Hello Alex Elderfield,
You've done some great troubleshooting already. Thanks for taking those steps. Since it's hard to determine which device is causing this behavior at this moment, we'd like you to try resetting your AirPods which might help with this behavior: How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Apple Support. Follow this guidance:
- "Put your AirPods in their charging case, and close the lid.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Open the lid of your charging case, and put your AirPods in your ears.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth. Or go to Settings > [your AirPods].
- If your AirPods appear there as connected, tap the More Info button
next to your AirPods, tap Forget This Device, then tap again to confirm. - If your AirPods don't appear there, continue to the next step.
5. Put your AirPods in their charging case, and keep the lid open.
6. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds, until the status light on the front of the case flashes amber, then white.*
7. Reconnect your AirPods: With your AirPods in their charging case and the lid open, place your AirPods close to your iPhone or iPad. Follow the steps on your device's screen."
If the issue persists after that, further assistance may be needed. We want to make sure you reach the right team for help with your Apple Watch and AirPods, so we recommend that you contact Apple Support directly. Depending on your region, you may be able to reach them here: Get Support.
Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities and have a wonderful day.
