When Apple announced the AirPods, it was a game changer. Being completely wireless changed everything. There was no more wire to get tangled up in and no more headphone jack to worry about. However, one common problem with AirPods is that the battery often drains when not used. Have you ever wondered, “Why do AirPods battery drain when not in use?” Here’s why it happens and how to fix it.
Isn’t it annoying when you want to use your AirPods, but the battery is already gone? You might have thought about taking them to an apple genius bar, but before you do that, you should know a few things.
Do AirPods lose battery when not in use?
The answer is yes, AirPods do lose battery when not in use. Pretty much all batteries will drain if they’re not being used. It just happens so slowly that we don’t notice it. The bigger the battery, the longer it will take to drain.
However, if you’re reading this article, your battery might be draining faster than it should be. You might even remember the issue wasn’t happening until a few days ago. It can be frustrating, but there are a few reasons why it might be happening.
Why do AirPods drain when not in use? 7 common reasons and Solutions
Without further ado, here are seven common reasons why your AirPods might be losing battery when not in service and what you can do about it.
The battery case is drained
One of the best features of the AirPods is that they come with a charging case. This means you can charge your AirPods on the go without worrying about them running out of battery.
While the AirPods battery isn’t fantastic (vs. other bigger alternatives), the charging case is enough to give you multiple charges. More than enough to go through a day or two of heavy use or an entire week if you’re using them for a few minutes sporadically.
However, the charging case also has a battery; if it’s running low, it won’t be able to charge your AirPods as efficiently. This means your AirPods will drain faster because, in reality, once you pop them out of the case, they’re not 100% charged.
To fix this, charge your AirPods case every few days. Even if you’re not using them, keeping the case topped off is good so you don’t run into this issue later. If you have the MagSafe (wireless) charging case, you can leave it on your Qi wireless charger. Ensure it makes good contact, and the orange-LED light is on.
Your AirPods are constantly out of the case
If you’re one of those persons who never put their AirPods back in the case, then this is probably why your battery drains so quickly.
The charging case is designed to keep your AirPods charged when not in use. So, if you’re constantly taking them out and forgetting to put them back, the battery will be almost drained the next time you try to use them.
Think about it, AirPods are pretty small. How much battery juice do you think they can hold? Not that much. Also, when AirPods are out of the case, they constantly search for a connection to your iPhone via Bluetooth. This feature also uses up battery life.
The best way to fix this is to return your AirPods to the case you’re not using them! It might seem like a no-brainer, but it makes a big difference.
Your AirPods are old
Like any other battery-powered device, the AirPods battery will degrade over time. This is normal and happens with all lithium-ion batteries.
I have noticed my AirPods (any generation) start performing worse after about a year and a half. The battery doesn’t last as long. After 3 years, they’re pretty much unusable unless I charge them every hour. The connection constantly drops, the microphone stops working, and they sound terrible. This is considering I’m a heavy user. Your mileage may vary.
Unfortunately, you cannot do much about this except buy a new pair of AirPods. But, if you take good care of them and don’t use them all the time, you can extend their life by a few years.
Your AirPods are exposed to sun or heat
This is more common in hot climates but can happen anywhere. If your AirPods get too hot, it will damage the battery and cause it to drain faster. In extreme cases, it can even cause the battery to swell up and break the case.
Electronics and heat aren’t a good mix. So, leaving your AirPods near the window where the sun is beaming or in a hot car for long periods will damage them.
The best way to fix this is to keep your AirPods away from heat sources. If you live in a hot climate, it’s best to keep them in the case as much as possible when you’re not using them.
Reset and update your AirPods
Tons of people suffer from the same experience while having their phones attached to a charger under the ray of the sun while driving. It doesn’t matter how new or old your phone is. The battery will always be damaged faster by this type of exposure to heat.
The solution here is simple: don’t do it. Keep your AirPods away from heat, and they’ll last much longer.
Bluetooth connection problems
Sometimes it could be that your AirPods are not connecting to your iPhone correctly, which causes the battery to drain.
A software issue usually causes this problem and can be fixed by resetting your AirPods. To do this, press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds. This procedure will delete all data from your AirPods and start fresh. You can also try updating them to the latest firmware, which might fix any bugs causing this problem.
The AirPods firmware updates automatically (you can’t control when it happens) every time Apple releases an update. While it’s uncommon to have outdated firmware, you can check if you have the latest version by going to the Settings app, tapping Bluetooth, and selecting your AirPods. Tap the “i” icon to check your firmware’s version.
Disable “Automatic ear detection”
AirPods have this excellent feature: they can detect when they’re in your ears and only play audio when they are. This feature is super convenient but creates massive battery drain if you’re not using them.
If you go to the Settings app, Bluetooth, and select your AirPods, you’ll see an option called “Automatic ear detection.” If enabled, your AirPods will constantly search for a connection to your ears using battery life. So, if you want to save some battery, disable this feature.
Another feature is the “double tap command,” where you can double tap on an AirPod to play/pause audio, skip a song or answer a phone call. If you don’t use this feature, you can also disable it to save some battery life.
None of these features should be causing a huge battery drain issue, so only disable them if you’re desperate to save some battery life or if your AirPods are aged, and the battery doesn’t hold up as well as it used to.
Faulty battery – Take them to the Apple Store
Unfortunately, if none of these tips helped, then the only thing you can do is take your AirPods to the Apple store and have them replaced.
This is usually a last resort because it can be expensive (or free), depending on your warranty status. But if you’re out of options, this is the best way to get a new pair of AirPods.
Why do AirPods battery drain when not in use? The bottom line
There you have it! These are the most common reasons your AirPods battery drains when not used. We hope that one of these tips helped solve your problem. If not, then you might need to take them to the Apple store and have them replaced.
AirPods are one of the most popular gadgets on the market right now and for a good reason. Enjoy them as much as possible, and don’t let a battery issue ruin your experience!
Do you know of any other tips that could help fix this problem? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to share this article with your friends if you found it helpful!