AirPods are great earbuds for taking calls and listening to music or podcasts, but sometimes they can connect randomly, even in their case. This can be unpleasant if you’re playing audio on your phone or using an external speaker. So why does this happen?
There are many reasons why your AirPods can connect to your phone or other devices spontaneously. These include problems with the case’s charging unit, software issues, if the AirPods are fully charged, if the case is open, or if your Bluetooth is still connected to the buds.
We will look into each of these issues and some potential fixes so that your AirPods stop connecting randomly to your phone or any other device.
Why Do AirPods Randomly Connect While in Their Case?
The reasons why your AirPods connect randomly in their case can be split into charging and software problems. If the case is open, the charging unit is damaged, or the earbuds are fully charged, they can connect for no reason. If the software glitches or needs updating, your AirPods can also connect randomly.
Let’s look into these five possible reasons one-by-one so that you can quickly and easily understand what the issue with your AirPods is.
Your Case has a Charging Issue
When you use your AirPods, they “know” that they’re not being charged and, therefore, that they’re not in the case. Once you put them in the case, they start charging and disconnect automatically from your device.
However, if your case isn’t charging correctly, the buds will stay connected or connect randomly. There can be many reasons for dysfunctional or intermittent charging. For example, the case might not charge when you plug it into a socket using your lightning cable. If the case isn’t charged, it won’t be able to resupply the AirPods with energy.
In this case, you’ll need to figure out if the problem is with your case’s cable or charging port. Try another cable first, or use the same cable on another device. If it does work, the issue is with the case itself. It would be best to bring it to a technician who can test and fix it.
Another common issue is when your case gathers dust and lint, blocking the connection between it and the buds. If the AirPods don’t start charging automatically, they’ll stay connected. You will need to clean out your case to remove any particles getting in the way. This should be a regular bit of maintenance on your part so that you can avoid the issue from occurring again in the future.
The Connection has a Software Issue
Even though we imagine our devices should work perfectly and not stop working for what feels like a random reason, software issues are very common and can influence how your devices function. You may have a problem with the software that connects your AirPods to your devices. Although it can be a hassle, it’s easy to fix in many cases.
A software issue can stop your AirPods from disconnecting automatically when they’re put into their case. It can also cause them to reconnect for no apparent reason. The best thing to try is a hard reset. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth settings.
- Find your AirPods on the My Devices list.
- Click on the 🛈 (information) button.
- Click Forget This Device.
Once you’ve unpaired your AirPods, try connecting them again.
- Turn on Bluetooth.
- Hold the AirPods case close to the device.
- Open the case, but don’t remove the AirPods.
- A Connect option should appear on your device’s screen. Click it.
Your AirPods are Fully-Charged
AirPods charge when they are in their case through a charging unit. Once they are in charge mode, the software will automatically disconnect the buds from any previously connected device.
Once your AirPods are fully-charged, they can randomly connect to any nearby device they were linked to before. This can be caused by a bug in the software that assumes that once the earbuds are charged, they’re going to be used again. As we mentioned before, you can try a hard reset of the connection between your AirPods and any devices they were linked to.
Your AirPod Case is Open
AirPods start charging once inserted into their case and you close the lid. This way, you know your buds are safe and the connection between the case’s charging unit and the bottom of the AirPods is functioning.
If your earbuds are connecting via Bluetooth for no apparent reason, it may be because the lid of the case is open. If this is true, make sure to close the lid fully so that you can be certain that the charging parts are in contact.
There might even be cases where the lid seems to be properly closed, but the issue remains. You will need to verify that the hinges and lock are functioning correctly. There can still be a small, unnoticeable gap stopping the AirPods from making a full connection to the charging unit.
Your Bluetooth Connection is On
AirPods work with a Bluetooth link to your phone, tablet, or another device. Once you connect them, they will be paired to these devices forever unless you unpair them. Your device’s Bluetooth system is always searching for devices to pair with or connect to if it’s turned on. This includes your AirPods.
If the charging connection in your case stops for even a few seconds and your Bluetooth is turned on, there is a possibility that your AirPods will link up to the device that has its Bluetooth connection on.
You can turn off your device’s Bluetooth whenever you’re not using your AirPods. This will stop any chance of your buds connecting to your device when they’re not supposed to, and it will also save battery power.
How Do You Discover Which Issue Your AirPods Have?
We’ve gone over a few problems that can cause your AirPods to connect spontaneously with any device that they were previously paired with and which is nearby. Sometimes, it can be hard to understand which of the issues you might be facing, so let’s go over some tests you can run.
Are Your AirPods Charging?
If your AirPods aren’t charging, then there’s likely a problem with the case. If the software registers that the buds aren’t charging, then it can assume that they are ready to use and will try connecting them.
As mentioned previously, you can test the case’s charging unit by trying a new lightning cable. If there isn’t an issue with the cable, it could be with the case’s charging unit or the connection between the case and the pods themselves. Getting the case tested by a technician can be a good option. You should also ensure that there isn’t any build-up of dust and lint that can obstruct the connection.
Are Your AirPods Connecting While Charging?
If you’re certain that your AirPods are charging, then there may be a software issue. These problems can happen randomly and often. There are a few options for trying to stop any glitches from connecting your AirPods to nearby devices when they’re not supposed to.
As we mentioned, you can try a hard reset of your AirPods. This can be done through the Bluetooth or Devices settings on your device. You will find an option that says, “Forget this device.” This will stop the connection between the device and your earbuds. Once that’s done, you can reconnect them as you did when you originally paired your AirPods to your phone or tablet.
If that doesn’t work, it probably means there’s an issue with your firmware. Devices like tablets and phones regularly get updates from the companies that created them. Unfortunately, sometimes the updates don’t come through when they should, so you need to wait for the latest version. If you want to check if you’re up-to-date with the latest firmware version, you can do so in your device’s settings.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth settings.
- Find your AirPods on the My Devices list.
- Click on the 🛈 (information) button.
- Scroll down to find the firmware version.
Final Tip: Automatic Ear Detection
If you have gone through all the issues and all the possible fixes and your AirPods are still connecting randomly, you can try this special tip. AirPods come with a special sensor that allows them to detect if they are in your ears or not.
If your buds are connecting in the case when they shouldn’t be, you can try turning on Automatic Ear Detection. This way, the software should only register the connection when it detects that the AirPods are in your ears.
You can enable Automatic Ear Detection by opening the device’s settings.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth settings.
- Find your AirPods on the My Devices list.
- Click on the 🛈 (information) button.
- Select Automatic Ear Detection.
Conclusion
Despite being a great gadget for listening to the audio, AirPods can develop issues just like any other electronic device. Using our suggestions, you can discover why your AirPods are randomly connecting while in their case. We’ve looked into five different reasons why this might happen. We’ve also seen some possible fixes for each of these issues.
If you go over each possibility, you’ll have a better chance of figuring out what’s going on with your AirPods and how you can quickly fix them without needing to consult a technician.
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Irish-Portuguese writer and musician. Experience in producing, recording, and mixing, as well as writing reviews and how-tos on plugins, gear, and software.