The AirPods case is as revolutionary as the AirPods. It is not only a safe place for your AirPods when not in use but also a power bank and a charging dock.
By designing such a system, Apple managed to make the AirPods as compact and sleek as possible without rendering them useless.
However, the dependency on the case means your earphones are useless without the case. One of the biggest issues you will have is charging the case.
Imagine this: You went on a long trip and left your case at home, or you misplaced your case, and your friends/spouse’s AirPods case is right by your side.
How to Charge Your AirPods in a Different Case
Yes, you can – as long as you pair your AirPods to the new case. To do this:
- Ensure that the LED on the new case is green. This means it has enough juice to charge your AirPods
- Put your AirPods in the new case
- With the case’s lid open, long press the setup button
- When the light on the case flashes white, your AirPods will be paired to the new case
- Close the case’s lid so that the AirPods can start charging
Even though putting your AirPods into a different case will charge them, it might not be as hygienic. Just like using someone’s AirPods, such an interaction could gross out the case owner or transmit infections.
Be sure to get express consent from the case’s owner. As an extra step, you can dry wipe them with Isopropyl Alcohol to disinfect them before and after use.
Buying a different set of AirPod cases is the best solution in case you leave your main set home, lose them, or they simply stop working.
Why Can’t I Connect to My AirPods after Charging them in a Different Case?
You might notice that you no longer get audio from your AirPods after pairing them to a new case. Your iPhone won’t recognize the earphones either.
This is because pairing them to a new case transfers them to whatever iPhone was paired to that case (or the case’s account.)
In a worst-case scenario, you will listen to audio from that other person’s iPhone. To fix this:
- Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone and navigate to Bluetooth settings
- Tap on the ‘I’ by your AirPods
- Select Forget this Device
- Open the lid on the new charging case (or the borrowed case)
- Press and hold the setup button on the AirPods case until the LED light flashes white
- You will get a pairing prompt on your iPhone. Tap on pair to connect
This should reassign your AirPods to your iPhone, and you are good to go.
Can I Charge AirPods Without a Case?
Apple is known for nailing down its infrastructure. They expect your to do things the right way no matter what.
You can only charge your AirPods via the case. Nothing more, nothing less. While this ensures their devices always work, it can be expensive or inconvenient if you don’t have replacements close by.
Don’t try any workarounds like narrow-pin chargers that claim to work. You could end up ruining your AirPods.
Ordering a replacement charging case is the best way out. If you are on a budget, you could go for third-party cases. The only problem is that they won’t be as durable as the original case and might not work as expected.
ProTip: You can always buy used but working cases and sanitize them. They are, in my opinion, better than getting a third-party unit from an unknown vendor.
Can I Charge AirPods Pro in an AirPods 1 or 2 Case
If you are thinking of Switching your AirPods Pro charging case for an AirPods 1 or 2 one, then you are in for a rude surprise.
The AirPods Pro won’t charge. To start with, they won’t fit in the case as their design is totally different.
The case won’t let you begin charging when the AirPods aren’t fully seated. This is the simplest reason you can’t switch the cases between these two versions of the AirPods.
Ensure the Case You are Using is Charged
The AirPods case plays a crucial role in pairing and charging your AirPods. Keep it charged to ensure that you can recharge your earphones on the go or pair them to another device on demand.
If the case’s battery dies with your AirPods connected to a phone, they will keep working until they run out of juice too. At this point, you will need to charge up the case (or the case and the AirPods simultaneously) to resume enjoying the sweet tunes.
Why Won’t My AirPods Charge?
Your AirPods should start charging immediately after you drop them into a case. If they don’t, chances are:
- You are charging them with a different case, and you haven’t paired the AirPods to the case
- The case ran out of juice (recharge the case)
- The case is damaged
- The AirPods are damaged
Bottom Line
Your AirPods case is indispensable. It is not only a good way to store the earphones when not in use but a hub that lets you charge and control your AirPods more efficiently. Keep it on you at all costs, and get a replacement if you damage or misplace yours.
Check this too: How to Use a VPN on Apple TV
Take good care of the case too, and avoid getting it wet. Your third gen cases are water and sweat resistant but not sweatproof or waterproof. Exposure to such moisture and other hard impacts will ruin them.