- Struggling to pair your AirPods & AirPods Pro? A reset may be the answer.
- This guide will show you how to reset your AirPods on ALL devices.
- Plus, what to do when AirPods won’t reset.
- Also, check out our guide for what to do when AirPods are flashing orange.
Are you having issues with your AirPods or AirPod Pros? Both models can sometimes experience connection or playback quality issues during usage, regardless of your playback source. Thankfully, many of these issues can be remedied with a simple hard reset, which can be done at home and without any outside assistance.
I’ve compiled this brief guide on resetting your AirPod and AirPods Pros across various devices, including Android, iOS, and PC. We’ll also show you how to reset your AirPods without connected devices. 
How To Reset Your AirPods & AirPods Pro (iOS, PC, & Android)
Resetting your AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, or AirPods 3 all entail a similar process. Apple has designed your AirPods to be user-friendly, and a reset only requires the following items or processes.
- The AirPods Charging Case – The AirPods charging case is used to charge, track, and set up connectivity for your AirPods. You will need this charging case whenever you want to reset your AirPods.
- Playback or Other Connected Device – Your AirPods may need to reset and restore their connection to your desired playback device. This connection can usually be reset from the settings menu of your playback/connected device.
- Hard Reset – It is possible to perform a hard reset on your AirPods and AirPod Pros using just the charging case. Simply place the AirPods in their respective charging case and hold down the setup button until its LED turns orange to white.
How To Reset Your AirPods & AirPods Pro With An Android Device
1. Place both AirPods in the charging case and close its lid. Keep the lid closed for around a minute to disconnect it from all surrounding devices. After about a minute, remove the AirPods from their charging case.
2. Unlock your Android device and open up the Settings menu. Head to the Bluetooth menu and look for your list of Available Devices.
3. Your AirPods should still appear as an option on this list. Click the ‘’i’ logo next to their label and select ‘’Unpair’’ in the next dropdown menu.
4. Hold the setup button on the side of the AirPods charging case to reset your connection. Hold the button on the case until its LED changes from white to orange. 
5. Your AirPods should now reappear under your Bluetooth menu’s list of available devices. Click on them to reset the connection.
6. Some devices require a 4-digit password for safe pairing. The password for AirPods & AirPods Pro is usually 0000 or 1234.
How To Reset Your AirPods & AirPods Pro (iOS)
1. Place both AirPods in your charging case and close the lid to disconnect it from all devices. Wait around a minute, then remove the AirPods from the case again.
2. Head to Settings on your iOS device and open the Bluetooth menu. Look through your list of Available Devices for your AirPods. 
3. Tap the “i” logo next to their label and select “Forget This Device” in the dropdown menu. 
4. Press and hold the setup button on the side of your AirPods case until its LED turns from white to flashing orange.
5. Your AirPods should reappear under the list of Available Devices on your Bluetooth menu. Pairing should begin automatically. If not, tap the AirPods label to reconnect them to your iOS device. 
6. Certain iOS devices may request a 4-digit password for safe pairing. The password for AirPods and AirPod Pros is generally 1234 or 0000.
NB – Once you reset the connection between your Apple AirPod and AirPod Pros, your Apple device will not recognize them as one of your linked iCloud devices. This means that if you open your AirPods case around any other Apple device, it could automatically initiate a setup process.
How To Reset Your AirPods & AirPods Pro With A Windows Laptop/PC
- Place both AirPods in their charging case and close the lid for 1 minute to disconnect them from all devices. After a minute, remove the AirPod from the charging case altogether.
- Open up the Settings menu on your desktop and then the Bluetooth menu. Alternatively, search for “Bluetooth and other device settings” from your taskbar.
- In the Bluetooth menu, look for your AirPods under the list of Available Devices. Right-click on their label and then click on “Forget This Device.”
- Hold the setup button on the side of the AirPods charging case until its LED turns from white to flashing orange.
- Your AirPods must be paired to your PC/Laptop. Look for them under the list of Available Devices and click on their label to initiate pairing.
- Some devices may request a 4-digit password to complete pairing. In most cases, the password for Airpods is 1234 or 0000.
How To Reset Your AirPods Without Any Phone/Device
It is possible to reset your AirPods without using any outside devices. Follow the steps below to reset your AirPods without any other device:
- Place both AirPods inside their AirPod charging case. Ensure each AirPod is in its correct left and right charging ports.
- Keep the lid of the AirPods charging case open and locate its setup button.
- Hold the setup button with the lid open until its LED changes from a flashing white to an orange color.
- Once the LED changes to orange, close the AirPods inside the case. Your AirPods will automatically do a hard reset inside the charging case.
AirPods Still Won’t Reset? – Try This
If you’ve followed the steps above (relative to your device) and are still experiencing playback or connection issues, you can try some of these relatively simple fixes:
- Dirt, dust, and other debris can often get caught inside the charging case and obstruct its connectivity ports. You can try cleaning out the inside of the case gently using a soft microfiber cloth or cotton earbud to remove these microparticles.
- You can also use isopropyl-alcohol to safely remove grubby or stubborn particles that lighter fibers can’t eliminate.
- If you experience further issues, you can contact a technician at Apple’s Support contact center. Make sure to have the serial number of your AirPods handy.
Final Thoughts
Apple prides itself on creating highly user-friendly products with simple fixes. The AirPods, AirPod Pros, AirPod 2, and AirPod 3’s have all managed to maintain a consistent level of functionality, and resetting them to your device is painless.
It’s also relatively easy to reset your AirPods without any connected devices. Make sure to properly clean and care for your AirPods and their charging case to ensure that it’s always easy to reset them if need be.
How do I reset my AirPods owner?
Resetting your AirPods automatically removes them from your Apple ID and Apple iCloud devices, and you then link them to a new device and set up new ownership.
Can AirPods be tracked after they’ve been reset?
Unfortunately, if your AirPods have been reset, it can be difficult to track them. However, if they are in your AirPods charging case, you can try to track and locate the chagrin case as a means of finding them.
