How to Reset AirPods (Every Model, Including AirPods 4 & Pro 3)

AirPods dropping out, one side silent, refusing to connect, or showing up on your phone but playing nothing — a reset clears almost all of it. The trouble is that Apple changed the method on the newest models, so half the instructions online no longer match the AirPods in your hand.

This guide covers every model, plus the two steps people usually skip: trying a restart first (much less disruptive), and forgetting the device properly before resetting, without which the reset often doesn’t take.

Find Your Model First

Quick identification: look at the back of the charging case. A small round physical button means AirPods 1/2/3 or Pro 1/2 (Method A). No button at all means AirPods 4 or Pro 3 (Method B) — Apple removed it and moved the control to the case front.

Try This First: Restart, Not Reset

A reset erases everything and makes you set the AirPods up again on every device. A restart takes ten seconds and fixes a surprising share of glitches — so start here.

1. AirPods and AirPods Pro: put both in the case and close the lid for at least 10 seconds, then open it near your iPhone.
2. AirPods Max: hold the Digital Crown + noise control button until the status light flashes amber (about 10 seconds), then release immediately.
3. Critical for AirPods Max: holding beyond roughly 10 seconds performs a full factory reset instead. Watch for amber and let go.

If the problem persists after a restart, continue to the reset for your model.

Before You Reset: Forget the Device

Apple’s instructions put this step first for a reason — resetting without it often leaves a stale pairing behind that causes the same problems again.

1. Put the AirPods in the case, close the lid, wait 30 seconds.
2. On your iPhone or iPad: Settings → Bluetooth.
3. Find your AirPods in My Devices, tap the ⓘ button, then Forget This Device and confirm.
4. Not listed? Skip straight to the reset method for your model.

Worth knowing: AirPods are tied to your Apple Account, so “Forget This Device” removes them from every device signed into that account — iPad, Mac, Apple Watch included. You’ll pair them again once, and they’ll return everywhere.

Method A: AirPods 1, 2, 3 and AirPods Pro 1, 2

1. Put both AirPods in the charging case and close the lid for 30 seconds.
2. Forget the device in Bluetooth settings (see above).
3. Open the lid and leave it open.
4. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds.
5. Watch the status light: it flashes amber, then white. That white flash means the reset succeeded — release the button.
6. With the lid still open, hold the case next to your iPhone and follow the on-screen setup prompt.

Method B: AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 (No Setup Button)

Apple removed the physical button on these models, and the replacement gesture is easy to get wrong because timing matters.

1. Put both AirPods in the case and close the lid for 30 seconds.
2. Forget the device in Bluetooth settings.
3. Open the lid and watch the status light on the front of the case.
4. Double-tap the front of the case while the status light is on.
5. Double-tap again when the light flashes white.
6. Double-tap a third time when the light starts flashing faster.
7. The light flashes amber, then white — reset complete. Follow the setup prompt on your iPhone.

Each double-tap responds to what the light is doing, not to a fixed rhythm — so watch the light rather than counting seconds.

Method C: AirPods Max

1. Make sure they have some charge (top them up first if the battery is very low).
2. On the right headphone, press and hold the Digital Crown and the noise control button at the same time.
3. Keep holding for about 15 seconds — past the amber flash — until the status light beside the charging port changes from flashing amber to flashing white.
4. Release both buttons. The reset is done.
5. Hold them near your iPhone and follow the setup prompt.

Remember the difference: release at amber (~10 sec) = restart; hold through to white (~15 sec) = factory reset.

If the Light Doesn’t Flash White

Apple’s own fallback when a reset doesn’t seem to take:

1. Put the AirPods in the case and close the lid for 20 seconds.
2. Open the lid and repeat your model’s reset steps.
3. Still nothing? Charge the case for 15–20 minutes and try again — a flat case can’t complete a reset.
4. Clean the charging contacts inside the case and on the AirPod stems with a dry cotton bud; grime prevents the case from detecting the earbuds at all.

Reconnecting After a Reset

1. iPhone/iPad: open the lid with the AirPods inside, hold it near the unlocked device, and tap Connect when the animation appears.
2. Mac: they usually reappear automatically once paired to your iPhone with the same Apple Account; otherwise pair from System Settings → Bluetooth.
3. Android, Windows, or another non-Apple device: open the lid, hold the setup button (or, on AirPods 4 / Pro 3, keep the lid open until the light flashes white), then pick the AirPods in that device’s Bluetooth list.
4. Custom settings — name, double-tap actions, noise control preferences — are erased by a reset and need setting again.

When a Reset Isn’t the Answer

• Only one AirPod works? Before resetting, check the mesh grilles for compacted earwax — it’s the most common cause by far. Clean gently with a dry soft brush; never use liquid or sharp objects. Also check that both earbuds are actually charging in the case.
• Battery dies within an hour? That’s chemical wear, not software — AirPods batteries degrade after a couple of years and no reset restores them. Apple offers battery service, though on older pairs the cost can approach a replacement.
• Second-hand AirPods that won’t pair? They may still be tied to the previous owner’s Apple Account. They need to remove them from Find My — the same protection that applies to iPhones, covered in our Activation Lock section.
• Connecting fine but no sound? That’s usually audio routing on the phone, not the AirPods — see our headphones not working on iPhone guide.
• Constant disconnections across all Bluetooth devices point at the phone: our iPhone Bluetooth guide and Bluetooth keeps disconnecting guide cover that side.

More Apple & audio fixes on MozPK

• AirPods not connecting
• Headphones not working on iPhone
• iPhone Bluetooth not working
• Bluetooth keeps disconnecting
• iPhone call speaker not working
• Phone not charging

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reset AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 3 without a setup button?

Apple removed the button on those models. Put them in the case, close the lid for 30 seconds, open it, then double-tap the front of the case three times — once while the light is on, again when it flashes white, and a third time when it flashes faster. The light then flashes amber and white.

Does resetting AirPods delete anything important?

It clears their pairings and custom settings — name, gesture controls, noise-control preferences — and you’ll set them up again. Nothing on your iPhone is affected, and no music or data is lost.

What does the amber then white light mean?

Amber means the reset is in progress; white means it completed and the AirPods are ready to pair. If you never see white, close the lid for 20 seconds and repeat, or charge the case first.

What’s the difference between restarting and resetting AirPods?

Restarting just means closing the lid for 10 seconds — it clears temporary glitches and keeps all your settings. Resetting returns them to factory state and requires setting them up again. Always try the restart first.

Why is only one AirPod working?

Usually earwax blocking the mesh, or that earbud not charging properly in the case. Clean it with a dry soft brush and confirm both charge, then reset if the problem continues.

Can I reset AirPods without an iPhone?

Yes — the reset happens on the case itself. The “Forget This Device” step needs a paired Apple device, but if you don’t have one, go straight to the button or double-tap method for your model.