How to pair your replacement AirPods, AirPods Pro, or charging case

A replacement AirPod doesn’t work straight away. Instead, you need to pair it with your existing AirPod to sync them both together. The same goes for a new charging case, which you can pair with your AirPods in the same way.

We’ll explain how to pair your replacement AirPod or charging case below, it only takes a few seconds. But first, let’s talk about getting a replacement AirPod in the first place, in case you haven’t done so already.

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Getting a replacement AirPod or charging case

If your AirPod was lost, damaged, or stolen you’re going to want a replacement. You typically need to pay out of pocket for a replacement, since Apple’s limited warranty doesn’t cover loss or theft.

If you haven’t already, try using the Find My app on your iPhone to pinpoint your missing AirPod on a map. You can even make it play a loud noise to help you find it.

If it’s definitely gone for good, you can pay for a replacement AirPod or charging case from Apple. These replacements are cheaper than buying a new set of AirPods, but they still aren’t exactly cheap.

Here are the replacement prices for different AirPods and cases:

• AirPod Pro: $89 each
• AirPod Pro Charging Case: $99
• AirPod (1st or 2nd Generation): $69 each
• AirPod Wireless Charging Case: $79
• AirPod Charging Case: $59

Visit Apple’s Get Support website to order a replacement. If your AirPods are insured, speak to your insurance company first in case they have a different process for you to follow.

Alternatively, you might be able to find cheaper replacements online. If you go down this route, be extra cautious of scammers who might sell you knock-off AirPods instead. You also need to make sure your replacement AirPod is the same generation as the remaining one, otherwise they won’t work together.

How to pair your replacement AirPods or case

Whether you have a replacement AirPod, AirPod Pro, or charging case, the process to pair everything together is the same. Follow the steps below to do so.

1. Return both AirPods to the charging case and open the lid.
2. The status light flashes amber to show the AirPods aren’t paired.
3. Press and hold the Setup button until the status light flashes white.
4. If that worked, move your iPhone next to the AirPods and go to the Home screen to prompt a connection animation to appear.
5. Tap Connect on your iPhone to use your AirPods again.

According to Apple, that’s all you need to do to pair your replacement AirPods. That said, many users find the process above doesn’t work and the status light never flashes white to show the AirPods are paired.

If you can’t pair your replacement AirPods or case

The only situation worse than losing an AirPod is finding out you can’t get the replacement to pair with your existing set. Usually, this is down to a minor software issue that you can fix by following the steps below.

Try to pair your replacement AirPod, AirPod Pro, or charging case again after each of the steps below.

Step 1. Forget your AirPods from the Bluetooth settings

Your iPhone may recognize each AirPod as coming from a different set. You can usually fix this by removing both AirPods from your Bluetooth settings.

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the i button next to your AirPods, then select Forget This Device.
3. If there are multiple AirPods, tap i to forget each of them.

Step 2. Update the software on your iPhone

Out-of-date iPhone software might stop your replacement AirPod from updating to the latest firmware.

1. Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi and go to Settings > General > Software Update to look for new updates.
2. Download and install any available updates.

Step 3. Update the firmware on your AirPods

If the firmware doesn’t match across both AirPods they might not be able to communicate with one another properly. You can fix this by prompting a firmware update using the charging case.

1. Put both AirPods in the case and close the lid.
2. Use a Lightning cable to connect your AirPods case to power.
3. Keep your iPhone nearby—within four inches—so the AirPods can download new firmware over the Internet.
4. Wait at least 30 minutes. Don’t open the case, remove the cable, or take your iPhone away during this time.

Step 4. Pair your AirPods one at a time

Some users found success by pairing their AirPods one at a time. This technique is a bit fiddly, and you may need to repeat it a couple of times to make it work, but it’s worth trying nonetheless.

1. Put one AirPod in your ear and return the other to the case.
2. With the lid open, hold the Setup button until the status light flashes white.
3. Now swap the AirPods around and try pairing the other one.
4. After pairing each AirPod individually, return them both to the case and try pairing a final time by holding the Setup button again.
5. If this doesn’t work, go into the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone to forget both AirPods, then try pairing them together again.

Step 5. Disconnect your AirPods and leave them plugged in

Some users found that disconnecting their AirPods before prompting a firmware update fixed their pairing issues. Try it yourself.

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the i button next to your AirPods, then select Forget This Device.
3. If there are multiple AirPods, tap i to forget each of them.
4. Return both AirPods to the charging case and close the lid.
5. Use a Lightning cable to connect your charging case to power and leave it plugged in next to your iPhone for at least an hour.

Troubleshoot other issues with your AirPods

If you still can’t pair your AirPod, AirPod Pro, or charging case you might need to speak to Apple again about getting a replacement for your replacement.

That said, if the AirPods seemed to pair but only play sounds through one ear, there might another issue at play. Plenty of other software errors result in only hearing sound through one of your AirPods. It’s well worth checking out the troubleshooting suggestions in that post to try and fix it without pairing again.