I recently got a pair of AirPods and, like many owners of Apple’s wireless earbuds, I quickly ran into a problem when trying to update their location. After some research and testing, I’m here to share how I solved the problem and some other solutions I’ve discovered.
To update the location of your AirPods, you need for them to be out of the case with charge in them and for them to be in range of your iPhone.
Quick tips:
- AirPods need to be out of the case with charge in them and in range of your iPhone to update their location.
- Possible reasons for AirPods not updating their location include being out of power, in the case, having been reset, being out of range of your phone, or being broken.
- AirPods do not update their location while they are in the case.
- If AirPods are unable to update their location, the last known location will be shown on your iPhone.
- If you have AirPods Pro 2 or newer, the case itself can be tracked on Find my
| Issue | Possible Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods location not updating | – Out of power – In the case – Reset – Out of range | – Charge AirPods – Remove from case – Check if reset – Ensure within phone’s range |
| Showing an old location | – Same as above | – Same as above |
| Updating location when opened | – AirPods in case | – Remove AirPods from case and connect to phone |
| AirPods location if stolen | – Reset by thief | – Difficult to track if reset and disconnected from your iCloud |
| AirPods Pro 2 case tracking | – Not applicable for older models | – For AirPods Pro 2 and newer, the case itself can be tracked via Find My app |
Table of Contents
How to get AirPods to update location
It should be the case that your AirPods automatically update their location on your iPhone’s “Find My” app. If this does not happen, there are a number of possible reasons as mentioned below:
Out of power
The most obvious reason is that your AirPods are out of power.
If you lost your AirPods when they were already low on power or they have been lost for hours or more, this would be the most likely cause. In this case, find my iPhone should still show their last known location.
They are in the case
If your AirPods are in the case, they will not be able to update their location or ring because they get turned off and disconnected when they are in the case.
They have been reset
If someone stole your AirPods, it is possible for the person to reset them by putting them in the case and holding the power button for 15 seconds.
If they have done this, your AirPods will no longer be connected to your iCloud or find my iPhone.
They are broken
It might also be the case that your AirPods are broken. This would be more likely if you lost them somewhere such as near a road or outside while it is raining.
The AirPods were not connected to find my iPhone
If your AirPods were not connected to find my iPhone to begin with. For AirPods to be connected to find my iPhone you must connect them to a device with an iCloud account.
Also, it could be the case that your AirPods were actually connected to a different iCloud account and it would help to consider what other accounts you use.
The AirPods are actually where your phone says they are
If you do not have your AirPods, it might be the case that your AirPods are actually in the location it says they are but you just have not seen them yet.
Read more: Why do my AirPods have different battery levels?
Will AirPods update location if stolen?
Your AirPods will only update their location if they are within range of your iPhone, they have charge in them and they are not in the case.
If someone stole your AirPods, they might have reset your AirPods. If they reset your AirPods, your AirPods will no longer be able to update their location on your phone.
Read more: Can you password protect AirPods?
Why is my AirPods location not updating?
Your AirPods might not be updating their location due to several reasons, such as being out of power, being stored in their case, having been reset, being out of range of your phone, or because they are malfunctioning.
To resolve this issue, make sure your AirPods are charged and within the range of your phone. If the problem persists, check if your AirPods need resetting or if there are any hardware issues.
Why are my AirPods showing an old location?
When your AirPods are unable to update their location, your iPhone will display the last known location of your AirPods. This might happen if your AirPods are out of power, in the case, have been reset, are out of range of your phone, or are malfunctioning.
To ensure your AirPods’ location is updated, keep them charged and within your phone’s Bluetooth range.
Do AirPods only update location when opened?
The case for AirPods Pro 2 and newer can be tracked via Find My.
AirPods update their location when they are connected to your phone via Bluetooth and not in their case. They do not update their location while they are in the case because AirPods enter a low-power mode when stored in the case to conserve battery life.
As a result, they cannot communicate with your phone to update their location. To refresh the location of your AirPods, take them out of the case and connect them to your phone.
