If you are a proud owner of AirPods, you know how awesome they are, however, you also know how tricky it can be to locate them, especially if not placed in the case. But it’s important not to panic.
In this article, we will focus on how to find lost AirPods that are offline. That way you will be slightly more equipped the next time you misplace your AirPods.
Feel free to skip over to the section of your most pressing interest or go one by one to get the most out of this article and best learn how to find lost AirPods that are offline.
So, are you ready? Let’s dig in.
What the Meaning of AirPods ‘Offline’ or ‘No Location Found’
Having wireless earphones is highly practical, however, also way easier to lose them. When it comes to losing AirPods, there are several options of misplacing them; you could be missing only one earpiece, both earpieces, both earpieces in a case, just a case, or any other possible combination of these three.
When your AirPods are online, they are a lot simpler to locate, but when offline, finding them becomes trickier.
Before we move on to another section, where we will cover how to find lost AirPods that are offline, we need to make sure you know what ‘offline’ or ‘no location found’ means.
AirPods may appear offline if they are out of the range of the device they are connected to (either in a case or out of it). Moreover, they can also be perceived as offline if their batteries are out.
‘No location found’ is a message that your device will show you when it is not able to locate your AirPods.
With that in mind, let’s move on to the next section, where we will dive into the process of how to find lost AirPods that are offline.
How To Find Lost AirPods That Are Offline
In this section, we will cover all the methods on how to find lost AirPods that are offline. Each of the methods requires you to have certain equipment, which including an internet connection, an Apple device that AirPods have been used with, a computer, and a particular app or piece of software. Which of these exactly will be needed, depends on the method.
You also need to keep in mind that as of now (2021), Apple only made locating earpieces possible. That means that you’ll be able to locate your AirPods case only if earpieces are inside. Locating the case alone is not possible at this stage.
Using ‘Find My’ App
Using the ‘Find My’ app is one of the best ways to locate your AirPods. This method is obviously best applicable when your AirPods are online, however, luckily it also works in case of your AirPods being offline.
Note: The prerequisite here is that you’ve added your AirPods to your Apple devices and activated the product according to the initial setup instructions.
Using ‘Find My’ App On Your iPhone or iPad
To use this method, you will need your iPhone or iPad to open the app. Here are the simple steps to use the Find My app on your iPhone:
- Open the Find My app.
- Tap on the AirPods from the list of connected devices.
- Since in this case, AirPods are offline, they will show a grey dot. However, despite that fact you the app will still be able to locate your AirPods last known location on the map.
- Then you can tap on the car icon/button to use the navigation to lead you to that location.
You can see that the steps are very simple, however, in case someone fund your AirPods after they’ve been offline and took them, their last known location will no longer indicate their actual position. This is also a reason, why you should do your best to keep your AirPods online and at least partially charged at all times.
Using ‘Find My’ App On Your Computer (via iCloud)
You can also use the Find My app on a computer. Here are the steps:
- Open your web browser.
- Visit icloud.com and sign in using your Apple ID and password.
- In some cases, you’ll be prompted to enter a verification code sent to your device (iPhone). If that is the case, make sure to enter the correct code.
- Once in the iCloud menu, look for the Find iPhone option. Once you locate it, tap on it. Click only once and wait for it to open (it can take a couple of seconds).
- You’ll be most likely be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password again. Once you do so, you’ll see a map.
- Click on the ‘All Devices’ option located at the top of the page.
- From the lists, select your AirPods.
Using ‘Play Sound’ To Locate AirPods
Unfortunately, this option is not available when AirPods are offline.
But if your AirPods are online, you can use this option within the Find My app to help locate either of your earpieces. Obviously, this method only works if you or any of your friends/family members are near the earpieces and will hear the sound, which will enable you to pinpoint the exact location.
To use the ‘Play Sound’ method, follow the steps below:
- Open the Find My app.
- Navigate to All Devices.
- Select AirPods from the list.
- Once the location of your AirPods appears on the map, click the ‘Play Sound’ option.
- Then tap either ‘Left’ or ‘Right’ to play the sound on the selected earpiece. You also have the ‘Stop’ button, to easily stop the sound once you find them.
- Your earpieces will start to produce a sharp noise that will continue to gradually increase for up to 22 minutes, which gives you quite some time to locate them.
- Make sure to have your searching team listen carefully. With some luck, you should be able to locate your misplaced AirPods with ease.
What If My Missing AirPods Are In Different Places or Dead
In case each of your AirPods’ earpieces is lost in a different place, the Find My app will enable you to find them one by one. Once you will locate the first one that the map is showing and put it in the case, the other one will be shown on the map.
The process is the same as above. Even if the battery is empty, you’ll be able to pinpoint their last known location, which should be sufficient enough in case no one else moved them since they went offline.
My AirPods Are Totally Lost. What To Do
First, we must express our condolences. We know how misfortunate it is to lose our valuable devices.
If you are not able to locate your AirPods with any of the above methods and you’ve also given it some serious thought and search, it is most likely time to consider getting a replacement.
Luckily, Apple offers a special replacement program, where you can get separate parts (the case, the L earpiece, or the R earpiece) at a reasonable price.
So, you need to visit Apple’s official online store or local store and obtain the replacement pieces that you need in order to continue to enjoy your AirPods.
How to Replace a Missing AirPod or Case
As mentioned in the previous section, you can either buy new AirPods (in case you lost all components), or you can explore Apple’s fee-replacement program.
Keep in mind that fees are quite high, however, still less than buying a new AirPods. To get more details, regarding the latest prices, visit Apple’s official website or local store. Moreover, you can buy replacement pieces online or in person.
AirPods Limitations Are Reality
If you’ve covered all of the above sections, you obviously see that there is some room for improvement, especially when it comes to the ability to locate the empty case.
However, there are things that not much can be done. Such as battery capacity. Even when the battery capacity improves, it simply dies after a certain period of time and then makes AirPods offline, which makes it impossible to locate their current position in case they’ve been moved since going offline.
Moreover, AirPods also don’t have any particular security features, which means that if anyone steals or finds your AirPods, they can easily be connected to any other device.
How To Prevent Your AirPods From Getting Lost
Knowing that there is some limitation to locating your lost AirPods, it is up to you to be more cautious about your AirPods use and make sure to store them properly.
The best way to prevent losing your AirPods is to keep the case with you at all times and put them in it when not in use. The case is really compact and easily fits any pocket, so that shouldn’t be an issue. It might be strange at the beginning, but once you get used to it, you will habitually take it with you.
To further protect yourself, you can tape a locating tile/chip (there are many options available on the market) on the case to find it with ease. With this additional protection step, you will be able to locate each of the earpieces and the case at all times. However, keep in mind that tracking tiles also have some range limitations.
Frequently Ask Questions
Can I track my AirPods using their serial number?
No. So far the only tangible method to locate your lost AirPods is by using the Find My app. You can do so on your iPhone, iPad, or even via the iCloud website using your computer.
Why are my AirPods not showing up on the ‘Find My’ device?
The most likely reason behind this is the fact that you haven’t connected them as your new device properly at the activation.
Do AirPods have GPS?
No, AirPods don’t have GPS.
Why is there is no ‘Find My’ app on my device?
There are multiple reasons why the app might not be on your device. You can easily access Apple Store, where you can download the app.
Can someone use my stolen AirPods?
Yes. If anyone steals or finds your AirPods, he/she may easily connect them to an Apple device and use them.
Can You Use AirPods on Android?
Yes. AirPods connect using Bluetooth, which means that they can be connected to any Android that incorporates Bluetooth, which is most of them.
Can You Track AirPods’ Case?
No, the AirPods’ case alone cannot be tracked. However, you may stick a tracking tile/chip on it and get that option.
Can Someone Use Found AirPods?
Yes, found AirPods can be used by another user.
How far can AirPods be tracked?
The range is about 33 feet. However, when out of reach, the Find My app will show you the last detected location.
How accurate is “Find My” AirPods?
The accuracy is decent. If you are near the shown location, you may use the ‘Play Sound’ option to pinpoint the exact location.
What happens if someone pairs your AirPods with their device?
They are automatically unpaired from your device and that person will be able to use them with their device.
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