Apple’s AirPodsare excellent wireless headphones that work seamlessly with Apple devices. If you’re rocking a pair ofAirPods Max, you’re a bit more unlikely to misplace them due to the larger nature of over-ear headphones, but the other AirPods models are small in-ear buds and can be easy to lose if you’re not careful.
5 reasons AirPods are my main earbuds
I’ve tested a lot of headphones, and at the risk of sounding like an Apple superfan, AirPods offer features that keep them in my ears.
AirPods don’t come cheap, so losing them can be a big deal, and finding the tiny white buds without help can be a challenge. The good news is that it’s possible to track down your lost AirPods using the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even through a browser. Here’s how to quickly find your Apple AirPods using Find My.
How to add your AirPods to the Find My network
Paired AirPods should be added automatically
In order to use theFind My appto locate your AirPods, you’ll need to ensure that the Find My Network is enabled on your iPhone or iPad. If you want to find your AirPods when they’re offline, you must have turned on the Find My network before you lose them. When you pair your AirPods with your device when Find My is enabled, they should automatically be added to the Find My network.
How to find your AirPods by playing a sound
Use your ears to track your AirPods down
Once your AirPods are added to the Find My app, you can use the app to track them down. You can locate your AirPods using the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or on a browser by signing in to the iCloud website. One of the easiest ways to find your AirPods if they’re nearby is to get them to play a sound.
Frustratingly, for all models of AirPods except theAirPods Pro (second-generation),this will only work if the AirPods are out of their charging case. If inside the case, you won’t be able to get them to play a sound. However, if you have the AirPods Pro (second-generation), then you can also play a sound from the charging case.
How to locate your AirPods using Precision Finding
Get accurate directions with AirPods Pro (second gen)
If your AirPods are fairly close by, you can use theFindfeature to track their location. If you’re using third-gen AirPods, AirPods Pro (first generation), or AirPods Max, the Find feature can tell you when you’re getting closer to, or further from, your AirPods. If you have the AirPods Pro (second generation) with theU1 ultra wideband chipinside the case, you can use Precision Finding with a compatible iPhone. This will point you in the direction of your AirPods, tell you how far away they are, and even tell you if they’re on a different floor.
How to get directions to your AirPods if they’re not nearby
Navigate to where your AirPods were last detected
If your AirPods aren’t close by, the Find feature won’t work. However, Find My should still have the last known location of your AirPods. You can use the Directions feature touse Apple Mapsto navigate to where your AirPods were last detected, and then track them down once you’re nearby.
How to put your AirPods in Lost mode
Improve your chances of finding your AirPods
If you can’t find your AirPods at all, you can put them in Lost mode. This won’t work if you havefirst- or second-gen AirPods,but it will work on all other models. Lost mode will send you a notification when the location of your AirPods becomes available, will lock your AirPods to your Apple ID so that no one else can pair them, and allows you to leave a phone number or email that you can be contacted on if anyone finds them.
Q: What if my AirPods are in different locations?
If you’ve lost both of your AirPods and they’re in different locations, the location of one of the AirPods will display in the Find My app. Locate this AirPod and put it back into the charging case. Refresh the map, and the location of the other AirPod should appear, allowing you to track that one down, too.
Q: Can I find my AirPods if they’re offline or their location can’t be found?
If your AirPods are offline or their location can’t be found, you won’t be able to get them to play a sound, or to use the Find feature. However, you may still be able to use the Directions button to get directions to their last known location. If they do come back online, you’ll get a notification on your iPhone or other Apple device.
Q: Can you use Find My to locate your AirPods case?
For the majority of AirPods models, Find My can only locate your AirPods when they’re out of the charging case. you may’t track the case itself. However, if you have the AirPods Pro (second generation) then you can track both the AirPods and the charging case, meaning you can find your AirPods even if they’re tucked away inside the case. If you have the AirPods but have lost the charging case, you can use Find My to track it down.
Q: What models of AirPods can be tracked in the Find My app?
Find My will work with all models of AirPods, but some features are only available on specific models. The Find feature is only available on the following models:
AirPods (third generation)
AirPods Pro (first and second generations)
AirPods Max
In addition, Precision Finding is only available on the AirPods Pro (second generation).
