Tips for Getting Apple AirPods or Earbuds to Stay in Your Ears

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A guide to making sure your AirPods or wired earbuds fit securely and stay in your ears

Co-authored by Linh Le and Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: December 12, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using AirPods

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Dealing with Wired Earbuds

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Tips

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Things You'll Need

Apple brand accessories tend to be expensive, so it can be really frustrating when your AirPods or wired earbuds fall out of your ears while you’re on the go. In this article, we'll teach you a few easy tricks and accessories that help you keep your headphones safe and sound the next time you go out and about, with helpful tips from Certified Mobile Repair Specialist Linh Le.

What to Know About Keeping Your Apple Headphones In

Wearing your AirPods angled slightly upwards and outwards helps keep them in place. Both AirPods and wired earbuds fit more securely if you use silicone tips of the correct size for your ears. If you’re still struggling, consider buying accessories such as silicone hooks or grips to hold your earbuds or AirPods in place.

Section 1 of 2:

Using AirPods

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1
Twist your AirPods after you put them in so they stay in your ears. Place your AirPods in your ears as you normally do. Before going out, rotate both earbuds upwards and outwards, so the stems stick out at a 30-degree angle from your head. Keep your AirPods at an angle so they won’t be as likely to slip and fall out.^{[1]
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- This isn’t a miracle solution, but it might be worth a try if you don’t want to buy extra accessories.
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Stick waterproof tape to your AirPods for extra support. Take a hole puncher and cut out 4 circles from a section of medical waterproof tape. Arrange a tape circle above and below the black dot and dash on the top of each AirPod. You can keep these tape circles on for as long as you’d like!^{[2]
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- Your AirPods will still fit in the charging case with the tape attached.
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3
Cover your AirPods with silicone skins as a precaution. Slip a skin over the section of the AirPod that goes in your ear, then wear them as you normally would. Some brands of silicone covers are too thick to fit in the charging case, while others are thin enough to fit.^{[3]
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- You can find silicone skins online or in an electronics store. They’re usually available for under $20.
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Add silicone tips to the end of your AirPods that stay more firmly in your ears. Slide a silicone tip onto the thin, narrow section of the AirPod that goes in your ear. Put it in your ear as you normally would, and you don’t have to worry about it slipping out as much!
- Le stresses the importance of choosing a silicon tip that fits your ear.^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Linh Le
  Certified Mobile Repair Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 10 February 2022.} Some current models of AirPods come with a selection of tips in different sizes. You can test the correct fit with help from your iPhone or iPad:^{[5]
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  - Put in your AirPods and go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad.
  - Tap the More Info button (it looks like an i in a circle) next to your AirPods.
  - Select Ear Tip Fit Test.
  - Tap Continue, then tap the Play button. Follow the prompts to adjust your ear tips or try a different size.
- If your AirPods didn’t come with their own tips, AirPod-compatible silicone tips are easy to find online or in most electronics stores.
- These tips make your AirPods look and function like regular earbuds.
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Attach grips to your AirPods that go around your ears to keep them in place. Slide a silicone ear grip cover over the stem of your AirPods. Fasten the grip around your ear, then stick your AirPods into your ears. Unfortunately, these ear grips won’t fit in your charging case, so you’ll need to take them off when you’re done using your AirPods.^{[6]
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- You can find these accessories online or at an electronics store. Some brands sell them for under $15.
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Use silicone ear hooks to provide extra support from the inside. Shop online or in an electronics store for ear hooks, which are small, silicone hooks that attach to the rounded portion of your AirPods. Attach these hooks whenever you’re about to go out and about.^{[7]
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- You’ll need to take these off in order to charge your AirPods.

Section 2 of 2:

Dealing with Wired Earbuds

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1
Purchase silicone tips for your earbuds. If your Apple earbuds didn’t come with tips, you can buy official ones from Apple, or find compatible tips online or in an electronics store. Most sets of tips come with multiple sizes so you can choose the ones that fit your ears the best. This will help them fit more securely.
- You can also try some of the other accessories that work with AirPods, such as medical tape dots, silicone skins, or tip hooks. Most of these will also fit on your wired Apple earbuds.
Take one of your headphones and loop it around the back of your ear. From a downwards angle, insert the earbud into your ear so it’s more likely to stay put. Repeat this process with your other earbud so your headphones aren’t as likely to fall out.^{[8]
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Cover your ears with a hat to hold the earbuds in place. Wear your Apple headphones as you normally would, then slip on a comfortable beanie overtop. Check that the hat is completely covering your ears and headphones, then go about the rest of your day as usual!^{[9]
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- This may not be a great option for exercising, but it works well if you’re just walking around with your headphones in.
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Tuck your earbuds under your shirt so they aren’t as likely to fall out. Slip your headphones beneath your shirt, then pull the earbuds out from the collar. Place the earbuds in your ears as usual, and continue listening to your favorite music or broadcast.^{[10]
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- If your headphones fall out while they’re tucked under your shirt, you’re more likely to notice it.
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Tie a knot above the microphone section of your earbuds. Find the small, white microphone portion along 1 of your Apple headphone wires. Take both sections of your earbuds and tie them in a knot above this white component. Place both earbuds in your ears, then go about listening to your music as you normally do.^{[11]
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- Don’t worry about damaging your earbuds—this knot is pretty easy to undo and will help keep your earbuds from slipping out.
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Hold your phone or secure it in an armband. Slide your phone into an armband compartment, then check that it’s closed. Secure the band with Velcro around your arm to hold your phone or music-playing device in place.^{[12]
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- When you leave your phone in your pocket, it can weigh down your headphones and cause your earbuds to pop out. An armband takes away some of this pressure.
- Some armbands have a compartment where you can hide away some of your headphone wire.
- You can find an armband online or in a variety of stores for less than $20.

Common Questions: Wearing Apple Earbuds Properly

How can I make my Apple earbuds fit better?

Consider purchasing a new set of ear tips from the Apple Online Store. You can swap for a bigger ear tip if the earbuds feel too small, or you can swap to a smaller ear tip if the earbuds feel too big. Using the correct ear tip size should make any discomfort go away.

How do I stop my wireless earbuds from falling out when I run?

Routinely clean your earbuds; oil can build up on the surface, making them slippery. You can also try using a headband to secure the earbuds during physical activity.

Why do Apple earbuds fall out so easily?

Everyone's ears are different—what may fit perfectly on one person may be uncomfortable for another. In this case, make sure you're using the correct ear tip size for your ears and that you're putting them in properly.

How do you wear AirPods for the best sound?

Press the AirPods in your ear and rotate it slightly towards your face. This should provide a snug (but comfortable) fit and maintain a nice seal for the sound.

Tips

" "If you have the regular air pods and you're finding that they're falling out frequently, you might want to consider switching to the Pros," Le suggests. AirPods Pro have different sizes, and they're a little softer and moldable so they'll fit better."^{[13]
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Expert Source

Linh Le
Certified Mobile Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 10 February 2022.}

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Le also notes the importance of keeping your earbuds and AirPods clean and making sure your ears are also clean. Clean your ears before inserting the headphones, as the dirt and wax buildup can make it harder for the AirPods to stay in place.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Linh Le
Certified Mobile Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 10 February 2022.}

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If you tend to lose or drop your Apple headphones or AirPods, you may want to switch to a cheaper set of headphones instead.

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