone (or other audio device).  There several are causes for instability ranging from the distance between your iPhone and AirPods to physical obstacles such as walls.  Remember that Bluetooth has an effective range of between 30-60 feet.  Beyond that distance you will begin to experience problems.

Low battery power

Another common reason why your AirPods keep disconnecting is low battery power.  When the battery runs low on your AirPods or phone, the devices begin to decrease power to certain applications or features to preserve the remaining power.

AirPods are connecting to multiple audio devices at the same time

A third common problem is the ability for AirPods to automatically change the device to which they are connected.  This feature can be very helpful under circumstances when you want audio to move between devices such as a Mac and iPhone.  However, it can be very annoying when it switches unexpectedly when you are in the middle of a podcast or other task.

Outdated software

Outdated software and firmware can also cause your AirPods to keep disconnecting.  Apple is continually updating software across all their devices to close security gaps and compatibility issues.

Interference from other devices

The last reason why your AirPods keep disconnecting is due to interference from other devices.  There are many devices that use the 2.4 GHz frequency besides Bluetooth such as your wireless network (WiFi) at home, microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, wireless speakers.  There is effectively an unlimited number of devices that could cause interference with your AirPods!

12 Easy Fixes When Your AirPods keep Disconnecting

Reconnect your AirPods to your iPhone

Often the quickest and easiest way to stop your AirPods from disconnecting from your phone is to reconnect them.  Place the AirPods in the case and close it.  Wait 30 seconds and then place them back in your ears.  You should hear the familiar chime as they reconnect to your phone.  Test them to see if the issue persists.

Make sure your AirPods are fully charged

A low battery charge can interfere with the performance of your AirPods.  To check the battery level place your AirPods in the case and hold the case next to your phone with the lid open.  A screen will pop up on your iPhone showing the battery level of your AirPods and the case.  If the charge is low charge them AirPods for 30 minutes.  Then test and see if you continue to have an issue.

Keep your AirPods and iPhone (or other audio device) close together

Proximity does impact bluetooth performance and can cause your AirPods to disconnect from your phone during use.  Make sure that your AirPods are close to your iPhone at all times while you are using them!

Disable and enable Bluetooth on your iPhone if your AirPods keep disconnecting

At times you may encounter minor disruptions with your bluetooth connections.  Disabling and activating your bluetooth settings can often resolve any problems.  On an iPhone the easiest way to do this is:

• Open Settings on your iPhone
• Select Bluetooth
• Disable Bluetooth
• Wait 30 seconds and then enable it

Now put your AirPods in your ears and test to see if the problem is resolved.

Disable automatic ear detection to stop disconnecting your AirPods

Automatic ear detection senses when your AirPods are in your ears, and will disable audio if they are not.  If you fidget with your AirPods or they do not fit securely in your ears this can cause them to disconnect while you are using them. 

To disable automatic ear detection:

• Place your AirPods in your ears
• Open Settings
• Select Bluetooth
• Click the “I” next to your AirPods
• Scroll down until you see Automatic Ear Detection
• Toggle the switch from green to gray to disable this setting
• Now try your AirPods to see if the issue is resolved.

Deactivate Automatic Switching

Automatic Switching allows your AirPods to connect to all your different Apple devices while using them.  While this can be a helpful feature and can be a problem when you want to stay connected to a single device.  (NOTE: These steps must be completed on every Apple device you have to prevent switching.) To disable switching go to Settings > BlueTooth > Click the “I” next to your AirPods. Scroll down to Connect to this iPhone and change the setting to When Last Connected to this iPhone. By changing this setting on all your apple devices your AirPods will only connect to the most recently used device.  View this as a temporary fix – not a permanent one.

Avoid wireless interference when your AirPods keep disconnecting

BlueTooth uses the 2.4 GHz wireless network along with many other common devices including microwaves, baby monitors, security cameras, and garage door openers.  When you connect your AirPods over BlueTooth your phone attempts to make a clean connection across up to 70 different points along the wireless spectrum but there are times when there is congestion and decreases signal quality.  Move away from any devices that might be interfering with your AirPods.

Make sure you are running the latest firmware version on your AirPods

Unlike Mac and IOS devices your AirPods automatically update the firmware in the background.  To check what version you are running open  Settings > BlueTooth > Click the “i” next to your AirPods and Scroll down to view the Version information.  Compare this to the latest version information on support.apple.com which can be found here.  If you are not on the latest version leave your AirPods in the case near your iPhone to download the latest version.

Make sure your iPhone is running the latest IOS version

The latest IOS version may have bug fixes that address connectivity issues with your connected devices.  To check if there are any available updates for your iPhone or iPad go to Settings > General > Software update to check for the latest versions. If there is an update available you can download and install it.  Keep in mind IOS updates can take an extended period of time to install so make sure you have enough time available to complete the update at that time.

If your iPhone is already up to date try rebooting it to see if that resolves the issue

Rebooting your iPhone on a semi-frequent basis is a best practice to resolve any small issues.

Reset your AirPods and reconnecting them to your iPhone

Resetting your AirPods and recreating the Bluetooth connection to your iPhone will often resolve any issues you have.  To do this:

• Open Settings 
• Select BlueTooth
• Click the “I” next to your AirPods
• Scroll down and click “Forget Device” and confirm you want to remove your AirPods
• Click and hold the button on the back of your AirPods case until the light turns amber and then it will turn white
• Hold the case next to your iPhone
• You will be prompted to connect your AirPods to your iPhone
• Follow the prompts

You have now successfully reset your AirPods and reconnected your AirPods.  Keep in mind that this will reset your AirPod settings (such as chime, noise cancellation, etc.) and you will need to configure these features.

Reset your network settings when your AirPods keep disconnecting

This is a stretch, but if all else fails, resetting your network settings may fix your issue.  Bluetooth is a “network setting” and the reset may correct any corrupted settings.

Before following these steps you need to understand this will also reset all your network WiFi settings and VPN configuration.  You will need to reconnect after these steps are completed. To reset your Network Settings:

• Open Settings
• Select General
• Select Transfer or Reset iPhone
• Select Reset and then select Reset Network Settings and follow the steps.

You will be prompted to enter your iPhone passcode if you have that enabled and then select Reset Network Settings.  Once they are reset you will need to reconnect to your Wifi network and you can then reconnect your AirPods to your iPhone – open the lid on the case and hold next to your iPhone. You will see the familiar prompt to connect the AirPods.

Contact Apple Support

If at this point none of the steps above have corrected your AirPods keep disconnecting you probably have a hardware issue and should contact Apple Support for next steps and to issue a replacement.

Conclusion

There are times when AirPods connectivity issues can be daunting, but the insights in this guide and practical solutions we offer a path to a seamless listening experience. We’ve explored the most common challenges, from Bluetooth instabilities to software glitches, and offered the most common solutions to restore your AirPods’ performance.

Remember, consistent updates and following best practices like maintaining battery health and minimizing interference can be pivotal in preventing future problems. If after following all the steps in this guide your AirPods keep disconnecting you should contact Apple for professional support.  They will have the tools to determine if a possible hardware issue requires fixing.