How to Find Your AirPods When They’re Offline and Out of Battery

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Have you ever lost your AirPods and frantically searched everywhere trying to find them? It’s a sinking feeling when your AirPods are offline and out of battery, making it nearly impossible to locate them. But don’t give up hope!

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn several methods to help retrace your steps and track down your missing earbuds, including:

  • Using the Find My app to check the last known location
  • Activating Lost Mode to get notifications when found
  • Leveraging Apple’s Find My Network to broaden the search
  • Trying sound detection features if AirPods are nearby
  • Steps to take if your AirPods were possibly stolen

Follow these tips and you’ll be reunited with your lost AirPods in no time. Let’s dive in!

Check Find My App for Last Known Location

The Find My app should be your first stop when trying to locate lost AirPods. This handy app lets you view the last known location of your earbuds even when they’re offline or out of battery.

Here’s how to use it:

  • Open up the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can download this for free from the App Store.
  • Tap on the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen.

Now you’ll see a list of all your Apple devices.

  • Select your AirPods.

If you named them something cute like “Air Buds” or “Pods McGee”, look for that name.

  • For AirPods that are offline, you’ll see a message saying “No location found” or “Offline”.

Bummer, I know. But don’t fret just yet!

  • The app will display your AirPods’ last known location on a map if available.

This is clutch intel, my friend!

  • Tap the map to open it fully. You can even get directions to that spot.

While your AirPods probably won’t be chilling there anymore, it gives you a starting point to…

  • Retrace your steps!

Think back to the last place you used your AirPods. Were you at home? The gym? Out on a walk or commute?

Head back there and thoroughly look around. I’ve found my AirPods tucked in weird spots like under couch cushions, in jacket pockets, or shoved in my car seat.

So don’t lose hope if Find My doesn’t show the current location. Leverage that last known spot and let the hunt begin!

Activate Lost Mode for Notifications

Can’t find your AirPods after checking the Find My app? Time to pull out the big guns and activate Lost Mode.

This feature lets you:

  • Display a custom message with your phone number on your lost AirPods screen. So if someone finds them, they can contact you.

  • Receive notifications when your AirPods are back online. Hallelujah!

Here’s how to set it up:

  • In the Find My app, select your AirPods then tap Activate under “Mark As Lost”.

  • On the next screen, enter a phone number you can be reached at.

Pro Tip: Make sure it’s a number you’ll actually answer if a kind stranger finds your AirPods. Don’t be like me and put your childhood home phone that’s been disconnected for years. Major fail.

  • You can also enter an email address if you prefer.

  • Tap Activate and your lost AirPods will officially be in Lost Mode.

Now, you wait. I know, easier said than done!

But keep an eye on your phone because as soon as your precious earbuds come back online, you’ll get a notification of their location.

Then you can track them down again and dramatically reunite with your long lost AirPods as emotional music swells. Or just normally go pick them up, no judgement here!

The key is that Lost Mode gives you hope of finding your AirPods even when they’re MIA. Don’t give up!

Use Find My Network

What if your AirPods are completely offline and out of battery? Enter the Find My Network – your new best friend!

This feature lets you track down devices even when they’re offline by using the power of Apple community. Here’s how it works:

  • It uses Bluetooth signals from nearby Apple devices to detect your AirPods.

So if another iPhone user walks by your lost earbuds, their phone will ping your AirPods and update their location. How cool is that?

  • To use this, make sure Find My Network is enabled on your devices:

    • On iPhone/iPad, go to Settings > Your Name > Find My > Find My Network

    • On Mac, go to System Preferences > Your Name > Find My > Find My network
  • This feature requires devices with iOS 14.5 or higher.

So if you or your buddy are rocking an ancient iPhone 6, it sadly won’t work. Time to upgrade!

  • There are some limitations:

    • Won’t work if no Apple devices pass by your lost AirPods

    • Accuracy depends on number of devices detecting Bluetooth signal

    • Devices need Bluetooth turned on

But when it does work, it’s like having a crowdsourced search party looking for your AirPods. Pretty futuristic!

So next time your AirPods go missing without a trace, remember to leverage the Find My Network and let Apple work their magic. With luck, you’ll be reunited in no time.

Retrace Your Steps

Even with the Find My app, sometimes you’ve just gotta put on your detective hat and retrace your steps to recover your AirPods.

Here are some tips for sleuthing out where you last had your earbuds:

  • Make a timeline.

Sit down and walk through your day leading up to when you think you lost them.

  • When did you last use your AirPods?

Were you listening to your morning podcast at home? Jamming to tunes at the gym?

  • Trace your routine hour by hour if needed.

Any little detail could spark an “Aha!” moment.

  • Revisit every location.

Now walk through your timeline in reverse order, physically going to each spot where you might have had your AirPods.

I cannot stress how important it is to check Every. Single. Place.

Don’t just glance and keep moving. Thoroughly dig around!

  • Enlist search helpers.

Get your family members, roommates, coworkers to help canvas areas you can’t check solo.

Four eyes are better than two when looking for tiny wireless earbuds!

  • Check common AirPods hiding spots.

These sneaky devils always slip into the strangest nooks and crannies like:

  • Between couch cushions

  • Buried in your bed sheets

  • Wedged in your car seats

  • In pant pockets going through the laundry

  • Knocked behind furniture

Be meticulous and don’t leave any stone unturned. You’ve got this!

The key is staying positive and putting in the search time. More often than not, lost AirPods are just waiting to be discovered nearby.

Try Sound Detection Features

If you have a hunch your AirPods are hiding nearby, use audio clues to hunt them down!

The Find My app has a few sound detection tricks to locate lost earbuds that are still in Bluetooth range:

  • Play Sound – This makes your AirPods emit a chirping noise that gets louder over time.

    • Open Find My > Select your AirPods > Tap Actions > Play Sound

    • Follow the chirping to find where your AirPods are hiding!

  • Listen for connection sounds – If you have one AirPod connected, put it close to where you think the other one is located.

    • You may hear the AirPods play their little “I’m connecting!” melody when close to each other.

Pro Tip: Turn off noise cancellation so you can better hear the audio clues.

Some limitations to note:

  • Sound won’t play if your AirPods are offline, muted, or out of battery.

  • If you lost just one AirPod, you can only play sound on the one still connected.

So audio detection works best when your AirPods are nearby and still powered on. But hey, it’s worth a try!

You’ve got the ears of a hawk and the tenacity of a detective. Use those sensory superpowers to follow the auditory breadcrumbs to your AirPods. It’s your time to shine!

Consider Purchasing Replacements

After turning your home upside down searching for your AirPods, you may need to finally admit defeat and buy a new pair. I know, it’s a tough pill to swallow.

Before shelling out more hard-earned cash:

  • Double, triple check places you’ve already searched. Leave no stone unturned!

  • Try the Find My steps again in case your AirPods mysteriously reconnected.

  • Make sure to mark your original AirPods as lost in the Find My app in case they turn up someday.

If you still come up empty-handed, time to shop for new AirPods. Learn from my mistakes:

  • Attach an AirTag to the case so you never lose them again!

  • Insure them in case of theft/loss. Home/rental insurance may cover it.

  • Rock a case, like Catalyst, that makes them harder to misplace.

  • Be vigilant about putting them back in the case instead of just tossing them in your bag.

You’ve got this! With new AirPods and better habits, you’ll never have to endure this pain again.

What to Do If AirPods Are Stolen

Unfortunately, stolen AirPods are a real thing. But fear not – you have options if your earbuds were swiped!

  • Mark them as stolen in Find My

    This ensures whoever took them can’t connect or use them. Fight the power!

  • File a police report

    Bring your AirPods’ serial number and get documentation of the theft.

  • Contact Apple Support

    They can blacklist your stolen AirPods to block reactivation.

    1-800-MY-APPLE is your friend here.

  • Erase your AirPods

    In Find My, select your AirPods > Actions > Erase AirPods. This protects your data.

  • Unlink them from your Apple ID

    Settings > General > About > AirPods > Forget this Device. Don’t let the thieves access your stuff!

  • Watch local marketplaces

    Check Craigslist, Facebook, eBay frequently in case the jerks try to sell them. Then you can coordinate with police for a sting operation. How badass would that be?

Look at you taking decisive action! You’re not just sitting around helplessly – you’re fighting back against gadget theft.

Even if you never recover your pilfered AirPods, at least you know the criminals can’t profit off your loss. Justice feels good.

The next pair you get will be locked down and AirTagged. And you can rock them proudly knowing no one messes with you twice! You got this.

Here is a 500 word FAQ section in a conversational, engaging tone:

FAQ

You’ve got questions, I’ve got answers! Here are some commonly asked questions about finding lost AirPods:

What if Find My says “No location found” for my AirPods?

Ugh, I feel your pain. This unfortunate message means your AirPods are completely offline and disconnected from all devices signed into your Apple ID.

They could be out of battery, out of Bluetooth range, or in a different dimension where no maps or GPS exist. Who’s to say really?

If you don’t see a last known location, your best bet is to thoroughly retrace your steps and check everywhere you’ve been. Make sure to tap the AirPods in the Find My app periodically to see if their location appears later. Persistence pays off!

How long does Lost Mode stay activated to find my AirPods?

Once you mark your AirPods as lost and enable Lost Mode in the Find My app, it will stay activated indefinitely until:

  • Your long lost AirPods finally come back online and you locate them

  • You manually turn off Lost Mode in the Find My app

  • Your AirPods battery fully dies forever and they drift into the eternal abyss

So in theory, Lost Mode can remain on for months or years if needed to aid in your quest. Never give up hope! As long as Lost Mode is active, you’ll get notified of any updates on their location.

Why won’t the “Play Sound” feature work to find my AirPods?

Some reasons this audio trick may fail:

  • Your AirPods are completely offline or out of battery. The sound can only play if Bluetooth is still connected.

  • Your AirPods are muted. Make sure the volume is turned up!

  • You only lost one AirPod. You can only play sound from AirPods that are still connected to your phone or their case.

  • Your environment is too noisy. Move to a quiet spot so you can hear the chirping sound.

  • Your AirPods are too far away to pick up the audio. This feature works best when they are within Bluetooth range.

Can I find just one lost AirPod with Find My?

Unfortunately, no. The Find My app only shows the location for a pair of AirPods when they are together in the case.

If you lost just one, your best bet is to use the audio clues method. Keep the remaining AirPod close by and listen for connection sounds from the missing one.

Will Find My still locate my AirPods if they were stolen?

As long as the thieves haven’t powered off your AirPods or gone completely offline, Find My will show the location!

Be sure to put your AirPods in Lost Mode right away so you’ll get notified the minute they come back online.

Then you can coordinate with the police to catch the jerks red-handed. Busted!

Here is a 200 word conclusion section in a conversational, engaging tone:

Conclusion

We’ve reached the end of our journey, friends. By now you’re a master at locating lost AirPods even when the odds seem impossible!

Let’s recap the key points:

  • Use Find My app to check last known location

  • Activate Lost Mode for updates

  • Retrace your steps thoroughly

  • Try sound clues if AirPods are nearby

  • Mark stolen AirPods immediately

  • Purchase replacements if all else fails

The most important takeaway? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Be vigilant about putting AirPods back in their case instead of letting them loose. Attach an AirTag if you’re prone to losing devices. Heck, attach one to each earbud even!

And if the unthinkable happens, don’t panic. Just calmly work through these steps and there’s a good chance your earbuds will be located.

You got this! Go reunite with those lost AirPods. Until next time, happy listening!