Why do I get "left behind message" when I have my airpods with me??

Hi stangman93,

If you would like to stop receiving the separation alerts when you leave your AirPods behind, we recommend following the steps in the link below but in reverse order.

Get separation alerts if you leave your AirPods behind - Apple Support

To perform the recommended troubleshooting steps via the link above, complete the steps in the section titled "Turn on separation alerts on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch."

1. Open the Find My app, tap Devices, then tap the name of your AirPods.

2. Below Notifications, tap Notify When Left Behind.

3. Turn on Notify When Left Behind, then follow the onscreen directions.

4. To add a trusted location, choose a suggested location, or tap New Location, select a location on the map, then tap Done.

5. Tap Done.

Important: If you want to receive separation alerts, make sure you allow notifications for the Find My app. See View and respond to notifications in the iPhone User Guide, View and respond to notifications in the iPad User Guide, or View and respond to notifications in the iPod touch User Guide.

We recommend the steps above because they will show you how to turn off separation alerts on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Please let us know the outcome after giving the above steps a try.

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities.

Cheers!

Hi!

My best guess is that the location sometimes updates a bit slower than the rate we move at (especially within a moving vehicle). I recommend sending your thoughts as feedback to Apple: Product Feedback - Apple.

I lost an AirPod and purchased a replacement from the store. Appears that they have an identity crisis. The original one does not trigger but the new one does if I leave it in my car or back at a hotel. Apple told me to make an appointment and come into the store. Not sure why they didn’t do it when I purchased the replacement because the timeframes sounded pretty long. But it also happens when I have them both on me but doesn’t always do it. Some buggy stuff that seems like it should have an easy fix with some sort of synch.

I don’t want to turn it off, it can be a useful message. However, I frequently receive the message while I AM LISTENING on my AirPods using my iPhone, which then tells me I have left them behind! AirPods Pro & iPhone 15 Pro Max using latest issue of ios. Also happened when I was using a 13 Pro Max. Any suggestions for this?

This happens regularly with multiple devices which are in use with the phone at that very moment or sitting in the same bag as the phone.

Can someone from Apple give any insight as to why this useful feature is constantly giving false alarms?

Every time I turn off “forgot my” notifications for my iPods it keeps reactivating for the left ear bud on almost a daily basis. I’ve done all the reset steps but it keeps happening. I have two sets of iPods Pro and I use them both daily…could this be causing the issue because two sets are connecting each day?

Jonnyboy - you missed the issue. We don't won't to turn it off. We want it to stop giving us notifications when they are still in our possession, often right next to the phone or currently in use. We want the notifications to work properly!

This happens to me often as well. What ticks me off is that it DOESNT notify me when I’ve actually left an AirPod behind. I guess the notification only works for the case?? I don’t know. Although a great concept it’s actually very useless. This is the 2nd time I’ve actually lost one AirPod and it didn’t notify me that it was left behind. I agree -APPLE up your game. For as much as consumers pay for your products and apps please have them work correctly. Thank you!

Happening to me too since upgrading phones a few weeks ago..

I’m getting this as well, except I have no way in find my to turn off separation notices or add a place as a trusted location. Really frustrating.

I am getting the same when they are in my pocket or backpack on my person. On AirPod pro 3. Frustrating that this function doesn’t work for how expensive these are

About to go to sleep, get a notification I’ve left my airpod behind at the last place I visited.

Both airpods are in my ears in my bed as I’m listening to a podcast!!

APPLE LIFT YOUR GAME !

I’m confused. Turning it off is the solution?

This is a legitimate problem because what happens when I do leave my AirPods behind? Now I have gotten used to ignoring the notification.