AirPods and AirPods Pro are second to none for their magical listening experience and excellent compatibility within the Apple ecosystem. Along with the realistic sound experience, AirPods also offer the best battery performance.
Like any other revolutionary invention, AirPods also have some common problems; the AirPods case is not charging is one of them.
When you place your AirPods inside the charging case, you may notice that there is no charging light, or the AirPods are not charging. Several reasons can cause this unwanted issue, including faulty hardware, software glitches, or unreliable power sources.
Though you can solve most software-related problems effortlessly, fixing the hardware needs a specialist.
In this article, I will cover all the possible reasons and how to troubleshoot them most efficiently.
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Why is my AirPods Charging case not working with Light or No Light?
Your AirPods case won’t charge with light or no light because the AirPods case battery is depleted. There also have some other reasons which can lead you to this problem. Any physical damage to your case’s port can also cause this problem.
Here are the reasons your AirPods case isn’t charging with light or no light:
Software issue
Several software glitches can stop the AirPods case from recharging. Outdated AirPods firmware also can cause your AirPods or AirPods Pro case to run into charging issues. Update your AirPods or reset your AirPods firmware for this
Damaged cables or adapter
If you are using a damaged cable or a power adapter that is not functioning accurately, it can cause your AirPods case not to charge.
Dust and debris
Any dust or debris on your AirPods case port can prevent the AirPods case from charging. It will interfere when you put the cable into the charging port. Try cleaning your AirPods case port to prevent this.
Here’s a complete guide on how to find lost AirPods that are offline.
How to troubleshoot AirPods case not charging?
When you plug the AirPods into the charging case, it should start charging them immediately. If it doesn’t happen, you have to fix the issue by following the methods here. AirPods are well-known for their efficient battery life. With a single charge, your case can provide 30 hours of listening time.
Sometimes AirPods cases cannot charge appropriately because of software glitches, which can affect your daily life badly. You have to update the firmware or reset the AirPods to solve this.
When you put your AirPods in their case, you should feel a magnetic snap as the AirPods fall into place. If you don’t feel it, you will have to change your case.
Let’s go through the methods below to resolve the AirPods case not taking charge difficulty.
Here are the steps to troubleshoot AirPods case not charging:
1. Plug the case in with no AirPods in
If your AirPods case is not charging and shows no light, plugging the case in with no AirPods in is a must-to-do. This trick works like magic in most scenarios.
I have found many users who claimed that their case is charging while there are no AirPods in, but while there are AirPods inside, it’s not charging correctly.
So I suggest you try charging your case with no AirPods in and check if your AirPods are charging now. Move on to the next process if your AirPods case isn’t charging.
Also, check out our separate post on can you wear AirPods in the shower.
2. Charge AirPods case overnight
AirPods use Apple lithium-ion batteries as their powerhouse. All lithium-ion batteries have a common issue. When the battery is fully drained-out, it can take time to recharge itself again.
Charging your AirPods case can be a handy solution to terminate this problem. When you keep charging your AirPods case overnight, there is an excellent chance that your case will start retaking like before.
Many users have confirmed that this trick was a blessing and solved their charging hitch permanently.
AirPods have overcharge protection, so you can keep charging your AirPods overnight without any hesitation. After that, check if your AirPods case is charging now.
3. Understand the charging signals
Every AirPods have a status light to provide helpful information about the AirPods’ condition. So it is crucial to understand the signals.
When you connect the case to a power source, you should see the status light for 10 seconds, and then it will go off automatically.
There is another way to confirm that the case is charging. You should put your AirPods in the case and close the lid. Connect the case with a charging cable, not a wireless charging base.
Bring the case closer to your iPhone while the lid is opened and connected to a cable. You will see the AirPods status screen on your phone indicating both the AirPods and case charging status.
If there is a green light, it means the case is fully charged.
If the case doesn’t have a lightning bolt symbol that indicates that your AirPods and the case have a charging problem. In that case, move on to the following methods.
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4. Use a different charging pad or cable
If you use a wireless charging pad to charge AirPods, you should use a different one to ensure the problem is not with the charging pad.
You can also try charging your AirPods with a cable to make sure that the problem is not with the cable or the pad.
If you are already using a cable to recharge your AirPods case, I suggest you try a different charging cable. Also, don’t forget to try an additional charging adapter.
5. Ensure a reliable power source
Though you can plug your AirPods case almost anywhere to recharge it, sometimes a faulty power source can lead to a not charging issue.
Avoid connecting your AirPods case anywhere. If you plug the case with the wrong or faulty outlets, it can be a disaster for your AirPods battery.
It is reported that plugging an AirPods case into a PC USB port can cause charging problems too. Always use a reliable power source you know that works perfectly. You can also try different power sources and cables if you have any doubts to see if the AirPods case will charge.
If your AirPods case is still not charging, move on to the following methods.
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6. Clean charging port
If none of the above methods works for you, probably the problem is with your case’s lighting port. A thin layer of dust and debris in the charging port at the bottom of the case can prevent charging.
You should check if the inside of the case port is covered with any dust and clean them properly. Be careful when cleaning the port to avoid any physical damage.
You try cleaning the lightning charging port a toothpick or any object with a sharp edge to remove the dirt. Using a blower is also a great idea to clean the port. Never try to clean your AirPods or charging case with any liquid or cleaning substances to clean your AirPods case port.
7. Contact Apple
If your AirPods are still not charging, the only option remains for you to contact Apple support to get a repair or replacement service. There must be a problem with the case that’s causing the AirPod case not charging issue.
This problem is widespread, and Apple must know how to repair it. If your AirPods are still under warranty, you will get a replacement.
Check out our separate post on Airpods Not Working with Microsoft Teams.
FAQs
Should AirPod case light up when charging?
The setup light will turn amber when you connect your AirPods case with a charging cable or wireless charging mat. The amber light will last for 10 seconds, and then it will turn off. Opening the case will show the amber light, indicating that your AirPod case is charging.
Why is my AirPod charging case not lighting up?
If your AirPods case is not lighting up, ensure the lightning to USB cable is properly plugged into the charging case and the power adapter is functioning correctly. And also, ensure that the power adapter is precisely connected to the power outlet.
Why does my AirPod case not have a light on the front?
AirPods 1st and 2nd generation don’t have a setup light on the front; they are embedded inside the case. For the other models, if you don’t see the light, that indicates that the case’s battery is completely drained and needs a quick recharge.
The Bottom Line
Your AirPods case is not charging and showing no light because the case battery is wholly drained out.
The possible reason for the case your AirPods and their case not charging is a faulty charging cable or wireless charging pad. Unreliable power sources and dust are also responsible for this problem.
You can fix your AirPods not charging with simple steps, including changing the cables, cleaning the case port, and using a reliable power source.
If nothing mentioned earlier works for you, contact Apple support to repair or replace your AirPod’s case.
Which method works for you? Let us know by leaving your opinion in the comment below
My AirPods are charging when in a case connected to charging cable but case does not charge (no bolt next to case icon). Any suggestion? Or is it a hardware failure? Thank you
Clean the charging contacts on both the AirPods and the case. Additionally, try resetting the AirPods by holding the button on the back of the case until the LED light flashes from white to amber or green (depending on the charge of the airpods). If none of these steps resolve the problem, it may indicate a hardware issue.