Apple users have long been enjoying the benefits that AirPods bring into their lives. After all, AirPods Pro and all previous generations have brought some excellent features to the table for iPhone users. However, they can also be quite easy to lose. Here is a handy guide on how to find lost AirPods that are offline.
You can locate your AirPods from the Find My App on your iPhone, Mac, or iPad. The App will help you identify the last known location even if the Apple AirPods are now offline. You can use the information on the current location to find the AirPods or even use a sound for location tracking.
Let’s go over exactly what you need to do to identify the exact location where your AirPods were left. In this article, we will show you the simple steps you need to follow to find your AirPod earbuds, even when they get separated.
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How To Find Lost AirPods That Are Offline
Have you lost your AirPods? You need to find a way to track them to their exact location so you can find them before they’re gone for good. The question is, how? Well, in this step-by-step guide, we will be going through all of the methods that can reunite you with your beloved AirPod Pros.
Using the ‘Find My’ App on an Apple iPad/iPhone
Ever since 2021, you can find your wireless earbuds from Apple, the AirPods, through the Find My App on your phone or Apple device. This even includes an Apple Watch. This App on your phone can help you track the accurate location of your AirPods especially when they are online. However, if your battery levels are low and the AirPods are offline, you can still find your AirPods.
The method that you choose to locate your AirPods depends on the device you use to access the Find My App. Here’s how you can use the ‘Find My’ App on your iPhone:
- Switch on WiFi or connect to a cellular network to access the Internet.
- On your Apple iPhone, open up the Settings menu.
- Press your name to open up your Profile settings.
- From here, select the option ‘Find My.’
- Make sure that Find My iPhone is switched on in the settings.
- Now, open up the Find My App.
- In Items, choose your AirPods.
- If your AirPods have a dead battery, then you will see a grey dot next to the name. However, the AirPods can communicate their location through nearby devices up until the moment their battery died.
- Tap on the location to see a map location, which you can get to using your navigation tools.
Using the ‘Find My’ Website on a PC
You can also use the Find My functionality on a computer. This is because Apple has made it easy to stay connected to the iCloud even if your phone or other Apple devices are not nearby. Since losing an AirPod can be an emergency, you’ll need to act fast, especially if your phone’s battery is also dead. Here’s how to use this app:
- On your computer, run your preferred web browser.
- Open up the link: icloud.com
- Next, sign in to your Apple ID using your email address and password.
- You might be asked to enter a verification code that is sent over to your phone.
- In the menu on the page that will open up once you sign in, select the option ‘Find iPhone.’
- Select the option and tap on it to start the location services.
- You will be taken to a map that can show all of your connected devices.
- Select the AirPods to see their online location.
Can I Play Sound While Locating AirPods?
If your AirPods were switched off, and there is no battery power, you cannot use the ‘Play Sound’ option to locate them. However, if you have even a little battery power left, you use this feature to find your AirPods when they are nearby. Here’s how to do this:
- In the Find My App, switch to the tab called ‘All Devices.’
- Choose your Apple AirPods and find their listed online location.
- You can now tap Play Sound to get the devices to make a sound.
- The sound will slowly increase and will play for a total of 20 minutes.
Can I Look For Just One of the AirPods Pro Earbuds?
If you’ve managed to misplace just one of your AirPods Pro earbuds, you can still find it. This is because there is an option in the Find My App to find each of the earbuds separately. Therefore, if they are in different locations, you can still find out where each one is lost and recover it as soon as possible.
Does This Guide Work for All Generation AirPods?
The ability to locate an AirPods pair is relatively new. So, the question of whether all AirPods can be located in a perfectly reasonable one. It turns out, you can technically use the Find My App to locate all kinds of AirPods.
However, some features are specific to the 3rd Generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max. For example, you can see the updated location of an AirPods max for up to a whole day. Similarly, the playing sound feature is only available in AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, or an AirPods Max.
What Happens When You Can’t Find Your AirPods
Unfortunately, in some cases, you just won’t be able to find your AirPods. This might be because they have been moved since their last location was updated online, or they just don’t show up in the Find My App if they are completely dead. In that case, unfortunately, there is not much more that you can do to find your AirPods again.
We understand that the AirPods are an investment, and losing one or both of them can be quite stressful. Luckily, if you have at least one of the earbuds or the case, you might not have to replace the whole thing. You can use Apple’s replacement program to find select items (like one earbud) at a lower cost.
If you’ve lost all of the parts, it might be a good idea to go online and order yourself a new pair of AirPods. You can also take some precautions to hopefully avoid losing them again.
How To Prevent AirPods From Getting Lost
Now that you know there is a chance that you can lose your AirPods, it’s time to focus on keeping them safe. There are a number of things you can do to avoid the catastrophe of misplacing one or both of your AirPods. Remember the more precautions you take, the better – and it always helps to keep your AirPods case and the earbuds nearby.
One of the best ways that you can avoid misplacing any one of your AirPods is by keeping the case near you at all times when the AirPods are in use. This way, as soon as you are done using them, you can put them back in the case and reduce the chances of losing one of them.
The great thing about the AirPods case is that it is extremely portable and easy to carry around. You don’t need a special bag or pocket, as it can easily slip into your usual bag with no problems. That way, you can develop a habit of keeping your AirPods inside the case whenever you stop using them and avoid a disaster.
Another thing that we would recommend is that you use some other form of tracking to keep your AirPods safe. If you get into the habit of placing your AirPods in the case every time you’re done using them, you just need something for the case itself.
You can even use an Apple AirTag to help you do this. AirTags are compact, easy to locate, and have a far better battery life than your AirPods themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about losing and tracking your AirPods? We’ve answered some of the most common questions you might have about this topic.
Are there any other ways to track your AirPods?
Unfortunately, there is only one way to locate any of your AirPods, and that is to use the Find My App. You cannot use any other option, such as serial numbers to track the device.
Luckily, Apple has some of the best location service tracking features in the market. You can even use multiple devices to use this feature, such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even a PC that was not created by Apple. So this method is pretty diverse in its own way.
What happens if my AirPods aren’t showing up as a connected device?
If you can’t see your AirPods as a connected device in your Find My App, that means you never connected them correctly to your Apple ID.
You cannot use the Find My App to find your AirPods in this case because the system cannot recognize that these AirPods belong to you. You are likely to run into this issue if you lose brand new AirPods, or if you accidentally removed them as a linked device from your Apple ID.
What do I do if I can’t see the Find My App on my iPhone?
If you can’t see your Find My App on the iPhone, there’s no need to panic. As long as you have a valid iPhone and Apple ID, you can always download it again from the App Store. You can also try resetting your iPhone if necessary.
If my AirPods are stolen, can someone use them?
Unfortunately, yes, you can use stolen AirPods on a new iPhone or device. However, you may then be able to track the AirPods using the Find My App as they will be online again.
Apple in general does not recommend that you use the Find My App to recover stolen items. It is best to get in touch with law enforcement to locate your AirPods if you suspect they have been stolen by someone.
Along with the AirPods, can I track a missing AirPods case?
Currently, you cannot track your AirPods case through the Find My App as it is not registered to your account as a device.
If you feel there is a need to track your AirPods case, you can try using other tracking items, such as an Apple AirTag. The AirTag will be able to help you locate your AirPods case with precise location tracking.
What is the distance that you can detect missing AirPods?
When you are within the range of around 30 feet, your phone can accurately track your AirPods. Once the AirPods are outside of that distance, they can only be detected using their last location.
Because Apple has an excellent system for location tracking, you will most probably be able to find the AirPods pretty easily, especially if they are in a familiar place. Remember you can combine location tracking with the ability to play a sound to get the most out of Apple’s Find My services.
Are AirPods compatible with Android phones?
As long as an Android phone has Bluetooth capability, it can also be used with AirPods. The use of AirPods is not limited to just Apple devices.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that is stressful to lose your AirPods. However, do not lose hope. You still have a decent shot at getting your AirPods back using Apple’s fantastic location tracking services. Even when your AirPods are offline, the technology can keep track of the last detected location thanks to other Apple devices that are nearby.
