Imagine blasting your music happily…
Then you get a notification that your AirPods have low battery.
So of course, you reach for your charging case.
And you patiently wait until your pods are ready to use again.
But…
Your left AirPod won’t charge.
What can you do?
Thankfully, a lot.
Read on to find out:
- 5 easy fixes for a left AirPod that’s not charging.
- How cleaning affects the charging capacity of your AirPods.
- Different ways to check your charging case’s battery percentage to fix the issue.
- And so much more…
Why is my left AirPod not charging?
Your left AirPod isn’t charging because your charging case doesn’t have enough battery. Another reason is loose cable connections. Also, your AirPod or charging case is in need of cleaning. Finally, you need to reinsert your AirPods into the case or reset the pair altogether.
Left AirPod not charging: 5 fixes
#1: Check the battery level of the case
If your left AirPod won’t charge, first check the battery level of your charging case.
If the case doesn’t have enough juice, it won’t charge your AirPods.
There are several ways to check your case’s battery level.
Indicator Lights
On your charging case, you’ll see a light that indicates how much charging power it still has.
“Where can I find this light?”
- Regular charging case: inside the case.
- MagSafe or a wireless charging case: front.
| Color of Indicator Light | Meaning |
| Green | Fully charged. |
| Amber | Less than 1 full charge left. |
Battery Widget on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
You can also use your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch to check your case’s battery level.
- Put your charging case near your phone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
- Open the lid and take out 1 AirPod from the case.
- Check the battery levels for your AirPods and your case.
Another way to do that is through the Batteries widget on your device.
- On your Home screen, press and hold any empty space to activate jiggle mode.
- On the top right corner, tap on the Plus icon.
- Select Batteries and choose the size of the widget.
- Tap on “Add Widget” and drag it to a spot on your Home screen.
- Check your case’s and AirPods’ battery levels.
Note: These 2 tricks won’t work if there’s an open app on your device.
Close your running apps and go to your Home screen to check battery levels.
Mac
Note: Your AirPods should be connected to your Mac computer for this to work.
To check whether your charging case has enough battery on a Mac:
- Click on the Bluetooth icon on your screen’s Menu.
- Hover your mouse over your AirPods.
“But I can’t find the Bluetooth icon.”
That’s okay. Here’s what you can do:
- Click on the Apple Menu and select “System Preferences.”
- Navigate to “Dock & Menu Bar.”
- Click on “Bluetooth” and select “Show in Menu Bar.”
After that’s done, you’ll be able to see how much battery you have in your AirPods and case.
Apple Watch
Like your Mac, your Apple Watch should be connected to your AirPods to use this step.
- Go to Control Center by swiping up on your watch face.
- Put your AirPods in your ears or open your charging case.
- Check the battery levels for both.
- To exit, press the Digital Crown.
Siri
Finally, you can ask Siri to tell you your battery levels.
- Say “Hey Siri.”
- Follow it up with, “How much battery do my AirPods have?”
Note: You can’t wear your AirPods if you want to know the battery levels for your case and pods.
If you’re using your AirPods while asking Siri…
You have to specifically ask for the battery level of your charging case and your AirPods.
Watch this process here:
#2: Examine the cable connections
So let’s say your charging case actually has a lot of battery left.
Why, then, won’t your left AirPod not charge?
The issue could lie with a loose cable connection you’re using for the case.
According to Apple, there are 3 types of cable connections used for charging AirPods.
Number 1 is…
Lightning to USB for AirPods or AirPods Pro
To check this cable connection:
- Make sure that the cable is securely connected to both the USB adapter and the charging case.
- Check if the power cord is securely plugged into your power source.
The 2nd type of cable connection is…
USB-C to Lightning for AirPods Max
- Verify that the cable is properly connected to the USB power adapter.
- Ensure that the power cord is securely attached to your power source.
And the 3rd type of connection is with…
Qi-compatible chargers
These are for AirPods or AirPods Pro.
- Connect 1 end of the cable to the charger.
- Connect the other end to a power source.
You may also like: Why Does My AirPod Battery Drain When Not In Use?
#3: Clean your AirPods and charging case
So let’s say you’ve checked the first 2 fixes…
You know that your charging case has enough battery.
And your cable connection doesn’t have any issues.
What else can you do so your left AirPod can charge?
The answer is: cleaning.
Why is this necessary, you ask?
Cleaning your AirPods and your charging case removes debris and dirt build-up.
And too much dirt, dust, etc. affect the functionality of your AirPods and charging case.
“So how do I clean my AirPods and case?”
It’s super simple. You just need to:
Step 1: Use the right cleaning agents.
You can use different types of wipes to clean your devices, such as:
Step 2: Get a lint-free cloth that’s also soft and dry.
Step 3: Wipe the surface of your case and AirPods with either the wipes or the cloth.
Step 4: Make sure that you don’t get any moisture in any openings.
Note: Your AirPods and charging case aren’t waterproof.
Sure, they’re water-resistant and sweat-resistant.
But they’re gonna get damaged if they get wet.
So if any part gets wet, make sure to let it dry completely first before you try to charge your AirPods again.
#4: Reinsert your AirPods into the case
Speaking of charging your AirPods again…
Once you’ve done the above steps and you’re still finding no luck with your AirPod charging…
The next thing to try is to reinsert your AirPods back into the case.
To do this:
- Remove the foam ear tips from your AirPods.
- Reinsert them into your charging case.
- Make sure that they’re properly touching the charging port.
- Close the lid of the case.
- Check if there’s an amber light on the case to indicate that the AirPods are charging.
#5: Reset your AirPods
“But my left AirPod still won’t charge!”
Don’t worry, there’s one last fix you can do.
And that’s to reset your AirPods.
‘Won’t that erase all of my settings?”
Yes, it’ll erase your saved settings for certain features. These are:
- Microphone.
- Double-tap actions.
- Your AirPods name.
- Press and hold actions.
- Automatic Ear Detection.
“So is that really necessary?”
To fix your charging issue, yes.
A lot of times, a reset is exactly what a malfunctioning accessory needs if nothing else has worked.
In addition, you should reset your AirPods if:
- You’re giving them away or selling them.
- They can’t connect to your iPhone, iPad, or iPad Touch.
- You want to restore all the settings on your AirPods back to factory mode.
“Okay, so how do I reset my AirPods?”
Step 1: Put your AirPods inside your charging case.
Step 2: Close the lid.
Step 3: Wait for at least 30 seconds.
Step 4: Open the lid of the case again.
Step 5: Get your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
- Go to Settings.
- Navigate to Bluetooth.
- Find your AirPods, then tap on “More Info.”
- Select “Forget This Device.”
- Tap to confirm.
Step 6: Press the setup button on the back of your charging case for at least 15 seconds.
Step 7: Wait for the light to blink amber then white.
Step 8: Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your AirPods again.
Step 9: Try charging them again.
If a reset doesn’t fix your left AirPod’s charging issue, contact Apple’s support.