As an owner of the popular AirPod headphones, I know the frustration of having an issue with them. Recently, I encountered a frustrating issue that I thought I would never face… the AirPod case simply wouldn’t turn on. After doing some research and testing different solutions, I’m here to share what I found out and how I solved the issue. In this blog post, I’ll explain the possible causes of why your AirPod case won’t turn on and how to fix it.
If your AirPod case won’t turn on, this can happen due to various causes, such as dead batteries, faulty charging cable or port, or software issues.
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| AirPod case won’t turn on | Dead battery | Charge the case using a working charging cable or wireless charger. |
| Faulty charging cable or power source | Try another compatible charging cable or a different power source. | |
| Dirty Lightning port | Clean the Lightning port using a lint-free cloth and some isopropyl alcohol. | |
| Software problems | Reset the connection and check settings for any available firmware updates. | |
| Hardware problems | Visit a certified service center for inspection and repair or consider replacing the case if it’s old. | |
| AirPod case charges only wirelessly | Dirty Lightning port | Clean the Lightning port using a lint-free cloth and some isopropyl alcohol. |
| AirPod functions erratically or unresponsive | Software issues | Reset the connection, check settings for any available firmware updates, and ensure the AirPods are close to a paired device. |
| One AirPod not working | Various causes | Reset the connection, clean the AirPod, or take it to a certified service center for inspection and repair. |
5 Reasons Your AirPod Case Isn’t Turning On
Several factors can play a role in preventing AirPod cases from turning on. Although only one factor is enough to prevent the case from operating properly, older devices may suffer from a combination of these problems, which makes the problem harder to troubleshoot.
Here’s an in-depth look at those causes:
1. The Battery Is Dead
One of the main reasons why the AirPod case doesn’t turn on is that the battery is dead. When that happens, the battery inside the AirPod case won’t be able to hold any charge.
As a result, if you connect it to a working charging cable or wireless charging, the case won’t respond or illuminate the status light.
2. The Charging Cable/Power Source Needs to Be Replaced
In some cases, your AirPod case might be working normally. However, the cable you’re using is the one that doesn’t work.
For battery safety, AirPods are designed so that they don’t charge up when a faulty cable is connected to them.
You can test that out by trying other charging methods or a new compatible charging cable that can charge your iPhone.
Alternatively, you can try a magnetic charger instead. If any of them works, it means that your cable needs to be replaced.
3. The Lightning Port is Dirty
While troubleshooting your AirPod case, make sure that you also check the lightning port, as dust and debris might be stuck inside the port, preventing it from charging.
Luckily, you can easily clean the lightning port at home, but more about that in the following section.
4. Software Problems
If the Airpod is lighting up but it doesn’t respond, it might be due to software problems. In that case, the best course of action is to reset the connection and check the settings to see if the AirPod is updated to the latest software.
You can do that by navigating to Settings > Bluetooth, then tapping the (i) icon. Scroll down until you find the About, then press it to check the firmware version.
5. Hardware Problems
Lastly, if your AirPod fell or got knocked recently, the internal hardware components might malfunction, preventing it from turning on.
Read more: AirPods randomly pause
How to Fix a Malfunctioning AirPod Case
Now that you know more about the causes, it’s time to take a quick look at some of the solutions to fix it:
1. Replace the Charging Cable
Start by checking the status light on the AirPod case when you attempt to charge it. If you’re using a magnetic charger, consider switching to a regular charging cable to see if there’s any response.
If you’re already using a cable, try using another compatible charging cable that works with your iPhone.
2. Clean the Lightning Port
If your AirPod case is only charging when you use wireless chargers, the charging port might be filled with debris and grime, which prevents it from charging.
To clean it up, you can use a piece of lint-free cloth along with some isopropyl alcohol to remove the debris. Connect the lightning cable again and it should work normally.
3. Check for Software Updates
If the AirPod Case isn’t turning on, you won’t be able to implement any software updates.
However, if your AirPod functions erratically or doesn’t respond, this might be a software problem that you can solve by resetting the device and/or updating the firmware.
To reset the connection, choose the AirPods in the Bluetooth devices list, then tap “Forget This Device”, then connect it again.
The Airpods should update their firmware automatically when they are placed near a paired device that is connected to the internet
4. Take Them to a Certified Service Center
If all else fails, you can simply take the AirPods to a certified service center to get it checked or opt for a new model if yours is too old.
Read more: One AirPod not working
Final Thoughts
This wraps it up for today’s article that walks you through a troubleshooting guide for malfunctioning AirPod cases that won’t turn on.
Luckily, AirPod cases are remarkably durable and designed to last for several years, so if you didn’t drop or damage them, the previously mentioned solutions should fix the problem.
However, if all else fails, you can visit an Apple Certified service center so that the case is properly inspected and fixed, or opt for a new one if the case is quite old.
