After iOS 17 update I can't connect my AirPods

I have previously stated a workaround by going to Bluetooth on my iPhone and turning it off by the slider at the top - waiting a few seconds and turning it back on. Then my AirPods connect and everything works. I tried the same with some cheaper ear pods called MUVIT - but they wouldn't connect until I did the same workaround - this proves that at least the Airpods are OK, but the iPhone ios17 is the culprit. I hope that Apple is working on the issue.

I have an opinion and a workaround. Perhaps the latest Airpods with all of the updated facilities have required an IOS17 iPhone focus on newer Airpod models - This may be why Apple is not fixing this issue on previous Airpods. My workaround to get the Airpods to work - place them in your ears - go to Bluetooth settings and turn off the Bluetooth slider at the top to turn off all Bluetooth - wait a second or two and turn Bluetooth back on - mine connect using this workaround. Still no excuse for Apple not supporting this important issue for all of the folks who have laid out their good money to believe that they have the nest and will be looked after in a proper way

OK, one more test: I have a pair of iKanzi (wireless) bluetooth earbuds. I put them in pairing mode near the new iPad (running iOS 17.2), and they paired immediately, and worked perfectly. In combination with my previous two tests, this strongly suggests that the problem with the Apple earbuds is a combination of the earbuds working against iOS 17. (Because the Apple earbuds pair with iPads running iOS 10 and iOS 15, but not iOS 17, yet the iKanzi earbuds pair easily with iOS 17).

Ear pod pro will not stay connected after the 17.1.1 ios update on my 13 pro max. Support said it is the 17.1.1 update and I was advised to wait until they develop the fix as it were. It's good to know that it isn't a hardware issue however, now I have no handsfree for my i phone. Extremely inconvenient seeing as my ear pods are primarily for work.

Hi, DGee63-

Yes, it was your post I was referring to.

Another user, “fixitapp”, recently posted a workaround that enabled connection / pairing of AirPods (toggling Bluetooth on/off/on while AirPods are in your ears). I replied with a question about whether this action addressed the mic issue. doesn’t appear to do so for me :(

Really wish Apple would address this. How can this problem not be a “known issue” now?

Anyhow, good luck :)

All of the sudden without warning my airpods wouldn't connect to either of my devices. I had the apple watch update but not the IOS17. After having the issue and seeing the update, i did install it, but the problem started before i actually downloaded the update. Anyway... I went through a very heavily watched and well reviewed, extensive video showing 6 different fix suggestions including forgetting airpods, resetting airpods, reset of network settings on iphone. Neither my phone nor my macbook air will recognize the airpods are near. They look like they are flashing to pair, but my devices are not receiving the signal... Frustrating.

My AirPods Pro 2 worked without issue on my MacBook Air, iPad Air, iPad Mini and my iPhone 14 Pro right up until the time that I upgraded my iPhone 14 Pro from iOS v16 to 17.03. After the "upgrade", I could no longer successfully pair the AirPods with ANY of my Apple devices. I also was getting the message "Not Your AirPods Pro" - see attached

The AirPods were still under warranty and I contacted Apple Support and spent nearly two hours on the phone with someone named Jay (very helpful) to troubleshoot the pairing issues. With the issue not resolved, a repair ticket was created and I sent my AirPods to Apple to be fixed or replaced.

However, I received the below response from Apple Support yesterday:

"Our technicians inspected your product and found issues that are ineligible for service. They determined that your device has been damaged or modified in such a way that is not covered by the Apple Limited Warranty, an AppleCare product, or an Apple Service Program. We’ll send the product back to you right away."

Apple's response is completely inexcusable and makes it clear that they have no intention of accepting responsibility for THEIR software damaging the AirPods. I resent the implications of their response and not sure how I would "modify" the AirPods and the only place they have been is in my ears and in the charging case!

I literally used the AirPods with my iPhone 14 Pro just before "upgrading" to 17.03 and, immediately after the upgrade, was unable to pair and use.

So, there are at least some of us - and possibly many, many more - who have had their AirPods rendered inoperable after upgrading to iOS 17.03.

I'm not sure what recourse I, or more broadly, we have, but does anyone know if Apple has a complaint mechanism?

I'm going to reach out to the Washington State (where I live) Attorney General's office to see if there is a way to get Apple to acknowledge the issue and offer to replace any AirPods damaged by the iOS 17.03 upgrade.

[Edited by Moderator] 

Hi peppermint24. It may have been my post you saw about the Apple saying that I had modified or damaged my AirPod Pro 2.

I spent at least an hour on the phone with someone from support and, in the end, they asked me to send them to support and sent me a paid for box to put them in. At this point, I figured they would repair or replace them, but I got the email from support that they had examined them and determined that I had modified or damaged them and sent them right back!

So, somehow they figured out that I disassemble the AirPods and put new speakers in them for better audio quality...just kidding of course!

The only thing that damaged them was the "upgrade" from iOS 16.x to 17.03 because they worked just fine about 15 minutes prior to the upgrade.

Calling what I got from Apple "support" is a load of crap! Even though there are many hundreds - and I suspect in the 1,000s - reports of people having the same issue after "upgrading" to 17.x, they refuse to acknowledge that it's a real problem caused by Apple.

As of now, if I initiate the pairing process on my iPhone 14 Pro, two AirPod entries pop up in the discovered section of the bluetooth settings. Of course, I can only select one and, while it does pair and connect, no sound at all, so, even with the most recent iOS version - 17.2.1 for me - the AirPods are still jacked up!!!

Come on Apple! Just effing admit there's a real issue and stop telling people that they must have modified or damaged their AirPods and make things right!

Here is a good test that demonstrates that this is an IOS issue, not an issue with the earpods. My wife has a set of the "wired" earpods, with built-in microphone. For some reason, they use Bluetooth, even though you also have to plug them into the device (iPad, iPhone) that you're using them with. Anyway, she has used them daily for many months on an iPad. Because the iOS on the old iPad could no longer be upgraded past 15.8, we purchase a new iPad gen 10, now running iOS 17.2. The earpods will not connect on the new iPad nor on her new iPhone, running iOS 17.2.1. However, there was no trade-in value on the old iPad, so we kept it. Sure enough, the earpods still connect to the old iPad. I had the old iPad forget the earpods in Bluetooth, then re-paired, and it paired right away and worked perfectly. You gotta fix iOS 17, Apple.

UPDATE: I remember that I had a *very* old iPad in a "Old Tech" box. It was last able to update to iOS 10.3.3 (!!). It had never before been paired with my wife's earpods, so I tried it out. Sure enough, the iPad-Dinosaur paired with the earpods and worked. Another data point!

Hey man same here. Perfect fine before the update. Won’t connect after it. Keeps popping up “AirPods not connected to your iPhone”. Haven’t found any fixes yet.

My AirPods Max are completely dead they won't connect to iPhone or iMac. They were fine before the iOS 17 update..Took them to Apple Store and was quoted £300 + to repair. WTF extortionate , think they just want you to buy a new pair but at that price you would expect them to last beyond 2 years.

yeah same exact issue my airpods pro max were fine a few days ago and then just today they won’t connect all of the flashing lights show up but my iphone won’t connect - I followed ever troubleshooting step and even updated my iphone to 17.1 and the issue remains - What’s the fix here i’m not paying for these to be sent in that’s ridiculous

Apparently I said something that violated the rules of this forum...

Not sure if the following is a violation, but here goes:

Is anyone aware of any other forums where people have reported similar issues? I'm asking so that I can gather more evidence for Apple Support so that they understand that it isn't just me whose AirPods became inoperable after upgrading to iOS 17.03.

Thanks