AirPods and AirPods Pro are complicated devices with a limited ability to communicate what’s wrong when they encounter an error. There’s no indicator at all on the individual AirPods earbuds and just a single light on the charging case.

AirPods flash orange to indicate a problem. They will refuse to flash white when pairing is impossible. The indicator light can also change a couple of other colors to convey additional information.

What Do The Different Light Colors Mean On AirPods?

AirPods and AirPods Pro cases have a single LED capable of changing to four different colors, with each color meaning something specific. Here’s what the colors on your AirPods mean:

  • Green: When the LED turns green, it means the case is fully charged, or the AirPods are fully charged.Amber: Also referred to as orange, the LED will turn this color when the AirPods case is charging, or the AirPods are charging.Flashing white: When the LED is blinking white, it’s ready to be paired via Bluetooth.Flashing amber: The AirPods or AirPods Pro have encountered an error they can’t recover from without further intervention.

Why Are My AirPods Flashing Orange?

During normal circumstances, the orange or amber light on your AirPods case means charging is underway. The light will remain steady, and it will switch to green when charging is complete.

If your AirPods LED indicator is flashing orange, it means the AirPods have encountered an unrecoverable error. This issue can usually be fixed by factory resetting the AirPods and then reconnecting them to your device.

Here’s how to factory reset AirPods:

  • Go to the Bluetooth settings on the device you use with the AirPods, and instruct the device to forget your AirPods. On an iPhone, for example, you’d go to Settings > Bluetooth > Tap the “i” in the blue circle > Forget This Device.
  • If you’ve connected to multiple devices, remove your AirPods from the Bluetooth settings of each device.
  • Place the AirPods in their case.
  • Open the lid.
  • Press and hold the button on the back of the case until the light starts flashing amber.
  • Keep holding the button until the light has flashed three times.
  • Close the lid.
  • Reconnect the AirPods to your device.
  • If the AirPods keep flashing orange, you’ll need to contact Apple to inquire about repairs or replacement.

Why Won’t My AirPods Flash White?

If your AirPods don’t flash white, you won’t be able to pair them via Bluetooth to your devices. 

Go to the Bluetooth settings on the device you use with the AirPods, and instruct the device to forget your AirPods. On an iPhone, for example, you’d go to Settings > Bluetooth > Tap the “i” in the blue circle > Forget This Device.

If you’ve connected to multiple devices, remove your AirPods from the Bluetooth settings of each device.

Place the AirPods in their case.

Open the lid.

Press and hold the button on the back of the case until the light starts flashing amber.

Keep holding the button until the light has flashed three times.

Close the lid.

Reconnect the AirPods to your device.

If the AirPods keep flashing orange, you’ll need to contact Apple to inquire about repairs or replacement.

Here what you can do if your AirPods refuse to flash White:

  • Make sure the AirPods are fully charged.
  • Put your AirPods in the case and plug the case in or set it on a wireless charger until they’re fully charged as indicated by a green LED.
  • Close the lid of the case.
  • Wait 15 seconds, then open the lid.
  • If the light doesn’t flash white when opening the lid, press and hold the setup button on the case until the light flashes white.
  • If the light still doesn’t flash white, press and hold the setup button until it flashes amber three times and then flashes white.
  • If the light still doesn’t flash white, contact Apple for information about service or replacement.

What Does the Green Light Mean On My AirPods?

The green light on an AirPods case indicates it’s fully charged, or the AirPods are fully charged. When charging an empty wireless case, the green light will turn on briefly when the case is fully charged, and it will then turn off. Opening a fully charged wireless case will cause the green light to illuminate and stay on.

Make sure the AirPods are fully charged.

Put your AirPods in the case and plug the case in or set it on a wireless charger until they’re fully charged as indicated by a green LED.

Close the lid of the case.

Wait 15 seconds, then open the lid.

If the light doesn’t flash white when opening the lid, press and hold the setup button on the case until the light flashes white.

If the light still doesn’t flash white, press and hold the setup button until it flashes amber three times and then flashes white.

If the light still doesn’t flash white, contact Apple for information about service or replacement.

  • How do you pair AirPods?
  • Put both AirPods in the charging case, then press and hold the setup button in the back until the status light starts flashing white. Go into the Bluetooth settings on your phone, tablet, or computer, find your AirPods, and select Connect.
  • How do you clean your AirPods?
  • Apple recommends using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe down your AirPods and the charging case. You can use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe if you need to disinfect them, but make sure you don’t get any liquid in the openings and wait until they’re completely dry before using them. Don’t use sharp objects or abrasive materials when cleaning, and never run the AirPods underwater.
  • How can you find a missing AirPod?
  • You can use the Find My app to make the missing AirPod play a sound and locate it more easily. Open the app, select Devices, choose your AirPods from the list, then choose Play Sound. Keep in mind this only works if you’ve already set up Find My with the iPhone or iPad you’re using with your AirPods.
  • How long do AirPods last?
  • According to Apple, the AirPods Pro can get up to 4.5 hours of listening time or up to 3.5 hours of talk time on a single charge. Second-generation AirPods can get up to 5 hours of listening and up to 3 hours of talking. Using the charging case can get you a total of up to 24 hours of listening time and up to 18 hours of talking.

Put both AirPods in the charging case, then press and hold the setup button in the back until the status light starts flashing white. Go into the Bluetooth settings on your phone, tablet, or computer, find your AirPods, and select Connect.

Apple recommends using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe down your AirPods and the charging case. You can use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe if you need to disinfect them, but make sure you don’t get any liquid in the openings and wait until they’re completely dry before using them. Don’t use sharp objects or abrasive materials when cleaning, and never run the AirPods underwater.

You can use the Find My app to make the missing AirPod play a sound and locate it more easily. Open the app, select Devices, choose your AirPods from the list, then choose Play Sound. Keep in mind this only works if you’ve already set up Find My with the iPhone or iPad you’re using with your AirPods.

According to Apple, the AirPods Pro can get up to 4.5 hours of listening time or up to 3.5 hours of talk time on a single charge. Second-generation AirPods can get up to 5 hours of listening and up to 3 hours of talking. Using the charging case can get you a total of up to 24 hours of listening time and up to 18 hours of talking.

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