As an owner of AirPods, I know the frustration of trying to disconnect them and having them stay connected. I have experienced this problem first-hand, and after doing some research and testing, I am here to share with you how I solved this issue and the other solutions I discovered. In this blog post, I will explain why your AirPods won’t disconnect and what you can do about it.
When your AirPods are inside their case, they should automatically disconnect from your device. But in rare cases, they may remain connected. This is mostly due to positioning issues inside the case itself or that they need some cleaning. Alternatively, it could be due to firmware issues.
| Tips |
|---|
| AirPods may not disconnect due to positioning issues inside the case, needing some cleaning, or firmware issues. |
| Update your AirPods, check the AirPods’ position, clean the connection points, unpair and reconnect, or reset and reconnect them. |
| Unpairing and re-pairing your AirPods can help fix any software problems and resolve the connectivity issue. |
Why Won’t My AirPods Disconnect?
Apple AirPods are one of the best wireless earphones you can get. They’re small, light, and give you great sound quality. You won’t have to worry about tangled wires or charging the headphones because they have a battery that lasts up to 5 hours!
However, a couple of users have said that even after placing their AirPods in the case, they didn’t disconnect from the device they were paired to. This is a serious issue because the AirPods will continue to stay on and probably won’t charge properly.
In fact, they might be losing power as well! AirPods are a great product, but just like everything else, it’s still not completely perfect. Let’s explore the possible reasons why it won’t disconnect.
System Bugs
Sometimes your device can experience a “software bug.” These are errors in the software that causes users to deal with minor problems.
Luckily for us, Apple is quick to roll out new updates to fix any issues with all its devices. So, the first thing you should do is update your AirPods.
These updates are usually done without your needing to do anything, but if your AirPods aren’t connected to an iOS device— or if you choose not to connect it— they won’t be updated.
Read more: Why are AirPods so popular?
So, Here’s what you need to do:
- Pair your AirPods with an iPhone or an iPad
- Ensure that the device has a stable internet connection
- Put the AirPods in their charging case
- Leave the AirPods for about 30 minutes or more
Any necessary updates will be automatically downloaded within less than an hour. If you want to know whether your AirPods have been updated, you can follow these steps:
- Head to the settings app on the iOS device
- Tap “General”
- Select “About”
- Choose “AirPods”
- The numbers next to “Firmware Version” indicate what software the AirPods have
The AirPods’ Position
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One reason your AirPods might not disconnect when you put them in their charging case is that the pods aren’t placed correctly inside. You’ll have to open it again and ensure that they’re positioned correctly inside then shut the case.
Other times it could be because the lid on the charging case wasn’t fully closed or something is preventing it from shutting completely. So give the lid a look over to make sure it’s completely closed.
The State of the AirPods and the Case
If you find that your AirPods are still connected even though they’re properly placed in their case, it could be because the connection points are unclean.
In this case, here’s what’ll need:
- Cotton Swaps
- Microfiber cloth
- Isopropyl alcohol
After you’ve gathered your supplies, follow these steps:
- Take your AirPods out of their case and wipe each one with a damp microfiber cloth.
- Spray the cotton swabs lightly with rubbing alcohol, and clean the inside of the case near where the connectors are.
- Repeat the same process for the AirPods so the connection points are clean on both ends.
- After that, wait a little while until everything dries out. Then, place the AirPods back in the case, shut the lid, and see if it disconnects from your phone.
Unpair the AirPods and Reconnect
Sometimes the issues could be coming from the device the AirPods are paired with. One way to fix this is to reconnect your AirPods to your device again. This could fix any software problems and resolve the connectivity issue.
Here’s how:
- Open the device your AirPods are connected to
- Head to “Settings”
- Look for “Bluetooth” and then tap on it
- Search for your AirPod’s name in the paired devices
- On most devices, you can either tap on the name or you’ll find an icon next to it. This will open up a menu with the settings for the AirPods.
- Find the “Forget this Device” option and give it a tap.
By doing this, you’ll unpair the AirPods from your device completely. After that, put your AirPods back in their case and give them time to charge before trying to reconnect them again.
Reset your AirPods and reconnect them
If that did not work, try resetting your AirPods and then reconnecting them by doing the following:
- Forget your AirPods from your device
- Put your AirPods in the case
- Open the lid
- Hold the button until the light flashes orange then white. This can take about 15 seconds.
- Re-pair your AirPods with your device
To Sum Up
So, are you still wondering why won’t my AirPods disconnect? Well, most users believe that the connectivity issue is caused by a need for cleaning or positioning inside the case itself.
If that’s not the case here, you can always try to unpair the AirPods completely from your phone, tablet, or even PC, and pair them again. After that, they should return to working properly again.
