AirPods are easy to lose because they’re small and often left behind when you work or play. And unfortunately, they aren’t cheap to replace. That’s why you might search for “how to find AirPods” online. You’ve come to the right place. Today, we’ll guide you through three effective methods to get your lost AirPods back, along with extra tips if you still can’t find them.
How to Find AirPods
Here are three ways to help you locate and find your AirPods.
Way 1. Use “Find My” to Locate AirPods
The simplest way to find lost AirPods is to check their location using “Find My”. However, note that the “Find My” feature should be activated before you lose your AirPods, or it won’t work. Also, if your AirPods are lost in different places, the Find My map will display one at a time.
Find AirPods using an Apple device
Here’s how to enable Find My on an Apple device, such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, to see your AirPods’ location.
- Open “Find My” on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Tap or click on “Devices”.
- Select your lost AirPods from the list of devices.
- Your AirPods’ current location or last known location will be shown on the map.
- Tap or click the “Directions” button, and the Maps app will direct you to the on-screen location.
Find AirPods using iCloud
You can also go to iCloud on your computer to locate AirPods. Here are the steps.
- Open iCloud.com and log in to your Apple ID.
- Select “Find iPhone”.
- Expand the “All Devices” tab at the top.
- Choose your lost AirPods. The last known location or current location of your AirPods will be shown on the map.
Way 2. Find AirPods by Making Them Play a Sound
If you’re close to your AirPods but can’t see them, you can make them play a sound through the Find My app to locate them more easily.
Note: AirPods can only play a sound when they’re out of the charging case. If the earbuds are separated, you can choose to play a sound on the left or right one individually.
Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Go to Devices in the app, or choose All Devices if you’re using iCloud.
- Select your AirPods, then tap Play Sound. The sound will gradually get louder to help you find them.
- Once you’ve found them, tap Stop to end the sound.
Related: Why Do My AirPods Keep Disconnecting? [8 Easy Fixes]
Way 3. Activate Lost Mode to Lock AirPods
If you still can’t find your AirPods, you can turn on Lost Mode in the Find My app. This feature locks your AirPods with your Apple ID, so no one else can easily pair or use them. You can also display a custom message with your phone number, so if someone finds your AirPods, they may contact you.
Note: Lost Mode only works if your AirPods were already connected to your Apple ID and Find My was enabled before they went missing.
Here’s how to activate Lost Mode:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Go to the Devices tab and select your AirPods.
- Swipe up and choose Activate under Mark As Lost.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to enter a phone number or message.
- Once activated, your AirPods will stay locked and show your message if someone tries to connect them.
Further reading: How to Connect AirPods to Xbox: A Step-by-Step Guide
Can I Find My AirPods If They Are Offline or Dead?
If AirPods are offline (but not dead):
This means they’re out of Bluetooth range or not connected at the moment. In this case, the Find My app will still show their last known location before they went offline. You won’t see real-time movement, but you’ll know where they were last connected.
If AirPods are dead (battery 0%):
Once the battery runs out, they can’t send a location anymore. Find My will only display the last location before they died. You won’t be able to play a sound, track live movement, or use Lost Mode until they’re charged and reconnected to a network.
However, if you had Lost Mode activated before they went offline/dead, it will automatically turn back on when your AirPods reconnect. That way, they stay locked to your Apple ID, and you’ll get a notification once they’re located again.
Related: How Long Do AirPods Last and How to Extend Their Lifespan
What If You Can’t Find AirPods?
If you’ve tried using Find My, playing a sound, and even activating Lost Mode but still can’t locate your AirPods, don’t worry, there are still a few things you can do:
Check the last known location carefully: Go back to the place where your AirPods were last seen in the Find My app. Sometimes they just slip under furniture, inside bags, or pockets.
Look around common spots: AirPods are small and easy to miss. Check your car, sofa cushions, and anywhere you usually take them out.
Enable Lost Mode (if not already): This keeps your AirPods locked to your Apple ID. If someone tries to pair them, your custom message and phone number may encourage them to return it.
Report them if stolen: If you believe your AirPods were stolen, you can file a police report using the serial number (found in your Apple ID or original packaging).
Consider replacement: If you truly can’t get them back, Apple offers replacement options for a lost AirPod or charging case at a lower price than buying a new set.
Tip: In addition to being mindful of offline theft, I also recommend that you be aware of cybercrime, such as hackers using your personal information to attack your devices. You can use a small tool, a VPN, to protect your online activity. Here, I recommend LightningX VPN, which provides robust encryption for your information, like your IP address and browsing history. What’s more, it offers 2,000+ servers in 70+ countries, helping you check the price of products in different regions. Its monthly price is $7.99, and a 30-day money-back guarantee is provided.
Wrap Up
In summary, you can find your AirPods using Find My, the Play Sound feature, or Lost Mode. If your AirPods are offline or out of battery, locating them can be tricky, but once they’re back online or charged, you can check their location or activate Lost Mode to retrieve them. Follow these tips to increase your chances of getting your AirPods back quickly.
