AirPods are generally reliable, but they can occasionally suffer from connectivity issues, audio desync, or battery drain bugs. Whether you are troubleshooting persistent problems, preparing to sell your AirPods, or handing them down to a friend, you will need to perform a complete factory reset.
A factory reset completely wipes all paired devices from the AirPods’ memory and restores them to their original out-of-the-box state.
How to Factory Reset AirPods (All Generations)
The reset process is exactly the same whether you own the original AirPods (1st generation), AirPods 2, AirPods 3, or the AirPods Pro.
- Place both AirPods securely inside their charging case and close the lid.
- Wait at least 30 seconds. This allows the AirPods to properly power down and disconnect from any active Bluetooth connections.
- Open the lid of the charging case, but leave the AirPods inside.
- On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap the small “i” icon next to your AirPods in the list of devices.
- Tap Forget This Device and confirm your choice. This removes the AirPods from your iCloud account.
- With the charging case lid still open, locate the small setup button on the back of the case.
- Press and hold the setup button for approximately 15 seconds.
- Watch the status light on the case (either inside the case between the AirPods, or on the front depending on your model). It will flash amber a few times, and then flash white.
- Once the light flashes white, release the button. Your AirPods are now factory reset.
To pair them again, simply bring the open case close to your unlocked iPhone or iPad and follow the on-screen animation.