How To Find AirPods That Have Been Lost or Stolen?
by Chelsea Bruhl on Sep 26, 2024
Losing or having them stolen can be a frustrating and costly experience. Luckily with a few steps you can easily locate your lost AirPods.
So, how to find AirPods that have been lost or stolen? You can use the Find My app on your iPhone/iPad and locate the exact position of your AirPods by tapping on the Devices tab and selecting your AirPods from the list and checking their last known location on a map or you can choose to play a sound and try to locate them if they are nearby.
Read on as I provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to find AirPods that have been lost or stolen.
How To Find AirPods That Have Been Lost or Stolen
How to Use the Find My app to locate lost AirPods?
Find My is an app and service that allows you to locate your lost or stolen Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and even AirPods. The app is fairly easy to use and within a few minutes you should be able to locate the exact location of your missing AirPods.
To do this open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac depending on which is readily available and then tap on the Devices tab. Now mind you, all the Apple devices you own and are currently signed in with the same Apple ID will appear on the screen so scroll through and locate the missing AirPods.
If your AirPods are nearby then they will appear on the map and you can go ahead and play a sound to locate them. However if they are offline (battery has died) then you will be provided with their last known location on the map.
How to play a sound on your AirPods to Find them?
One good thing about the AirPods is that if you lose them then you can play a sound to try and locate them.
This feature is available in the Find My app and to access the “Play Sound” feature you must locate the AirPods via the Devices tab and then tap on the Play Sound button to have the AirPods make a noise.
Will I be able to connect to my AirPods via Bluetooth if they are lost?
No, if your AirPods are lost and out of range of your iPhone or other iOS device, you won't be able to connect to them via Bluetooth to use features like Find My.
This is because Bluetooth has a limited range, typically up to 30 feet (10 meters), so your AirPods need to be within range of your device to connect via Bluetooth.
How to use Find My network to locate missing or stolen AirPods?
The Find My network is a feature of the Find My app and iCloud that allows you to locate your lost Apple devices, including AirPods, if your iPhone or other iOS device is not connected to the internet.
The Find My network uses the Bluetooth signal from nearby Apple devices to detect the location of your lost AirPods and report that information back to you through the Find My app.
To enable Find My network, open Settings on your iPhone, iPad or iPod and tap on Find My. Here you can tap on your AirPods (Find My AirPods) and then enable the Find My network option on the page.
How to use iCloud to find your lost AirPods?
You can use iCloud to find your lost AirPods if they are connected to your iCloud account and have the Find My network feature enabled.
Open a web browser on your Mac or iPhone and go to the iCloud website. Now sign into your account and tap on the Find My icon.
You will find a map with the location of all your Apple devices that are connected to the same ID. If your AirPods are not within range of your device and are not available on the map, you can use the Find My network to locate them.
Can Apple Support help locate lost AirPods?
Apple Support can help you troubleshoot issues with your AirPods, such as connectivity or charging problems, but they may not be able to help you locate lost AirPods. However, they can offer some guidance on what to do if you have lost your AirPods.
How do I set up an alert if I leave my AirPods behind?
Notify When Left Behind is a feature that’s built into the Find My app that will alert you when you leave a place or room and have forgotten to take your AirPods with you. This feature is only available on iPhone 12 or later and works with AirPods (3rd gen), AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max.
You can set up alerts if you leave your AirPods behind by opening the Find My app and selecting the AirPods from the Devices tab. Now click on the Notifications tab to access the Notify When Left Behind screen and here you simply tap on the toggle button to enable the feature.
The good thing about this feature is that you can set up custom notifications and suggestions like prevent the notifications from appearing if you’re at home.
How do I track my AirPods case only?
This is only possible if your AirPods are the 2nd generation AirPods Pro as they are the only ones to come with the feature to track individual AirPod earbuds and the charging case.
You can locate your missing 2nd gen AirPods Pro case by opening the Find My app and locating your AirPods from the list of devices. Now tap on the name of your AirPods followed by Find to start locating the charging case.
Move around in the area the case was last and follow the on screen instructions to get the exact location of the charging case.
Can I mark my AirPods as lost?
Yes you can mark your AirPods as lost and by doing so you will enable Lost Mode where you can create a custom message that includes your name and contact information which will appear on anyone’s iPhone if they’re attempting to connect with your AirPods.
To mark your AirPods as lost, open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad and then tap on your AirPods and activate Mark as Lost. Since this feature relies on the Find My network, in order to mark your AirPods as Lost you must have had the Find My network feature enabled prior to losing your AirPods.
Can a thief use my stolen AirPods?
Yes, if a thief manages to steal your AirPods, they can easily use them depending on what part they steal.
If they take the AirPods without the charging case, they can use any other case to reset and resync them to another device. Similarly, if they steal a single AirPod, they can find a match or even take another one from someone else to use them.
In the event that a thief steals both AirPods and the charging case, they can easily disconnect them from your Apple device and pair them with their own. By pressing the setup button on the case for a few seconds, they can reset and connect the AirPods to their device.
This makes it difficult for you to track them using a tracking application on your iPhone or other devices.
Can I get a replacement for my stolen AirPods?
Unfortunately, AirPods are not covered under AppleCare+ for headphones and if you want to get a replacement for your lost or stolen AirPods then you will have to pay a fee. There’s an estimate calculator on Apple’s website that will provide you with the approximate cost of the replacement.
For example, to get a replacement 2nd gen AirPods Pro it will cost approximately $89 for a replacement. But that depends on whether you’re requesting for a replacement of the AirPods, charging case or the whole unit.
Where can I find the serial number of my AirPods to get a replacement?
If you’re planning on filing for a replacement of your lost AirPods, you must enter the serial number of the AirPods you’ve lost for Apple to authenticate your ownership.
While the easiest way to find the serial number is by checking the AirPods or the charging case, there are other ways such as checking the serial number in the Bluetooth settings app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. You can also check the back of your AirPods box if you still have it with you.
Takeaway
It is important to note that taking preventative measures, such as keeping your AirPods in a safe place and keeping track of their serial numbers, can help reduce the likelihood of losing them in the first place.
It is also recommended that you invest in insurance for your AirPods to protect them in case of loss or theft.
Ultimately, the key to finding lost or stolen AirPods is to act quickly and methodically.
With the right tools and strategies at your disposal, you can increase your chances of recovering your AirPods and minimizing the impact of their loss.
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