AirPods won’t Reset

I was actually able to resolve my issue before I saw your suggestion. If any of you are still trying to figure this out, try cleaning the contacts in the bottom of your airpod case with a cotton swab. Once I did that and put them back in, the light glowed amber (showing that they were charging) as opposed to the green (full charge) light if had before the cleaning. I then did the reset process and it worked! Once connected, it showed my left AirPod had very low battery. So basically, some dirt or something kept it from charging and it died completely. Hopefully that helps someone!

Has happened to me several times. Finally figured it out. You can’t fully reset the Airpods unless *both* airpods are fully physically connected inside the case. The catch is that one airpod might not fully connect, so even if it’s physically in the case, the case doesn’t *think* it’s in there, and won’t let you reset no matter how long you hold down the button.

So take out both airpods, and put in one at a time. The troublesome AirPod might not activate the amber “charging” light if it doesn’t make a connection. So take it out, and put it back in, a couple times, until re-insertion finally activates an amber light. You may need to clean the contacts inside the case with a cotton swab. Then put the other one back in, and confirm you still see an amber light. *Then* you can do a hard reset by holding down the button for 15 seconds until you get yet another amber light and then flashing white.

TLDR, reinsert the problem AirPod over and over again until the case *recognizes* it by turning the light amber.

One of the pods had lost connection to the case due to some small particles at the bottom.

Cleaned it with a cotton swab. Once the connection was, the resetting happened!

I was having the same issue (left airpod not charging or being recognized) and I found a fix. When the left AirPod was in the case I lifted up on it ever so slightly (maybe 1/64”) and the light changed to orange and it started charging. So I stuck a very thin piece of foam with adhesive on one side into the fitted groove so the AirPod now sits higher in the case and charges. Hope this helps!

I have had the same problem. Here is what you do. Once your white light is not flashing and just staying on, put them in the case and close the lid. Once closed plug into the lightning connector and open the lid. Then press and hold the button until flashes!

Yes. This is what did it for me. Mine are old. I had trouble with the right one not charging. Eventually it wouldn’t trigger the case either. I knew I had to get that amber flash for the reset but could not get it. Only white. The order of operations is important.

1. Not be in pIring mode, must be forgotten in Bluetooth settings

2. Both in case lid closed

3. CASE UNPLUGGED

4. Plug in case

5. Open lid

6. Hold button ~15 sec until amber flash, release

Should be flashing white now.

7. Close lid

8. Open lid and pair.

And BOOM. I have my right one back!!

**Easiest fix**

1. ensure the contacts are clean
2. with the case open push the ear buds themselves down into the case with a snug force to ensure they make contact. This will allow you to pair / reset etc. It doesn’t take a lot of force, but it ensures the contact is made for both pods which appears to be the most common issue.

I think I solved my issue after trying all of the suggestions including banging it in the desk.

I found that only one earbud was charging when I swapped each one in and out so I left that earbud charging while the other was out and the case was open and not on charge as I was trying to flatten the battery to try a reset.

So with the charging one in and the case open and the other one out I waited for the battery to go flat, but the light just went out after a long time.

When I placed them both in the amber light came on, hurrah after hours of attempts this worked !

Hope I remember that next time : )

I did the fix that talks about testing one at a time and that worked for me. With the case open, wait till green light goes out then put one in at a time, green light should come on immediately. Take it out if it works and wait for green light to go out again, put the next one in, if light doesn't come on that's the problem side.

I cleaned the airpods metal strips at the bottom with alcohol and bathroom tissue, that didn't fix it.

I cleaned the charger inside at the bottom with a Q-tip and alcohol then dried it out really well, that fixed it. The one that didn't work, now works and the light goes amber charging it again.

Hope this helps others.

I may have found a solution to this. I was able to finally get the flashing amber lights by having the case plugged in and charging while attempting the reset. The case and headphones were already fully charged, but would not reset. As soon as I plugged in the charging case and tried again, voila, hard reset.

Symptoms: left AirPod pro would not work. Followed reset instructions several times with no success, e.g. Case opened pressed and held reset button for 15 plus seconds. Light would flash white, but would not transition to amber to indicate successful rest had occurred.

Solution: removed left AirPod from case and visually inspected the bud and case for contamination, but could not see any debris. Decided to clean anyway with a cotton swab dampened (not saturated) with alcohol. Lightly cleaned the contact area on buds and the contacts inside the case. Reinserted the bud into case and followed the reset protocol and the amber light appeared indicating a successful reset had occurred. Reconnected the AirPods to my phone and the left bud now works.

More for anyone coming across this thread. If you can’t hard reset it’s because the contacts for charging the actual AirPods are dirty. I had my right one disconnect and all the issues everyone else had. After taking a Qtip and cleaning the contacts (used a damp one then dry side) then my AirPods worked properly again. My right one wasn’t charging, and that’s why it wouldn’t connect.

I had the same issue. I cleaned the airpod charger holder (whatever it's called I'm sorry!) and cleaned w q tip. It wasn't working for me when I realized there was basically a piece of ear wax or something on the bottom of the airpod itself that attaches the airpod to the charging port inside the charger. Once I cleaned that off, this advice did help and my airpods are happily charging again. Left airpod was at like 1% when all was said and done so that checks out! Thought it was done for but was eventually able to reset.

I should probably clean these things more often🙃

Yes! I called support and they had me reset my network setting on the iPhone, then disconnect the AirPods (forget this device process under bluetooth) and then they were able to successfully disconnect, and then reset fine. The right one still doesn't work, but I think that is another issue.

On your phone -- go to general>reset>reset network settings.

Lay answer here so you have proberbly already solved it, but I’m here to help people that come here later.

I had the EXACT same problem, but I solved it by letting the case die then charge it back up. This made it so the left one could be detected witch made me able to reset the case!