Why Is Only One of My AirPods Connecting? 8 Quick Fixes

Troubleshoot a left or right AirPod that just won’t pair

Co-authored by Megaera Lorenz, PhD Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: June 9, 2025 Fact Checked

It’s frustrating when one of your AirPods won’t connect to your Apple device. Luckily, there’s usually a simple fix for this issue. In this article, we’ll go over the most common causes and solutions for a single AirPod not connecting, as well as some more unusual ones.

What to Do If One AirPod Won’t Connect

You can solve many connection issues by unpairing and re-pairing your AirPods, or by restarting them. If that doesn’t work, try a hard reset. Make sure both AirPods are charging correctly and that the Apple device you’re connecting to is up to date. If all else fails, you may need to get them repaired by a pro.

1

Forget and reconnect your AirPods.

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You might have a faulty Bluetooth connection. If only one of your AirPods is connecting, unpairing and re-pairing them both with your Apple device might resolve the issue. The correct way to do this depends on the device you’re connecting to:^{[1]
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- iPhone or iPad:
  - Open the Settings app and tap the name of your AirPods, which should appear near the top of the main menu. If you don’t see them there, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap
    next to the name of your AirPods.
  - Select Forget This Device.
  - Put your AirPods in their charging case with the lid open and hold it close to your iPhone or iPad. When the setup animation appears on your screen, tap Connect and follow the on-screen prompts to pair your AirPods again. You can also pair them manually if this doesn’t work.
- Apple Watch:
  - Press your digital crown and select Settings > Bluetooth. Tap
    next to your AirPods and select Forget Device.
  - Re-pair your AirPods by going back to Settings > Bluetooth and selecting your AirPods from the list of available devices.^{[2]
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- Mac:
  - Go to Apple menu > System Settings. Click the name of your AirPods near the top of the menu in the sidebar.
  - Click Forget this Device.
  - Put the AirPods in their case and open the lid. Hold down the setup button on the back of the case (or the noise control button on AirPods Max) until the status light starts flashing white. On AirPods 4, double-tap the front of the case.
  - On your Mac, go to Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth. Hover over your AirPods in the list of available devices, then click Connect.
- Apple TV:
  - Press the TV button on your Siri remote, then go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth.
  - Select your AirPods, then select Forget this Device.
  - Put the AirPods in their case and open the lid. Hold down the setup button on the back of the case (or the noise control button on AirPods Max) until the status light starts flashing white. On AirPods 4, double-tap the front of the case.^{[3]
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  - On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth. Select your AirPods below Other Devices.

2

Restart the AirPods.

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Try the old turn it off and turn it on again trick. Restarting your AirPods might help reset a faulty connection. The process varies a little depending on what kind of AirPods you have:^{[4]
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- AirPods or AirPods Pro: Put the AirPods in their case and close the lid. Leave it closed for at least 10 seconds.
- AirPods Max: Press and hold the Digital Crown and noise control button at the same time. After about 10 seconds, the status light near the charging port will begin flashing amber. Release the buttons immediately.

3

Try a hard reset.

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Restoring the AirPods to factory settings may solve the problem. If you have any special settings, you’ll need to set them up again after you’re done. You’ll also need to pair your AirPods with your device(s) again. Here’s how to reset your AirPods:^{[5]
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- AirPods 1, 2, 3, or Pro:
  - Put your AirPods in the case and close the lid.
  - After 30 seconds, open the lid, then press and hold the setup button on the back of the case.
  - Wait for the status light to flash amber, then white (this usually takes about 15 seconds).
- AirPods 4:
  - Put your AirPods in the case with the lid closed for 30 seconds.
  - Open the case and double-tap the front of the case 3 times. You should see the status light flash amber, then white.
- AirPods Max:
  - Press and hold the Digital Crown and noise control button on the right headphone at the same time. After about 15 seconds, you should see the status light go from flashing amber to flashing white.

4

Make sure both AirPods are charged.

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If one AirPod is dead, it won’t connect. A really low battery might also cause connection issues. To check the charge status of your AirPods, put them in their case with the lid open and hold them close to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Then:^{[6]
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- On your iPhone or iPad, a graphic should automatically appear on the screen showing you the charging status of each AirPod. If that doesn’t work, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap
  next to the name of your AirPods.
- On a Mac, click the
  Control Center icon on the top right side of your screen. Then, click Bluetooth. You should see your AirPods in the list of connected devices along with their individual battery status.
- If the battery on one of your AirPods is dead or low, put it in the case to charge it. Make sure the case is charged or connected to power as well.

5

Update the device you’re trying to connect to.

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Outdated system software can cause connection issues. Make sure your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other device is up to date.^{[7]
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- On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, install it now.
- On a Mac, go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, install it.

6

Make sure both AirPods are the same generation.

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You might have gotten a mismatched set if you bought used AirPods. While this is unlikely, it can happen on rare occasions if you got your AirPods used or from a third-party seller. Mismatched AirPods won’t work together the way they’re supposed to, which can cause only one of them to connect. Check out this detailed guide from Apple to figure out what model of AirPods you have and make sure they match.
- You might also run into connection problems if your AirPods are fake.

7

Check for physical issues with the case or contacts.

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Inspect your AirPods and the inside of the case for dust, debris, or signs of damage. If you see any signs of dirt or dust, clean the AirPods and their case. If any of the components are damaged, you might need to replace the case or the faulty AirPod.

8

See an Apple repair tech if nothing else works.

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If your AirPods are still under warranty or covered by AppleCare, you might get free or discounted service. Otherwise, you can expect to pay a fee of around $90 to get an individual AirPod fixed. Visit support.apple.com/airpods/repair to see your options.