Apple AirPods or AirPods Case Not Charging? Here’s a Quick Fix

Imagine you are all set to play your favorite multiplayer game on your iPhone. You put on your AirPods only to find they are not charged. But hey, Joe, you did place them on charge after you came back from work, right? So, why are they showing as dead? The possible reason can be an issue with charging your AirPods or the charging case itself.

In this guide, I am going to walk you through a few steps on how to resolve the issue with your Apple AirPods or AirPods case not charging. But first, let us quickly understand why the issue occurs in the first place.

Why is My AirPods or AirPods Case Not Charging?

There are several reasons why your AirPods or the Case is not charging, and the good thing is, in most cases, these are obvious reasons and often easy to solve. Among these, the most common reason is the dirt or debris around the contact points that do not allow the AirPods to connect properly to the Case. A good AirPod cleaning should help you solve this issue and also keep your AirPods hygienic.

There are also cases when the AirPods are not correctly aligned in the Case. Because of improper alignment or sitting, the AirPods do not connect to the contact pins and eventually are not charged for the next use.

While these are some of the easy-to-solve issues with AirPods, there are also circumstances when the AirPods or the Charging Case is damaged, exposed to water, or have permanently dead batteries. In such a case, you can only get a replacement to continue enjoying your AirPods.

How to Fix AirPods Not Charging in the Case?

There are three scenarios with the AirPods not charging: either it is the AirPods, the charging case, or both of them.

So, let’s look at the possible solutions for each of the scenarios when your AirPods are not charging. To start with, let’s first talk about how to fix AirPods not charging in the charging case.

1. Check the Battery Status on the Charging Case

If you are always in a hurry and continuously use AirPods to get all your work and entertainment done, it is normal to find the low battery status on the charging case. And when the charging case doesn’t have enough juice, it won’t charge your AirPods, even with the 5% of the battery. You can always use a reputed wireless charging pad to quickly charge the charging case while you are busy doing your work.

To check the battery level of your AirPods’s Charging Case, 

On your iPhone or iPad:

1. Bring your AirPods case closer to your iPhone or iPad and open the case lid. You should see a pop-up on your device, indicating the battery status of the AirPods and the charging case.
2. An alternative way to check the AirPods battery status is to navigate to the Widget Screen on your device and add the batteries widget to your screen. You can now see the battery status of your AirPods whenever they are connected to your device.
3. The third way is to navigate to the “Settings” app and look for the “Bluetooth” option. Tap on your AirPods from the list (Rename your AirPods if you cannot find them soon), and you will see a detailed information about your AirPods, including the battery status.

On your Mac,

1. Tap on the control center option from the top-right of the menu bar and click on the “Bluetooth” option. Here, you can find your AirPods on the list if you have previously connected them to your Mac. Just alongside, you can find the battery status of your AirPods.
2. An alternative way to view the AirPods battery status on your Mac is to add a battery widget. From the widget screen, add the battery widget on your Mac desktop or the widget bar. You can now always see the battery status when you connect your AirPods to your Mac.

You can always check the battery status on your AirPods’ charging case. If the Case pops green on the indicator, then it has a sufficient charge, and if it pops orange, it has less than one charge cycle.

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2. Clean your AirPods and Inside of the Charging Case

Your AirPods not only get dirty from the outside of the charging case but also from the inside. Dirt and debris often block pins and contact, which is why your AirPods are likely not charging. Ensure you are regularly cleaning your AirPods, not just to avoid such issues but also to keep them hygienic. I have previously written a super quick guide with steps on how to clean your AirPods like Pro Apple Staff. Be sure to check it out.

Alongside cleaning your AirPods and the Charging Case, it is also necessary to ensure they sit well in the Case. Often, we are rushed, and we don’t correctly align the AirPods and close the lid. In such cases, it is natural for the AirPods to not charge. Ensure they are sitting well in place to avoid such issues.

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3. Update the AirPods Firmware

Similarly to all Apple devices, AirPods also receive software updates, and they run in the background without you even noticing. So, there is no option to manually update your AirPods, but they will update on their own when one is available.

To prepare your AirPods for the update, ensure they are connected to one of your devices and the device is connected to an internet connection. Preferably, a WiFi connection. The update will trigger when your AirPods are kept on charge and within the Bluetooth range of your device.

However, if your AirPods are still not charging, the only resort is to reset them to the default setting by resetting them. Place your AirPods in the charging case and ensure all the devices connected to your AirPods are disconnected. Now, open the case lid and press the button on the back of your AirPods for at least 5 seconds until you see the indicator flashing. Your AirPods will then reset to the default, and you can start with fresh settings. 

You can learn more about how to reset your AirPods to factory settings with one of our guides.

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How to Fix When AirPods Case is Not Charging?

If you are facing issues with charging the AirPods case and not the AirPods, there can be several reasons for this. From faulty charging cables to wireless charging pads, they all can be faulty at this. Let’s look at each of these issues in detailed.

4. Poor Quality Charging Cables

It is always best to keep an eye on the faulty charging cables as Apple cables are so fragile they easily get damaged. Of course, Apple gave us a new nylon-wrapped cable with the iPhone 15 series and continues to do that, but still, Apple has a bad name when it comes to cables.

Also, users keep getting cheaper, low-quality cables that might charge their devices for the moment, but in the long run, they are just messing up with the batteries. So, it is always best to stick to genuine charging cables (Here are some deals for you). To check if your charging cable is at fault, use it with another device, like your iPhone, and see if the cable is working fine. If other devices are also not able to be charged, it’s time you get a cable for your AirPods.

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5. Misalignment with Charging Pads or Bad Quality Ones

Let me be very honest here. Ever since Apple launched the wireless charging feature, and of course, Samsung was already offering it, the demand for wireless chargers has shot up, and there are hundreds of brands that import low-quality wireless chargers and sell them as branded high-quality wireless chargers for your device. But the truth is, they are just dummies that won’t work for a long time or just keep messing with your device.

You can get this wireless charger from Apple, which is a great option as it charges your iPhone, Watch, and AirPods wirelessly and is much more reliable than any other wireless charger. 

It is always advisable to get a wireless charger that is Qi-Certified and supports MagSafe. These may cost a little more than most wireless chargers, but they are reliable enough. All you need to do is correctly place your AirPods on the wireless charger pad in appropriate alignment, which is also why your AirPods might not be charging.

The issue with MagSafe wireless chargers is you need to have accurate alignments. If not, they won’t charge your AirPods. Remember, only the newer AirPods that support wireless charging can be used with wireless chargers. 

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6. Clean the USB Charging Port

This has been an age-old problem with tech gadgets that require you to charge them. The USB charging ports accumulate debris and grime over time, and when you insert the charging cable, it pushes them much more inside, blocking the contact pins. If you are using a charging cable to charge your AirPods case and have an issue with charging, the first thing to do is look at the USB port. A torch can be helpful for this.

If you have debris or dirt inside, it is time we collect our tools and remove the dirt. It will free up the contact pins and allow you to charge your AirPods Charging Case without any issues.

To clean the USB port, use a metal pin and remove any visible dirt and grime. You can, alternatively, use compressed air to blow out the dirt from inside; there are plenty of best options available on Amazon. Look for the one with a straw that allows you to properly dust inside the USB port.

You can also get this all-in-one gadget cleaning kit from Amazon for your Mac, iPhone, and all other devices. It will help you clean your AirPods from the inside out and resist any issues due to debris or dirt.

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7. Outlet and Weak Charging Cables

In certain cases, a faulty outlet is also the reason why your AirPods case is not charging. If the outlet has a connection problem, is old, or the breaker has flipped off, it is best to replace the outlet itself. If the power is unstable, it will also damage your AirPods. Try charging your AirPods from a different outlet and check if the issue persists.

Also, if you are charging your AirPods using power outlets such as your working laptop, a power bank, or a weak power outlet, it is possible that your AirPods are not receiving enough power to charge.

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Are Both AirPods and AirPods Case Not Charging? Get a Replacement

If both the AirPods and AirPods case are not charging, it is likely that your AirPods battery is permanently damaged, the charging case is damaged, or it has been exposed to water, and the circuitry is damaged. In such a case, getting a replacement for your AirPods case or the AirPods themselves is the best resort. You can also get a new pair of AirPods and try reviving the old AirPods by knocking repair shops, as Apple will never repair them for you.

Depending on the model, you will have to pay between $59 and $99 to get a new charging case for your AirPods.

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Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Wrapping up: Apple AirPods or Case Not Charging? They are Probably Now

This pretty much wraps up our simple and go-to guide on how to fix Apple AirPods or AirPods Case not charging. Did you find this guide helpful? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Also, do share it on your social media to help us spread the word about our handy guides. Join our Telegram channel, Facebook page, and X to never miss a quick update.