AirPods users often encounter battery drain problems and wonder, “Why do my AirPods die so fast?” There could be numerous reasons for that to happen. Fortunately, it’s a trivial issue that you can resolve with ease. Here’s a guide to why AirPods die so fast and how to prevent this.
Why Do My AirPods Die So Fast?
Your AirPods may die fast due to battery damage, frequent drops, extreme heat or cold exposure, and repeatedly opening the charging case. If you use features like active noise cancellation and automatic ear detection, there are chances that your AirPods battery will also drain fast.
To prevent this, keep AirPods in the case, avoid drops and water exposure, use one AirPod at a time, lower the volume, and practice good charging habits.
How to Prevent AirPods From Dying So Fast?
Now that you know why your AirPods dying fast, it’s time to look at ways to prevent this from happening again!
1. Keep Your AirPods in the Case
When you’re not using your AirPods, try keeping them in the charging case. It’ll protect them and keep them charged and ready to use when needed.
Moreover, if you leave your AirPods lying around, they will continue to consume battery. It’s because they remain connected to your device’s Bluetooth. Even if you disable Bluetooth, the pair remain active and eventually loses power.
So it’s always a good idea to keep them in the case whenever possible. Additionally, when your AirPods are in the case, they enter a low-power mode, which helps preserve battery life even further.
2. Lower the Volume of Your AirPods
If you’re wondering, “Why are my AirPods dying so fast?” even if you keep it in a charging case. That’s because you might be listening to music at high volumes.
When you listen to music or make phone calls at a high volume, it can drain the AirPods battery more quickly. Moreover, listening to loud music for extended periods can damage your hearing. So, it’s recommended to listen at 50–60% volume at all times.
To adjust the volume on your AirPods, place your thumb on the stem of either AirPod and then use your index finger to swipe up or down on the touch control.
If you’ve got AirPods (3rd generation) or AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), you can ask Siri to turn the volume up or down.
3. Avoid Repeatedly Opening and Closing the Charging Case Lid
Whenever you open the charging case lid, it turns on the LED light, which consumes battery power. The more you open and close the lid, the more the battery will drain, resulting in shorter battery life for your AirPods.
So, you should try avoiding opening and closing the charging case lid unnecessarily.
4. Disable Active Noise Cancellation
Many AirPods Pro and AirPods Max users use active noise cancellation (ANC) for a better calling and listening experience. It’s a great feature, but when you use it, the earbuds’ microphones constantly cancel out ambient noise.
As a result, it runs down the battery much quicker. To prevent this, you should disable ANC when you don’t need it.
Follow these steps to turn off active noise cancellation:
- Connect AirPods to your iPhone and wear them.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the Info button next to your connected AirPods.
- Under the “Noise Control” section, you’ll see three options: Noise cancellation, Off, and Transparency.
- Tap Off to disable ANC on your AirPods.
That’s all!
Note: You can also turn off ANC using touch controls. To do this, connect and wear your AirPods. Now, press and hold either stem of the AirPod until you hear a chime. Doing so will shift the Noise cancellation mode to Transparency mode or vice versa.
5. Turn Off Automatic Ear Detection
AirPods Pro also has an automatic ear detection feature that pauses the music when you remove one or both earbuds from your ears and resumes playback when you put them back on.
Apple designed this feature to help extend battery life. However, if the ear detection sensor is continuously active and you don’t even put your AirPods in the charging case quite often. It’ll eventually drain the battery faster.
Try putting your AirPods back in the charging case as soon as you take them off your ear or turning off the ear detection feature.
To turn off the automatic detection feature, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Select the Info icon next to your connected AirPods.
- Scroll down and toggle off the “Automatic Ear Detection” option.
6. Prevent Dropping AirPods
If you’re still wondering, “Why are my AirPods dying so fast?” even after turning off both ANC and the automatic ear detection feature. There’s a probability that you may have dropped your AirPods at some point or another.
Although AirPods are built to withstand some impact, repeated drops on hard surfaces can take a toll on their delicate components. To prevent accidental drops, you should be mindful of where you place your AirPods and their case when they’re not in use.
Here are some tips to prevent dropping your AirPods:
- Avoid placing your AirPods on the edge of tables or counters, where they could easily fall off with a slight movement.
- Make sure you secure the AirPods in your pockets or bag, especially when you’re on the move.
- Use a protective case for your AirPods to prevent damage from accidental drops.
7. Don’t Let Your AirPods Wet
AirPods are not waterproof, but some premium models are sweat- and water-resistant. So, it’s necessary to protect your AirPods from accidental water damage.
If you plan to use your AirPods while exercising, consider purchasing a sweat guard or using a headband to keep them dry. If you’re going out in wet weather, keep your AirPods in their case until you reach your destination.
However, if they are exposed to liquid, wipe AirPods with a clean, dry, soft, lint-free cloth and allow them to completely dry before using them or placing them in the charging case.
Related Reading: Dropped AirPods in Water (Do This QUICKLY)
8. Use Only One AirPod at a Time
If possible, try using one AirPod at a time. Well, it’s not a fix to resolve your AirPods dying fast issue, but it’ll help you in several situations.
For example, if you want to watch a live match but the AirPods battery is around 30–40%, try using one earpiece at a time and keeping the other in the charging case.
In this way, you preserve the battery life of your AirPods and can alternatively use them when needed. However, it may not be convenient for some users as it affects the viewing experience, but it’s worth trying.
9. Don’t Let AirPods Completely Run Out of Battery
Some users only charge their AirPods when they are dead. Doing so impacts the battery and reduces its overall lifespan.
To prevent this, make sure to charge AirPods before the battery level drops below 20–30%. If it’s not possible to charge them, at least maintain the habit of keeping them in the charging case when not needed.
10. Practice Good Charging Habits for AirPods
If you want to keep using your AirPods longer, practice good charging habits. Here are some habits that you should maintain to avoid AirPods battery drainage issues:
- Always keep the charging case charged.
- Do not overcharge your AirPods.
- Avoid charging your AirPods overnight.
- Clean your AirPods and charging case once every 60 days.
- Avoid exposing AirPods to extreme temperatures.
Related Reading: Why is My Airpods Case Not Charging? (QUICK Solutions)
11. Enable Optimize Battery Charging Feature
Optimize Battery Charging is a feature that helps improve the battery lifespan on your AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd generation) by reducing the time they spend fully charged.
When you enable this feature, it slows down the rate at which your AirPods charge when they’re approaching a full charge. It does this by learning your usage habits, such as when you typically charge your AirPods and how long you use them.
To enable the Optimize Battery Charging feature, follow these steps:
- Connect AirPods to your Apple device.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap the Info icon next to your connected AirPods.
- Scroll down and toggle on “Optimize Battery Charging“.
12. Update Your AirPods
Software updates help improve device performance and remove unnecessary bugs. In the case of your AirPods, they automatically update in the background, as there are no steps to download an update manually.
However, you can check the AirPods firmware version to ensure whether or not they are running on the latest firmware. To check this, follow these steps:
- Connect AirPods to your Apple device.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap the Info icon next to your connected AirPods.
- Scroll down and see what’s mentioned besides the “Version” section.
Note: As of May 2023, the latest firmware version of AirPods (2nd and 3rd generation) is 5E135.
13. Reset Your AirPods
If you still can’t find the answer to “Why do my AirPods die so fast” after trying all the above fixes, it’s time to factory reset AirPods.
Factory resetting your AirPods helps resolve numerous issues, including battery drain, no sound, not connecting, or one side not working.
Follow these steps to factory reset AirPods:
- Put your AirPods into the charging case and close it.
- Wait 30 seconds, then open the lid.
- Now, press and hold the setup button for at least 15 seconds until the white blinking light turns amber and then returns to white.
- Release the button and close the lid.
- That’s all! Your AirPods are fully reset!
Reconnect AirPods to your Apple device and check if it resolves the issue!
14. Contact Apple Support
Use your AirPods for a few days after factory resetting them. If you still experience the AirPods dying fast issue, contact Apple Support for assistance.
You can contact them via their website or take your AirPods to the Apple Authorized Service Provider to get them repaired.
If you’ve subscribed to AppleCare+ or your AirPods are still covered under warranty, you can get them repaired or replaced for free.
Related Reading: Can You Use AirPods on a Plane? (Know This Before Boarding)
Can You Extend the Battery Life of AirPods?
AirPods do come with a relatively good battery life. On average, your AirPods can get up to 3 hours of talk time or 5 hours of listening time on a single charge.
If you keep your AirPods in the charging case for 15 minutes, it can roughly produce 2 hours of talk time or 3 hours of listening time.
If you want to extend your AirPods battery, you can use these proven methods:
- Enable Optimized Battery Charging.
- Turn off Automatic Ear Detection and ANC.
- Keep AirPods in the charging case when not needed.
Related Reading: Why Do My AirPods Keep Cutting Out?
What Are the Downsides of Using AirPods?
Here are some potential downsides to using AirPods:
- Expensive
- Battery degradation over time
- Limited noise isolation
- Latency issues
- Difficult to repair
- Hard to control via Siri
How Do AirPods Differ From Earphones?
The key difference between AirPods and earphones is that AirPods are wireless, whereas earphones are wired.
You can connect AirPods to your phone using Bluetooth. The use of Bluetooth technology makes them convenient and easy to use. Moreover, they also come with a charging case with an in-built battery, and you can also get an optional wireless charging case by paying extra.
In comparison, wired earbuds have a media controller embedded into the cable. You can use it to pause, play, adjust volume, and skip tracks. They are less convenient because you have to deal with wires, but they are generally less expensive than AirPods.
Related Reading: How to Connect AirPods to HP Laptop? (Easily)
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should AirPods Last?
AirPods typically last around 4-5 hours of listening or 2-3 hours of talk time on a single charge. However, with the charging case, you can get up to 24 hours of listening or 18 hours of talk time.
How Do I Check the Battery Health of My AirPods?
To check the battery health of AirPods:
> Open the AirPods case near your iPhone or iPad.
> Wait until you see a prompt indicating your AirPods charge status.
Can AirPods Battery Be Replaced?
You can replace your AirPods battery by visiting an Apple Store or an authorized service provider. You’ll not have to pay the replacement fee if your AirPods are covered under warranty or AppleCare+. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay for it.
The Bottom Line
AirPods do come with a relatively good battery life. But, there could be instances where the battery drains faster than usual. Fortunately, with these ways, you can extend your AirPods battery life:
- Keep Your AirPods in the Case
- Lower the Volume of Your AirPods
- Avoid Repeatedly Opening and Closing the Charging Case Lid
- Disable Active Noise Cancellation
- Turn Off Automatic Ear Detection
- Prevent Dropping AirPods
- Don’t Let Your AirPods Wet
- Use Only One AirPod at a Time
- Don’t Let AirPods Completely Run Out of Battery
- Practice Good Charging Habits for AirPods
- Enable Optimize Battery Charging Feature
- Update Your AirPods
- Reset Your AirPods
- Contact Apple Support
Hopefully, one of these methods has helped you resolve the battery drain issue. Were you able to improve the battery life of your AirPods? If so, let us know what has helped you achieve that goal in the comments below!