Losing AirPods happens a lot to us. They’re small, slip into sofa cushions and like to disappear into bags or pockets when you least expect it. Fortunately, Apple’s Find My program makes it easy to track down lost AirPods, whether you’ve lost the case somewhere or can’t find one of the earbuds. With the right settings enabled, your iPhone can show the last location it’s connected to, play a sound to help you hunt or guide you with on-screen directions. Here’s how to use Find My to find lost AirPods and how to track the left or right earbud if only one is missing.
How to use Find My to find AirPods
When your AirPods are paired with an Apple device linked to your Apple ID, they automatically appear in the Find My app. You don’t need to enable this manually, but you do need Bluetooth turned on during normal use so the system can update their location.
Open the Get my app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac and go to Devices tab. Your AirPods should appear in the list. If they’re online or recently connected to your device, Find My will show their current location on a map. If they are offline, the app will show the last location where they were found, which can help narrow down where you can start searching.
For most people, this alone is enough to jog the memory. Find My may show your gym, your friend’s house or the bus stop where they left your pocket. If the location looks familiar, go there first and refresh the app once you’re there so it will update when the AirPods reconnect.
If Find My says your AirPods are nearby but you haven’t seen them yet, you can have them play a local sound. Tap Play Sound in the device menu and the earbuds will emit a high-pitched chirping sound for a few seconds. This is very useful for finding AirPods hidden under blankets, inner bags or behind furniture.
Remember that AirPods need enough battery to make sound, and the charging case itself cannot play sound unless you have AirPods 4 (ANC), AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3 that support that feature. If nothing is playing, try refreshing the app or checking the storage again.
AirPods models, such as AirPods Pro (2nd gen) and AirPods Pro (3rd gen) have MagSafe charging cases that support Direct Find. This feature uses the U1 chip inside your iPhone to show a direct arrow, distance estimate and haptic feedback as you approach. Not all models have this feature, but if yours does, the Find My app will show a Find Nearby button.
Follow the on-screen instructions and slowly rotate your phone. The iPhone will indicate when you’re moving in the right direction and tell you when you’re close enough to start looking under cushions or inside drawers.
How to get individual AirPods
AirPods have a tendency to separate from each other, and losing the left or right earbud can happen as often as misplacing the case. One of the most useful features in Find My is the ability to track individual earbuds. Here’s how to do it:
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Find your AirPods in the Find My app and select the option to find them On the left or That’s right an earbud.
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Select the missing earbud. The map will update to show its location.
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If the missing shoot has the support of a nearby area, you can use it Get Closer to receive guidance. If not, you can still use it Play Soundas long as it has enough battery.
If Find My shows your lost earbud as Offlineyou have yet to see its last known location. This may be enough to help you retrace your steps. Once you’re back in Bluetooth range, the status can change to On the Internet and allows you to use Play Sound.
If you think the earbud is still somewhere in your home, try refreshing Find My while walking slowly from one room to another. The device may reconnect once you are close enough.
How to find a lost AirPods case
Finding a case for AirPods is a bit tricky because only the newer models have support for audio playback or Precision Detection. If your case supports Find My, you’ll see options like finding the earbuds themselves. If it doesn’t, the app will only show the location where the case is connected.
If your earbuds are in a case but the case isn’t supported by Find My, you may not be able to play audio until you open it or remove one of the earbuds.
Find My is a powerful tool for tracking lost AirPods, and being able to use all its features makes the search very easy. Whether you’re trying to find an entire set, a single earbud or a lost case, the app can guide you back to them with audio alerts, location markers and directions for supported models. In a few minutes of searching, you’ll usually have your AirPods in your ears and your music playing again.
