I’m sure you can relate to the feeling of hopelessness and frustration when something of yours gets stolen. Recently, I had a pair of AirPods stolen, and I was determined to find out if there was any way to track them. After doing some research, I was able to find several solutions to help me try to locate them. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing what I have learned so far. I’ll go over how you can track your AirPods, the different methods that are available, and other potential solutions to this problem. Hopefully, by the end of this post, you’ll have a better idea of how to find your stolen AirPods.
AirPods can be tracked using the “Find my iPhone” app on iPhone. The app can show you the last location where your AirPods were in Bluetooth range of one of your Apple devices. However, it only lasts for 24 hours since the last time your AirPods were in range of your iPhone and if the AirPods are reset they will disconnect from your find my iPhone.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| AirPods can be tracked using the “Find my iPhone” app on iPhone. |
| The serial number for your AirPods can be used to help you get a new pair of earbuds to replace the stolen ones. |
| If your AirPods are reset and connected to another iCloud account, you won’t be able to track them. |
| Putting your AirPods in Lost Mode can help you find your AirPods if you have simply dropped them. |
Table of Contents
Can I track my stolen AirPods?
AirPods are able to access Bluetooth technology through their hardware, but they are not equipped for Wi-Fi. This means they can be difficult to track if they are lost or stolen.
The only way to track them is through the iCloud account connected to them, which allows you to track them using the Bluetooth technology. AirPods can be tracked through Find my iPhone, but only for a limited time.
Once the thief resets the AirPods to connect them to a different iCloud account and Apple device, there is no longer any way for you to track them.
Always remember that even if you are able to track where your AirPods are, it can be dangerous and unwise to confront a thief on your own.
Read more: Can you use AirPods in the sauna?
Can I track my stolen AirPods using the serial number?
The serial number for your AirPods should be stored in your iCloud account so you can recover it even if the AirPods themselves are gone. The serial number itself will not help you track your stolen AirPods down.
However, it can be used to help you get a new pair of earbuds to replace the stolen ones. With your serial number, you can contact Apple Support to see if a replacement pair of AirPods is covered at no charge under your one-year warranty or Apple Care.
Read more: Can you use AirPods for gaming?
How to know if your AirPods get stolen?
It can be hard to tell right away if your AirPods were stolen or simply lost. It can be prudent to retrace your steps to see if the AirPods were dropped or left behind somewhere.
One way to tell whether the earbuds were stolen is that AirPods that were simply lost should be locatable through the Find My iPhone app, while AirPods that were stolen and associated to a new iCloud account will appear offline in your iCloud account.
How do I find stolen AirPods?
If your AirPods were stolen, it can be challenging to find them. The only way to track the earbuds is through an associated iCloud account, so if your AirPods aren’t connected to your account, or a thief connects them to their personal iCloud, there is no way for you to locate them.
One way to help find your AirPods can be by putting them in Lost Mode. While AirPods do get stolen sometimes, it’s also possible that you have simply dropped them while walking around.
If you have left the AirPods somewhere and a stranger with an IPhone picks them up, Lost Mode shares your contact information to their iPhone to help them return the earbuds to you.
Can you track AirPods if someone resets them?
If someone steals your AIrPods or picks them up after you lose them somewhere, you can track the AirPods up until they are reset and connected to another iCloud account.
Once the AirPods are reset and connected to another iCloud account, or they run out of power, you won’t be able to track them if they move to a new location. They will appear as offline.
Pros
- AirPods can be tracked using the “Find my iPhone” app on iPhone.
- The serial number for your AirPods can be used to help you get a new pair of earbuds to replace the stolen ones.
- Putting your AirPods in Lost Mode can help you find your AirPods if you have simply dropped them.
Cons
- The “Find my iPhone” app only lasts for 24 hours since the last time your AirPods were in range of your iPhone.
- If your AirPods are reset and connected to another iCloud account, you won’t be able to track them.
- It can be dangerous and unwise to confront a thief on your own.
