AirPods Won’t Pair or One Earbud Keeps Dropping Out: What to Check by Generation

The short answer: First identify the generation—the pairing gesture for AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 differs from every older model because their cases no longer have a button on the back. Then start with the simplest step: charge them, close the lid for 15 seconds, pair them again, and only then perform a reset. If only one earbud works, start by cleaning the mesh and charging contacts, not by resetting the AirPods.

Identify the generation by its model number, not its appearance

Many online guides describe a different model from the one you actually have. On AirPods and AirPods Pro, the model number beginning with the letter A is printed on the underside of each earbud. On AirPods Max, it is behind the ear cushion on the left ear cup. A more convenient option is to find it under Settings → Bluetooth → Info button next to the AirPods name.

Check the case as well: Apple assigns separate model numbers to cases, and some are not interchangeable. The charging case for AirPods 4 (A3058) does not work with AirPods 4 with ANC, while the wireless case for AirPods 4 with ANC (A3059) does not work with standard AirPods 4. If you borrowed or bought what was supposed to be the “same” case, this is the first thing to verify.

The pairing gesture differs by generation

With an iPhone or iPad, you can usually open the case with the AirPods inside next to the device and wait for the setup animation. If the animation does not appear—and whenever you pair them with a Mac, Apple TV, or non-Apple device—you need to activate pairing mode manually:

• AirPods 1, 2, 3, AirPods Pro 1, and Pro 2: open the lid, press the setup button on the back of the case, and hold it for about five seconds until the light flashes white.
• AirPods 4 (both models) and AirPods Pro 3: their cases do not have a button on the back. Open the lid and double-tap the front of the case until the light flashes white.
• AirPods Max: hold the listening mode button for about five seconds.

On a Mac, select the AirPods under System Settings → Bluetooth. If they do not appear in the list at all, check whether the iPhone in your pocket is still holding the connection—standard Bluetooth allows only one active connection at a time.

They keep switching between devices: that’s a feature, not a fault

AirPods automatically switch between Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account. If you are listening on a Mac and a call arrives on your iPhone, the audio moves to the iPhone. If this is disruptive, you can limit automatic switching. In the AirPods section of Settings—or in System Settings in the Mac sidebar—find Connect to This Device, then select When Last Connected to This Device. The AirPods will then take over the audio only when you select them yourself.

For the opposite situation, use Settings → General → AirPlay & Continuity → Keep Audio with Headphones, which prevents the iPhone from transferring a call to the car stereo.

However, automatic switching is not the cause if the AirPods connect to a device that does not belong to you or lose their connection in the middle of a single room. On a MacBook, the issue often shares a cause with Wi‑Fi because both commonly use the same combination card. The article MacBook Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth Keeps Disconnecting explains how to distinguish interference from a hardware fault.

Only one earbud works

Start with the simplest solution. Put both earbuds in the case, verify that both are charging, close the lid for 15 seconds, and then open it again. If one is not charging, clean the contacts and the bottom of the case—accumulated lint in the recess is a common cause.

Another frequent cause is a clogged mesh. Apple provides a separate and highly specific procedure for each product line. For AirPods 3 and 4, it recommends micellar water containing PEG‑6 caprylic/capric glycerides, distilled water, and a soft-bristled children’s toothbrush, moved in circles over the mesh for about 15 seconds. Apple explicitly warns that other surfaces must not be cleaned this way. AirPods Pro and AirPods Max have their own instructions. None of them recommend using a pin, needle, or compressed air.

Only if this does not help should you perform a reset. The procedure again depends on the model. For AirPods 1 through 3 and AirPods Pro 1 and 2, remove them from the Bluetooth device list, then hold the setup button for about 15 seconds until the light flashes amber and then white. For AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the front of the case in three rounds—once while the light is on, again when it flashes white, and a third time when it starts flashing faster.

Do not try to update the firmware manually; it updates automatically. Apple states that updates install automatically while the AirPods are charging and within Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac connected to Wi‑Fi. You can only encourage an update indirectly: connect the case to a charger, place the earbuds inside, close the lid, leave the device nearby, and wait at least 30 minutes. Check the version under Settings → Bluetooth → Info button → About.

One more note about crackling and static: Apple had a service program for AirPods Pro 1 manufactured before October 2020 that experienced sound issues. However, it covered affected units for three years after their initial retail sale, so the vast majority are now outside the eligibility period. Apple can verify eligibility in a few minutes, and it is worth doing before resetting the AirPods.

On Windows, they are standard Bluetooth headphones

Apple is explicit about this: with a non-Apple device, AirPods work as a headset—you can listen and speak, but Siri and the AirPods settings available on an iPhone do not work. Use the pairing gesture for your generation as described above, then connect them through the standard Bluetooth settings in Windows. If the AirPods do not appear in the list at all, the problem is on the computer side, not with the headphones. The article Bluetooth Headphones or Mouse Won’t Connect to Windows 11 covers everything from pairing mode and adapter drivers to interference from USB 3.0.

Bear in mind that Windows switches Bluetooth headphones to the hands-free profile during calls, which reduces audio quality. This is not an AirPods defect but a limitation of classic Bluetooth audio—and the same article explains how to deal with it.

Battery, connector and display are handled by iPhone repair in Brno. A related step is MacBook repair in Brno.

When it is no longer a settings issue

At that point, the computer is more likely to need servicing than the headphones. AirPods are glued together, contain tiny batteries, and have no serviceable parts. If the fault persists after a reset, cleaning, and testing with another phone, contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. It is worth acting quickly—while the warranty or a manufacturer service program still applies, you have more options.

What we can service is the other end of the connection. If the AirPods behave strangely with only one MacBook or PC, if Bluetooth appears and disappears in Device Manager, if Wi‑Fi drops out at the same time, or if the problem started after the laptop was opened, the device itself needs attention. Causes range from a poorly seated antenna connector to a faulty combination card.

Servis PC Brno provides out-of-warranty Apple device repairs on a pilot basis and is not an Apple Authorized Service Provider. We cannot promise the scope or price of the repair in advance because both depend on the model and will be determined after diagnostics. If the device is under warranty or covered by a manufacturer service program, contact the retailer or Apple first.

What to prepare

Note the generation and model numbers of both the AirPods and their case, which devices they are paired with and which operating system versions those devices use, whether the fault persisted after a reset, and whether it also occurs with someone else’s phone. Describe what happened before the problem began—a drop, heavy sweating during a run, being washed in a pocket, or replacing the case. You can arrange computer or MacBook diagnostics through the booking form or by calling 774 777 774.

Order online: Fault diagnostics — tell us the model and what happens, and we will come back with the next step.

Sources

• Apple: Identify your AirPods
• Apple: Identify your AirPods
• Apple: Pair AirPods with an Apple device
• Apple: Pair AirPods with a non-Apple device
• Apple: Switch AirPods between Apple devices
• Apple: If your AirPods or AirPods Pro won’t connect
• Apple: How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro
• Apple: AirPods firmware updates
• Apple: How to clean your AirPods
• Apple: How to clean your AirPods Pro
• Apple: AirPods Pro Service Program for Sound Issues