The smell of fresh leaves in the morning. The feel of the cold breeze on my skin.
What a great morning to jog.
Let me just put on the AirPods that I charged overnight. And…
What? Is it dead already?
My morning has soured.
But yours doesn’t have to be.
Keep reading to discover:
- What degrades the Li-ion batteries on your AirPods.
- 9 simple tips to stop your AirPods from dying so fast.
- A detailed look at how long your AirPods should last.
- When and how you should reset your AirPods to prolong their battery.
- And so much more…
Why do AirPods die so fast?
Your AirPods die so fast because they’re using Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Li-ion is known to discharge under extreme temperatures. They’re also known to degrade when completely drained or charged to 100%. Moisture, extra features, and physical damage can also lessen the AirPods’ batteries.
9 tips to stop your AirPods from dying so fast
#1: Don’t fully charge
Here’s a common misconception people have about their gadgets:
“It’s good to charge up to 100%.”
However, the truth is far from that…
At least if your device uses Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which your AirPods are.
So, first things first, why are AirPods using these batteries?
Well, Li-ion has started to become somewhat of the industry standard for devices.
AirPods aren’t the only ones using Li-ion. There’s also:
- Laptops.
- Smartwatches.
- Digital cameras.
- Gaming consoles.
- Smartphones and tablets.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Now, why are they using Li-ion? Simple, these are the advantages that this type of battery has to offer:
- Safer.
- Better longevity.
- Simple charging.
- More sustainable.
- Simpler to maintain.
Sound good, right? The thing is…
It’s great as long as you follow its maintenance procedures.
One of which is to not charge the device fully.
You see, Li-ion batteries are stressed when it reaches their maximum capacity.
And, when it does, they tend to degrade.
Fun fact: Some Li-ion laptops automatically stop charging once they reach 100%.
Yes, they’ll still appear to be charging on your device. However, the laptop has already stopped itself from receiving any additional power.
#2: Ensure that it doesn’t reach 0%
Speaking of stressing your batteries…
You should apply the same principle to the opposite end of the spectrum.
That is, to never ever fully discharge your AirPods.
You see, 0% is also a stress point for Li-ion batteries.
An experiment was conducted to see how well Li-ion batteries fare after a full discharge.
And the result?
It’s astounding. An estimate of 10% from the initial maximum capacity was decreased following a full drain.
Now, I can already hear you asking:
“So, how do I charge my AirPods then?”
Only charge your AirPods when it reaches 10% to 20%, and only charge them until 80% to 90%.
Furthermore, it’s also better to charge them throughout the day, instead of only 1 charge every 24 hours.
#3: Don’t keep them in extreme temperatures
Now, let’s go back to Li-ion batteries.
Do you know 1 more thing you shouldn’t do to them?
Expose them to extreme temperatures, especially heat.
Why?
Li-ion batteries can drain their battery in hot areas. By how much?
The result varies, but the rate always doubles after every 10°C temperature increase.
So, how can you ensure that this doesn’t happen?
The good rule of thumb is to store your AirPods inside their case in a room between 5°C and 20°C.
Note: When you’re living in a country with a tropical climate, minimize your use of the AirPods during hot days.
#4: Turn off a feature you don’t need
Look, we all want to immerse ourselves in the music we listen to.
However, in the interest of prolonging your AirPods?
You might want to let go of the Noise Cancellation feature.
I know. It sucks. But, ask yourself this:
Do you need that feature all the time? Or can you live with turning it on and off whenever you choose to?
If your answer is the latter, great. Now you can:
- Go to the Settings menu of your Apple device.
- Head to Bluetooth.
- Press the More Info button next to your AirPods.
- Toggle off Noise Cancellation and Transparency.
#5: Protect your AirPods
I’m clumsy as hell.
Every single day I catch myself tripping or dropping something.
And, yes, that includes my AirPods.
So, it’s really no wonder that my AirPods don’t last that long anymore.
If you’re like me, you’ll know there’s no way to fix our clumsiness.
But we can protect our AirPods. How?
By investing in a strong and durable AirPods case. I recommend the following:
#6: Avoid high-moisture environments
If you’ve been on the internet long enough, you might’ve seen 1 of these videos:
People putting their AirPods on glasses of water. Or using them in the rain. Or simply placing them under running water.
And I get it. It’s fun to test how far we can take the AirPods’ water resistance.
However, consider this:
There’s a reason why Apple calls the AirPods water-resistant and not waterproof.
It’s because AirPods can still get water damaged.
And when it does, the moisture could compromise the structure of the Li-ion batteries.
Pro tip: Do you suspect that your AirPods are already water damaged? Don’t worry. Instead, follow these steps to get rid of the water inside your device:
- Make sure that your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad.
- Download Siri Shortcuts from the App Store.
- Hold your AirPods and cover all of its sensors.
- Open Siri Shortcuts.
- Tap Water Eject.
- Dry your AirPods using a microfiber cloth.
- Repeat this procedure until no more water comes out of your device.
#7: Keep them in your case
AirPods have excellent battery life.
However, that mostly depends on how many times a day you put it inside your case.
The truth is, AirPods can’t last long on their own.
That’s why it’s better to leave them in their case whenever they’re not in use.
#8: Reset your AirPods
Here’s the thing:
Sometimes, you need to reset your AirPods.
Why?
AirPods can sometimes get confused because of digital bugs.
When it does, its battery capacity may appear much lower than it usually is.
To get rid of this and ensure that your AirPods remain in good condition…
Reset them every once in a while.
What’s that? You don’t know how to?
Don’t fret. Instead, follow these 7 simple steps:
- Place your AirPods back in their case with their lid closed.
- Open the lid after 30 seconds.
- Go to the Settings menu on an Apple device connected to your AirPods.
- Head to Bluetooth.
- Tap the More Info button next to your AirPods.
- Select Forget This Device.
- Next, hold the Setup button on your case for 15 seconds.
You’ll know that it’s finished when the light on your case goes amber and then white.
For all of you visual learners out there, I got you. You can watch this video to get a clearer understanding of how to reset your AirPods:
#9: Keep your warranty
The best way to prevent your AirPods from dying so fast?
Ensure that you can always have it fixed by professionals or replaced. No matter what.
And the way to do that?
Protect your warranty.
Now, what do I mean by that?
You see, some things can void your warranty per Apple.
To prolong your warranty, you should avoid:
- Losing your AirPods.
- Fire and water damage.
- Damage caused by self-repair.
- Removing the serial number sticker.
- Jailbreaking or installing software that Apple doesn’t regulate.
You may also be interested in: How Long Do AirPods Last Before Breaking?
Frequently asked questions:
How long should AirPods battery last?
Your AirPods battery should last an average of up to 24 hours, according to Apple. However, the result varies depending on which AirPods you have and how long you charge them.
For more details, refer to this table:
| Device | After 5 minutes of charging on its case | Fully charged | Multiple charges on its case |
| AirPods (2nd Gen) | 1 hour | 5 hours | 24 hours |
| AirPods Pro | 1 hour | 4.5 hours | 24 hours |
| AirPods (3rd Gen) | 1 hour | 6 hours | 30 hours |
Note: This table only factors listening time, not talking time.
Why do my AirPods only last 1 hour?
Your AirPods only last 1 hour because their batteries are severely degraded. The most common reasons for Lithium-ion (Li-ion) degradation are:
- Moisture.
- Complete drain.
- Charging past 100%.
- Extreme temperatures.
- Keeping the device at 100%.