There was a time when my AirPods wouldn’t connect no matter what I did. I tried everything—turning Bluetooth off and on, forgetting the device, even restarting my phone. Nothing worked. That’s when I realized I needed to reset them.
At first, I thought it would be complicated, but it turned out to be a quick fix. Since then, I’ve reset my AirPods several times for different reasons.
Sometimes to fix pairing problems, other times to give them a fresh start. If you’re dealing with connection issues or setting up used AirPods, resetting them might be the easiest solution.
Table of Contents
Resetting My AirPods Pro When Nothing Else Works
Sometimes my AirPods Pro stop working the way they should. When that happens, a hard reset is my best option. It clears up pairing issues and gives them a fresh start.
To reset my AirPods Pro, I follow these steps:
- I place both AirPods Pro in their charging case and close the lid.
- I wait for about 30 seconds.
- I open the lid.
- On my device, I go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the “i” icon next to my AirPods Pro.
- I tap “Forget This Device” and confirm.
- With the lid still open, I press and hold the setup button on the back of the case.
- I keep holding it until the status light flashes amber, then white.
- I release the button. My AirPods Pro are now reset and ready to pair again.
After the reset, they feel like new again. I can now reconnect them as if I just took them out of the box.
Resetting My AirPods When They Start Acting Up
Sometimes my AirPods don’t connect or sound right. When that happens, a reset usually fixes everything. It’s quick, easy, and works for AirPods 1, 2, and 3.
Here’s how I reset them:
- I place my AirPods inside the charging case and close the lid.
- I wait 30 seconds to let them reset.
- I open the lid to get them ready.
- On my device, I go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the “i” icon next to my AirPods.
- I select “Forget This Device” and confirm.
- With the lid still open, I press and hold the setup button on the back of the case.
- I keep holding it until the status light flashes amber, then white.
- I release the button. My AirPods are now reset and ready to connect again.
After resetting, they work like they’re brand new. It’s a quick way to fix any connection issues.
Resetting My AirPods Max When They Stop Responding
My AirPods Max usually work without issues, but sometimes they won’t connect. When that happens, I reset them to get things back to normal. It only takes a few seconds.
Here’s what I do to reset them:
- I make sure my AirPods Max are charged before starting.
- I press and hold the noise control button and the Digital Crown at the same time.
- I keep holding both buttons until the LED light flashes amber, then white.
- I release the buttons. My AirPods Max are now reset and ready to connect again.
This reset clears most problems. Afterward, they connect just like new.
Resetting My AirPods Without Using an iPhone
I don’t always have my iPhone nearby, but that doesn’t stop me from resetting my AirPods. They can be reset without any Apple device.
Here’s how I do it:
- I place my AirPods in their charging case and open the lid.
- I press and hold the setup button on the back of the case.
- I wait until the status light flashes amber, then white.
- I release the button. My AirPods are now reset.
- To pair them with a non-Apple device, I open Bluetooth settings on my device and select my AirPods.
This method works well when I need to reset my AirPods but don’t have an iPhone.
Giving My AirPods a Name That Feels Right
I like my AirPods to feel personal, so I always rename them. It makes them easier to find when connecting to different devices. Changing the name is simple and only takes a minute.
Here’s how I do it:
- I make sure my AirPods are connected to my device.
- I go to Settings > Bluetooth on my device.
- I tap the “i” icon next to my AirPods.
- I select “Name” and type the new name I want.
- I tap “Done” to save the change.
Now my AirPods show up exactly how I want them to.
Resetting AirPods That Belonged to Someone Else
When I get used AirPods, I always reset them first. This removes any previous connections and lets me pair them as if they were new.
Here’s how I reset AirPods from a previous owner:
- I place the AirPods in their charging case and open the lid.
- I press and hold the setup button on the back of the case.
- I keep holding until the status light flashes amber, then white.
- I release the button. The AirPods are now reset.
- On my device, I go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- With the AirPods case lid open, I bring them close to my device.
- I follow the on-screen prompts to pair them like new.
After this, they are fully mine and ready to use.
When I Need a Full Factory Reset
Sometimes my AirPods start acting weird, even after a regular reset. That’s when I go for a factory reset. It wipes out everything and gives them a fresh start.
Here’s how I do a factory reset:
- I put my AirPods in their charging case and close the lid.
- I wait 30 seconds before opening the lid.
- On my device, I go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- I tap the “i” icon next to my AirPods.
- I select “Forget This Device” and confirm.
- With the lid open, I press and hold the setup button on the back of the case.
- I keep holding until the status light flashes amber, then white.
- I release the button. My AirPods are now factory reset.
After this, they work just like the day I got them.