➤AirPods: how to solve a connection problem? 🕹

Nowadays, many high-tech brands favor “wireless” technology for both practicality and aesthetics.

Whether smartphones, computers, speakers or headphones, many devices on the market are compatible with Bluetooth.

Take the example of Apple, after having developed a range of Macs, iPhones and iPads, the American giant launched the AirPods in 2016.

However, although innovative and powerful, these headphones can also be finicky. Indeed, during your phone calls, or while you listen to music, you are not immune to them suddenly disconnecting.

Many users also claim that this is a fairly recurring problem.

Fortunately, there are a dozen tips to resolve this malfunction, which we describe below.

The causes of a disconnection of your AirPods

There are plethora of reasons why your AirPods disconnect from your iOS. This may be due to a hardware, signal or iOS issue.

These issues first arose in 2016 and 2017 with the release of iOS 10.1, then reappeared in 2018 following the update to iOS 11.2.6, then a third time with iOS 12.1. When this happens, do not hesitate to report it to Apple.

The bugs are usually related to phone calls. It is possible that your interlocutor complains of not being able to hear you clearly, or that your intras cut out while you were in the middle of a conversation.

What is the cause ? The sensors inside the AirPods don't detect your ears or the presence of Bluetooth interference.

Anyway, do not hesitate to follow our advice to find a user experience like the first day.

How to fix your AirPods connection issues

To prevent your AirPods from disconnecting, we suggest you go through the list of possible causes and eliminate them one by one. The questions you need to ask yourself are:

Are your headphones sufficiently charged?
Did you accidentally turn off Bluetooth or select the wrong audio output?
Is it your headphones, is the ear detection failing, or do the AirPods just need cleaning?

1- Make sure your AirPods have the correct update

To check the update of your headphones, just go to the Settings from your iPhone, on General, Information, then press AirPods.

AirPods 3 : iOS 15.1 or macOS 12.
AirPods Pro: iOS 13.2 and macOS 10.15.1 or newer.
AirPods 2 : iOS 12.2 or macOS 10.14.

If their firmware is too dated, then:

Put your AirPods in their charging case.
Plug in the box.
Place your iPhone nearby, then turn on the technologies Wi-Fi et Bluetooth.

If an update is available, it should download and install after several minutes.

2- Check the level of autonomy

The first thing to do is make sure your AirPods are charged.

You can check the charging status of these directly on your iPhone. To do this, place them in their case and open it by holding it next to your iOS.

A window should then appear on your screen to tell you the battery level.

If you prefer, take a look at the widget Battery on your smartphone with a simple swipe from left to right on the home screen.

If you haven't added it already, then scroll down, then tap Edit and touch the+ icon.

AirPods: how to solve a connection problem?

3- Check Bluetooth

In order for the pairing to take place, it goes without saying that the Bluetooth mode must be activated on the device with which you use the AirPods.

On the iPhone or iPad, you just need to open the Center de contrôle. Otherwise, go to Settings → Bluetooth, your cursor should appear green. If this is the case, then we still advise you to deactivate it and reactivate it.

4- Check your audio device settings

At first, make sure your AirPods are selected as the audio device.

Then, while listening to music on your iPhone, tap on the icon AirPlay, which reveals itself below the track, and choose your AirPods from the options.

The same is true when you make a call. To change the audio source, you will only have to press the speaker icon.

5- Reset your AirPods

Usually, turning an electronic device back on when it stops working is a reflex that we all have. Why would AirPods be the exception?

However, the process is different from pressing a single button. To reconnect them:

Put your headphones in their case
Close it and wait about 15 seconds.
Open the case again and press and hold the configuration button on the back until the status light flashes orange.

Your AirPods are then reset.

To connect them again, simply bring them close to your iPhone while keeping Bluetooth turned on.

AirPods: how to solve a connection problem?

6- Clean your AirPods

Cleaning AirPods is a tricky procedure because you don't want to scratch or mark the case or damage the components.

The best way to remove dirt from your intras is to use a soft, dry cloth. Caution, take care not to introduce any liquid either into the earpieces or into the case.

7- Use only one AirPod

Some reports indicate that the malfunction occurs less frequently if you only use one earphone, especially since it is possible to adjust a microphone on both. Here's how :

Once the case is open, on your iOS, go to Settings.
See you in Bluetooth.
Select AirPods.
Tap the icon i and select Microphone in the options.

The default option here is Automatic but you can change this option to Always on the left ou always right.

8- Disable automatic ear detection

Although this feature is convenient, it can cause latency. Therefore, you should try disabling it to test if your AirPods work better without it.

Open Settings → Bluetooth on your iOS device.
Touch the icon i to the right of your AirPods.
Disable the option Automatic ear detection.

9- Turn off your watchOS

Do you own an Apple Watch? The problem may be related to the pairing between your two devices, so the best thing would be to try unpairing your watchOS.

This trick also applies to all your other Bluetooth gadgets.

AirPods: how to solve a connection problem?