This guide outlines how to track AirPods and the steps to avoid being stalked by somebody using your AirPods.
Have you lost one of your AirPods and want to know how to locate and find them again? Good news, there are a few ways to do this! These methods work for AirPods 1, AirPods 2, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. All you need is the “Find My” app on your iPhone.
How to track AirPods: The requirements
Before we explain how to locate your AirPods, there are two requirements:
- The case that charges your AirPods is open or the AirPods are outside the case.
- The AirPods are within Bluetooth range of one of your iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch).
If your AirPods are not within Bluetooth range, the ‘Find My’ app will display the last known location.
How to clean AirPods case and tips without damage
How do I use the Find My app on my iPhone to track AirPods?
- First, you need to download the app “Find My” on your iPhone.
- Go to Settings > [ your name ] > Location.
- Tap Find My iPhone.
- Turn on Find My iPhone and Send Last Location. This will automatically set up your AirPods as well.
Then all you have to do is follow these steps to find your AirPods 1, AirPods 2, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max :
- From any Apple device connected to your AirPods (iPhone, iPad, MacBook), go to iCloud.com/find.
- Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Click on “All Devices” and select your AirPods:
- Here you will find your last found location with date and time.
The blue dot on the map indicates the device you are using to find your lost AirPods, i.e. your iPhone, iPad or MacBook. The green dot indicates that your AirPods are connected.
- To track your AirPods, you can now make them ring or get directions.
- If the dot is gray, your AirPods aren’t connected (i.e., they’re discharged, in their case, or out of range), but your last known location is displayed.
- If you only want to find one of the two AirPods, just select “Mute Left” or “Mute Right”.
How to reset AirPods and AirPods Pro
Can you find turned off AirPods?
❌ If your AirPods are not charged, you can only access the last known location .
What can you do if you lose one of your AirPods?
If you’ve lost only one AirPod, you can mute the sound coming from the AirPod you didn’t lose, so only the lost AirPod will make a sound.
What can I do if the AirPods don’t appear under “Find My”?
If you don’t see a location or your AirPods are showing as offline, you can get directions to their last location. When your AirPods reconnect, you’ll receive a notification on the iPhone, iPad, or MacBook they’re paired with.
How to track AirPods using the serial number?
You don’t need the serial number to find your AirPods. It’s that easy 🙂
How do I find my AirPods case?
If you lose your AirPods case, the process is the same as finding your AirPods. Of course, this solution only works if your AirPods are in the box.
How to avoid being stalked with AirPods
Yes, you can track people not only by slipping an AirTag into someone’s pocket or car, but also very easily with borrowed AirPods if you’re not careful. The AirPods, or rather their boxes, can also be tracked down using the “Find My” app if they get lost. Victims of AirPods stalking should become aware of the tracking fairly quickly or can even avoid it from the start.
When handing over, however, it is important that you properly log out of one Apple ID before connecting it to a device with a different Apple ID. To do this, go to the “Bluetooth” settings, tap the i symbol and then click the “Forget this device” button at the bottom of the page that appears. The connection will then be completely cut off, even on the other devices with the same Apple ID.
Warning when pairing
However, Airpods can be paired via Bluetooth with devices that belong to a different Apple ID. At least the iPhone immediately shows when pairing if this is the case and that the user can track you. So it’s better to set up borrowed or second-hand Airpods yourself and ask the lender or previous owner to please unlink them.
Airpods Pro discovered
If you didn’t notice the warning, sooner or later you should see the tracking warning on your iPhone that Apple has developed to protect you from stalking. Airpods from a different Apple ID will travel with you, it says, and you can see exactly where this happened on a map. Unfortunately, it can take a while for this warning to appear, and the stalker may already know where you are.
Disconnect Airpods Pro
Along with the warning, your iPhone also gives you a solution to cut off the connection to the previous owner or lender so that they can no longer see you on the map: On the Airpods Pro, cover the two air inlets with your fingers and press the sensor in the stem five times – the Airpods Pro are now completely yours.
Photo by Andy Kuzma
