How to Charge Apple AirPods

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: October 4, 2024

This wikiHow will teach you how to charge your AirPods and their case. Generally, this is as simple as putting the AirPods into their case and placing it on a QI-certified wireless charging pad, or using the built-in lightning port to charge if the case does not have a charge.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Charging Wirelessly

Download Article

Position the AirPods so the speakers are pointing outwards; they also fit into the molding inside the case when positioned correctly.
2
Close the lid. When you have the AirPods inside the case, you need to close the lid to start charging.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If the lid is open, the AirPods will not charge.
- If the light on the case flicks on, your AirPods are charging with the charge from the case and you can skip the next step. If the light does not turn on, you'll need to set the case on a charging pad.
Advertisement
3
Place the case on a Qi-certified charging mat. You can purchase these wireless charging pads from most major electronics retailers like Best Buy or the Apple store.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- You can expect to wait about 15-20 minutes to get a full charge on your AirPods.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Charging with a Lightning Cord

Download Article

1
Put your AirPods in their case. Position the AirPods so the speakers are pointing outwards; they also fit into the molding inside the case when positioned correctly.
- Close the lid when you have the AirPods inside the case.
- If your case has a charge, the light on the outside of the case will flash, indicating that your AirPods are charging, and you can skip the next step. If your case does not have a charge, you'll need to continue to the next step to continue charging your AirPods.
2
Connect the Lightning Cable to the case. The cord you use to charge any Apple iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch will also have a Lightning connection, so you'll be able to use those cords without buying a new one, if you don't have the cord that came with your AirPods.
- The Lightning port is located at the bottom of the AirPods case.
3
Plug the USB or USB-C side of the cable into a power source. You can use either a laptop or a wall adapter, but charging will be fastest if you charge with a Mac.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- You can expect to wait about 15-20 minutes to get a full charge on your AirPods.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

My ear pods are 100% charged but the container reads 14%. How do I charge the container to match the pods?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Put your AirPods in the case and let them and them and the case. Depending on what type of case you may have, you may charge them wirelessly or with a cable. When the case is charging, the LED on the case will flash a few times, then turn off.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5
Question

What color will the light be when airpods are charging? ?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

The light will be orange when the case is charging. It will be green when it is charged completely.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8
Question

When will I know when my air pods are fully charged?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

The light on your AirPods case will be green when it is fully charged. If they are paired with an iOS device, you can check the battery percentage. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open the lid to the AirPod case and make sure your earbuds are inside it. Hold the case close to your iOS device, and you should see a notification on your screen that lets you know the charge percentage of your AirPods and the case. You can also access the Batteries widget on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If you have a Mac, open the lid to your AirPods case and remove your AirPods. Click the Bluetooth icon on your Mac's menu bar, then hover your mouse over your AirPods' name to see their charge.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 4

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

If you lose, damage, or break the original AirPods case, you can buy another at https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MR8U2AM/A/wireless-charging-case-for-airpods. You can't charge AirPods without this case.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Some cases have a status light on the outside of the AirPods case; when it's lit, your AirPods are charging. In other cases, the light is on the inside, under the lid. If the light is green, the AirPods are fully charged; if the light is amber, they have less than a full charge.
Remember you need the case to charge them AND to pair them. If you lose the case, you simply cannot charge them. I think you can probably purchase replacement cases, however, if you lose yours.

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!