You can locate your misplaced AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max from an iPhone, iPad, or computer using Apple's Find My service, which was created specifically for these circumstances. You can pinpoint their location on a map and even play a sound to help you find them. Additionally, there is a Lost Mode, notification settings, and more to ensure that you don't lose your AirPods. This is how it all functions. All of this requires the Find My app to be installed. If you opt to do this, you'll need to reinstall iOS 16 because Apple added the opportunity to uninstall Find My.
Activate the Find My app
Find My is a native iOS software that combines the Find My Phone app from an earlier version with a few other services, including one that lets you find your lost AirPods. It is available on the most recent versions of iOS. Open the Find My app first. If needed, sign in with your Apple ID. You may also enter your browser and go to iCloud.com to find the web version of the service, but we advise choosing to Find My since it is simpler to use and keeps you moving as you continue your search. There's a potential that Find My won't be able to locate your AirPods if you've never used it for any device. It's a good idea to sign in to Find My if you get a new Apple device to make sure it appears there.
Locate your AirPods on the map
On the Find My screen, there should be a map and a toolbox with the People option selected by default. Instead, choose Devices, and a list of all of your signed-in devices along with their locations will appear. Look find the AirPods icon among the other icons on the map. Even while the map isn't always exact, it can be close enough for you to locate your lost AirPods. This could be helpful if you misplaced them on your commute or are unsure whether you left them at the gym or at work. The map will only show one AirPod at a time, which needs to be noted. It doesn't matter as long as they are together.
Put the other AirPod in its case and reload the map to find the other if you've misplaced one. The same technique also applies if you've lost both and believe they might be in different places: after you discover the first one, put it back in the case and use refresh to find the second one. Find your AirPods on the list of devices and choose them to see more alternatives if the map isn't helping. What happens if the battery in your AirPods is completely dead? The map might not be much use, but it could be able to show you the location where your AirPods were last found, which is a decent spot to start looking for them.
Play a chime to find the missing AirPod
One of the new options after selecting the AirPods is to play sound. If your AirPods aren't in your case, this will cause them to chime. Before you start, make sure your other AirPod is removed (the chime can be loud). Then, choose the Play sound option and wait a little while. Your AirPod should now begin to beep for two minutes, getting louder each time. You should be able to locate it around the house with this. You can select "Stop sound" to stop playing once you've located the AirPod. If you have lost one AirPod or both and they were lost in different places, you will also have a choice to swap the sound between the two. A more recognizable ringtone-like sound has been added to iOS 16 and should be easy to find.
A certain percentage of folks will soon find out that their dog stole their AirPods around this time. Don't freak out if this is the case; simply call your veterinarian. The AirPod should likely be accepted spontaneously by large dogs without any difficulty. Although it's unusual, there have reportedly been instances where AirPods have been eaten, passed out, and continued to function. You might need to take more action if a little dog ate the AirPod, and your veterinarian can help you with this. You'll observe that only the actual AirPods are available for playback while looking for your AirPods case. The casing has no sound feature, so you can't make it chime. If you've misplaced the case, you might still be able to use the map to locate it.
Turn on the Find Nearby feature
If you have AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, the latest update for iOS 15 added a big Find My update for these devices. This lets them use some of AirTags' tracking features, but not all of them, for more accurate triangulation while you are looking. The most recent updates should have added a "Find Nearby" option to Find My. If you choose this, a circular icon will appear on your iPhone's display. When it gets close to your AirPods, the symbol will ping blue, allowing you to use it as a detector in the areas where you think they might be. If the chime doesn't work, this is a great next step. Although it is less precise than the same option on AirTags (there aren't any guiding arrows, for instance), it can still be really helpful.
Switch on notifications
You'll also notice that Find My includes a feature called Notifications, which is helpful if you need to take a few further steps after you haven't discovered your AirPods yet. If the Find My app can't find your AirPods anywhere on the map, you should turn on the "Notify when found" feature. That way, if your AirPods finally send a ping, you'll get a notification. A notification will be sent to an Apple device of your choice if you leave a specific range of your AirPods using the Notify When Left Behind option (like leaving them in your car in the parking lot). That can be helpful if you frequently forget your AirPods and would wish for that to stop.
Turn on Lost Mode
Okay, you don't know where your AirPods are, and your current search options are at an end. AirPods Pro and AirPods Max now have one last feature called Lost Mode thanks to iOS 15. For iPhones and other comparable devices, there's a feature called Lost Mode that lets you lock the screen, leave a message, and provide contact information for anyone who tries to activate the device. On AirPods, this functions a little differently. You should be able to enable Lost Mode in Find My if you have compatible AirPods and updated devices (the firmware upgrade happens automatically; check Settings > General > AirPods and look for the current firmware version). Choose this, then click Enable.
Find My will now walk you through the process of configuring your contact details and sending a personalized message. When you are finished, choose Activate. Even though AirPods lack a screen, more recent versions do offer an NFC connection. Users can use found.apple.com to see your message displayed on their phone by holding smartphones with an NFC chip close to the missing AirPods and activating NFC. If a stranger finds your AirPods and knows what to do, it's definitely worth a try.
Changing AirPods
In the worst-case scenario, you might not be able to locate your lost AirPod or learn that it is damaged beyond repair. Can I replace just one AirPod? This is the next question that arises for every AirPods user. Yes, it is the answer. Apple provides repair and replacement services for AirPods in a number of different bundles. Assuming you are past the warranty period, a standard AirPod will set you back $69 to replace. You will have to pay $89 to replace an AirPod Pro. Although expensive, replacing both AirPods would be more costly. At that point, it would probably be wiser to consider purchasing a new set of AirPods. If you do have a warranty, replacing an AirPod from either model costs just $30. Give your local Apple Store a call and let them know what you have in mind so they can start the process since Apple must handle this replacement directly.
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