I’ve found Apple’s AirPods to be a decent all-round pair of wireless earbuds, and in the short time I’ve had them, they’ve become my daily drivers. While the reviews are … let’s called them mixed, there’s no doubt the AirPods are stirring up a conversation about a wireless future. But with any revolution, there’s bound to be a few issues, too. This article will detail common problems and troubleshooting tips as well as general tips to get the most out of your AirPods.
Common Problems and Troubleshooting
My AirPods won’t pair. – While most of the time the pairing action of opening the case and being set to go is seamless, sometimes the pairing won’t complete. Toggle Bluetooth on and off, and press the button on the back of the AirPods case.
My AirPods aren’t recognizing that they’re in my ears. – Jiggle and tap the AirPods until you hear the confirming tone.
Music is playing through my iPhone speakers, not my AirPods. – Be sure to tap AirPods on the AirPlay menu. Not that it’s complicated, it’s just a heavily overlooked solution.
My AirPods case isn’t charging. – A common problem with iOS devices that live in your pockets; verify that the lighting port is clear of pocket lint.
Siri isn’t activating on double-tap. – Unlock and lock your iPhone to refresh the UI and make sure the taps are fairly prominent. It’s great technology, but that doesn’t mean it’s bug-free. The “double-tap” is registered by accelerometers, so there actually has to be a decent amount of movement of the AirPods for the taps to register.
My AirPods are seemingly quiet, even with the volume maxed out. – The quickest fix I’ve found for this issue is to disconnect from your AirPods on your iPhone’s Bluetooth settings, and tap to pair again.
Music is choppy and calls drop. – Completely forget the AirPods in your Bluetooth settings rather than just disconnect. Close the case and reopen it next to your iPhone to pair again. Follow on-screen prompts, including pressing the button on the back of the AirPods’ case. Once you’re reconnected, you should be good to go. I’ve seen this issue when connecting to a Mac and switching back to my iPhone.
Tips and Tricks
Siri Commands – While the double-tap is the only available gesture, which by default activates Siri, Siri can do many tasks you could otherwise perform on an iOS music app. Say, “Press play,” “press pause,” “skip this track,” “add this song to my library,” and more.
Repurpose the double-tap – In your Bluetooth settings tap the info icon next to AirPods for a few options. From here, under “double-tap on AirPods” you can choose Siri, Play/Pause, or off.
Battery Percentage View – Swipe left to view your widgets on your iOS home screen to see AirPods’ battery percentage or simply open the case to view it on the home screen. On Apple Watch, swipe up to view control center, tap on battery percentage, and you can now view your AirPods battery percentage.
Not Your AirPods – If the AirPods case is opened next to an iOS device not under your Apple ID, the screen will display “not your AirPods.” Now, even with that warning, the AirPods can still be repaired. No form of “Activation Lock” exists.
Conclusion
If you were lucky enough to get ahold of Apple’s latest vision for the future, hopefully you also learned a few new things. If your issue is not resolved, contact Apple Support. Do remember that since this is such a new product, there are bound to be a few bugs – all of which will be worked out in software updates to come. Also, more and more audio devices using Apple’s W1 chip are in production, so there’s no doubt that this vision of the future will be expanded on.
I’m a junior at UT Dallas, a tech enthusiast, an adreneline junkie, and a coffee fanatic.
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