Level 1

118 points

Airpods Always Disconnecting on All Devices

I have my 1st gen airpods about more than 1 year ago and have been using it on my iPhone X, iPad Mini and HP laptop with no issues. Just recently, my airpods always disconnects to these devices after about 1 minutes listening to music. Reconnecting it, only the left unit is functioning and disconnects again after a minute. I have tried resettting it and it works properly for about a minute and the same issue occurs. Tried other suggestions like closing other bluetooth connections of other devices, disabling automatic ear detection, etc but I still encounter the same issue. Note that the batteries are more than 95% charged. The same issue happens to my iPhone X, iPad mini and HP Spectre laptop. Note that the airpod firmware is 6.7.8. Has anybody experiencing the same issue? It's frustrating as I cannot use my airpods. Any suggestions? How can I downgrade the firmware? Hoping for a solution to this. Thank you.

iPhone X, iOS 12

Posted on Jul 18, 2019 7:32 PM

Top-ranking reply

Danny Diep

Level 1

17 points

Posted on Jul 18, 2019 9:15 PM

You cannot downgrade the firmware. But you can try resetting it to its factory settings by:

Going into Bluetooth settings on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, and forget the device.
Place both of your AirPods in its charging case and leave the case lid open.
Press an hold the button(located at the back of the charging case) for at least 15 seconds. You’ll start seeing the LED indicator flash white.
After 15 seconds, you’ll see the LED indicator flash Amber a couple of times.
After that, you have reset your AirPods to factory settings and you may let go of the button.
Try pairing your airpods to your phone and hopefully this fixes your issue!

If this does not fix the issue, try rebooting your devices and see if that helps. If not, I would take it to the Apple Store and get it checked out. Good luck!

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384 replies

Woo2016

Level 1

12 points

Feb 6, 2022 12:20 PM in response to Woo2016

Hey I just tried “forgetting device” and reconnecting it to my iPhone and it seems to be working correctly again!

Jul 18, 2019 11:52 PM in response to tommie12

Have you tried rebooting your devices? If not, try that and see if that helps. If not, I would take it to the Apple Store to get it checked out. I’m sorry but I do not have other suggestions to get this problem resolved. Good luck!

Aug 1, 2019 4:54 PM in response to tommie12

I have exactly the same problem. After trying without luck all the basic recommendations to fix the problem, I took my AirPods to an authorized Apple Service Provider and they told me that my AirPods must be replaced (at the same price than new ones). Obviously, I rejected the solution because I prefered to buy new AirPods. But now that I'm reading your story, I'm pretty sure that the problem is the 6.7.8 firmware. I hope Apple release soon an update that fixes this problem.

Aug 27, 2019 7:48 AM in response to tommie12

Same here. Tried everything I could find online and all above mentioned procedures. Pretty sure by now that the firmware is the root cause of the problem. Fully charged left AirPod disconnects in seconds on calls, and lasts for 20 min listening to music. It was working fine before the update.

tommie12 Author

Level 1

118 points

Aug 27, 2019 5:14 PM in response to thiagoreis

Yes, a lot of users of Airpod Gen 1 have been complaining on this disconnection issue lately with the latest firmware uploaded. I hope Apple will listen to our complaints and sentiments on this product and release the firmware to resolve this. I am now not convince to buy the latest Airpods as this issue may occur and Apple will not support this.

APPLE PLEASE RESOLVE THIS!!!

Sep 28, 2020 2:50 AM in response to tommie12

I may get the reason of this issue. It's BATTERY.

Again, as the usual tricky way Apple applies on stale model iPhones, 6.6.8 firmware increases the AirPods battery level threshold, so tiny voltage down will cause BT drop.

Now I'm going to repair my AirPods (1st gen, bought on 2016/12, now could not be alive more than 2 minutes) by replacing the battery, which costs me 23 USD. Hope this may rescue my AirPods. I'll post the result later.

acayon

Level 1

8 points

Nov 17, 2020 12:05 PM in response to thiagoreis

Finally I do the two thingis, sign the request of Change.org and write to Apple the next message:

Subject:

Disconnection of 1st generation of AirPods on calls

Body:

The latest firmware version of first generation of AirPods disconnect the device in calls before than 1 minute with full case and AirPods with full battery.

I try all standard solutions and nothing works. Other people have the same problem. You can see this threads:

https://communities.apple.com/es/thread/251361302?answerId=253902533422&login=true

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250494933?answerId=253903476022&login=true

Jan 9, 2021 7:23 AM in response to ewellander

As a followup to my own comment I no longer think that Apple intensionally make the Airpods break by firmware update. The reson for this is that I have successfully used my wife's pair for a few weeks now and they work just fine. The conclusion I make is the following. Due to my wife's much less usage of her Airpods they are still working and this is despite the latest firmware installed on them as well. Talking to Apple Support they offer a repair (which actually is a replacement) of the "ear-pods" at a cost of >$160 and compared to a new pair that costs ≈$200 it is not tempting to go through the hassel of sending them for a replacement. Buying a new pair would also give me a new battery case as well as warranty for another year.

So instead I today ordered a new set of JBL wireless headphones at half the price and hopefully they will be just as good. https://www.amazon.com/JBL-LIVE-300TWS-Ear-Headphones/dp/B085J2HLWG?th=1 I found mine at a discount price of $99

"Off topic"

I got a new price for a battery replacement at the local Apple shop, $450!! That is asking for just the battery and replacing it myself as I cannot wait 3-5 days for them to do the job! I also talked to Apple Support asking them for an option to just buy the battery which the politely declined and just referred me to the Apple Shop and ask them for a faster service. I will ask, but probably end up buying another 3-party replacement battery and later a new computer "NOT Apple" and install Linux, or

perhaps buy a Dell XPS with Ubuntu preinstalled, and "Live happily ever after!" :)

Jul 21, 2019 1:33 PM in response to syafiqjay

I have the same firmware (6.7.8) and I do not have any issues, but if none of the solutions help, I suggest you bring it to an Apple Store and get it checked out. They may replace it.

Sep 11, 2019 7:11 AM in response to tommie12

Just noticed the update to 6.8.8.

Hopefully it fixes the problem.

VDBN

Level 1

4 points

Mar 4, 2020 7:15 AM in response to controlsuz

Call your local help line and log the problem

hari148

Level 1

15 points

Jun 25, 2020 10:57 AM in response to Durgante

i erased my phone and set up your phone as a new phone it is working for now i will give a update tomorrow

tommie12 Author

Level 1

118 points

Jul 19, 2019 8:55 PM in response to Danny Diep

Tried rebooting my iPhone and again restored to factory settings my airpods. Now after now 1 minute of listening to music, the left airpod disconnects and right is still working. Tried to put back the disconnected pod on the charging case and after 3 seconds I put it back on my ear and the connection is restored. After again 1 minute or so, the same left pod is disconnected again. The right airpod is always working on all this testing.

What could be defective on my left ipod? Thanks.

Jul 21, 2019 11:40 AM in response to tommie12

I have the same problem, tried all the suggestion (turn off ear detection, change microphone on right or left airpods only, reset the airpods, etc as stated in most apple fan website)

but nothing seems fix the issue, after playing song for 30 sec, my left pod disconnected, only right pod remain working.

i think this has something related to the new firmware 6.7.8

i'm still finding solution.. zzZZ

Vkey11

Level 1

13 points

Aug 10, 2019 1:39 AM in response to candra yunianto

Yes, Exact same behavior. mine is getting disconnected every 30 mins then put back in case for 5 mins then pull out to connect again and like wise it works for another 15 mins then cycle repeat's.

i also noticed that battery life is also drastically decreased but case shows 90% sometime 70% and disconnects.

Please help "apple !!!" instead replace and pay same cost,upgrade the firmware quickly.

Thanks in advance.

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Airpods Always Disconnecting on All Devices