How to reset AirPods (or AirPods Pro) if they have stopped working properly

Apples AirPods Pro are among the best wireless headphones you can buy. With good sound quality, excellent active noise cancellation and a compact design, the AirPods Pro set the tone for premium wireless headphones. But even great headphones are prone to hiccups, and sometimes your AirPods can get a bit buggy if you’ve been using them for a while. (Personally, I have had issues with unreliable Bluetooth connection to my iPhone). So knowing how to reset your AirPods is a good trick to have up your sleeve.

All AirPods and AirPods Pro have a factory reset feature that restores the earbuds to their factory settings. Or if your AirPods are working but you want to pass them on to someone or sell them before trading at Rumored AirPods 3, it’s worth knowing how to reset them. It’s a simple process that will only take you a few minutes to learn.

Read more: Apple AirPods: 19 of the best tips and tricks for your wireless headphones

How to factory reset AirPods or AirPods Pro

1. Place your AirPods in their charging case and close the cover.

2. Wait 30 seconds before opening the cover of your case.

3. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings> Bluetooth and press the blue i icon next to your AirPods. (If you don’t see your AirPods in Settings> Bluetooth, just go to the next step.)

4. Tap Forget this device, and press again to confirm.

5. With the cover open, press and hold the button on the back of the case for approximately 15 seconds, or until the status light flashes amber and then white.

If you are using an Android phone, the first two steps are the same, then:

3. Go to Settings, then Connected devices, then press the cog icon next to your AirPods or AirPods Pro.

4. Now press Forget so what Forget the device to confirm.

Read more: How to Pair AirPods with All Your Apple Devices in 3 Seconds

Once your AirPods are reset, the headphones will no longer automatically recognize devices linked to your iCloud account. Opening an AirPods case near an iOS device will begin the setup process as if you are using it for the first time.

If you need more help with Bluetooth pairing, here is how to pair AirPods with Windows 10 device and how use AirPods with any Android phone. More, how to clean bad AirPods the easy way, a tip for keeping AirPods in your ears, some AirPods Pro tips and tricks, What to do if you lose one of your AirPods, and how your friends and family can help you find the missing AirPods if you have iOS 15.