Why don t my airpods show up on find my

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Apple's Find My app is great for locating lost or misplaced devices, including AirPods, but the earbuds do have their tracking limitations.

AirPods With Find My
App map

Apple’s Find My service can be a great way to identify the location of many devices, but there are times when an Apple device doesn’t show up on the map and this is particularly true for AirPods. With Apple’s true wireless earbuds being as small as they are, the likelihood of them being lost is higher than with many other devices. Unfortunately, they also come with some additional tracking limitations compared to other Apple devices as well.

AirPods remain a good and popular option for anyone looking for the ultimate in listening freedom, and especially for those already invested in Apple’s ecosystem. Besides the sound quality and seamless connection with Apple devices, the Find My network is also a selling point in itself. Even if just one AirPod is lost, the owner can usually open the Find My app and check the map to see where it is and retrieve the earbud once again.

However, AirPods require a connection to a device to function and this also includes when tracking the earbuds. As the earbuds don’t broadcast a signal on their own, if they are not connected to an iPhone then they are unlikely to show up on a Find My map in general. Therefore, it is worth users checking to make sure Find My is enabled for the connected device before searching for AirPods. In cases where they are lost before Find My has been enabled on the connected device, then it won’t be possible to locate the misplaced AirPods using Find My.

Other Reasons Why AirPods Might Not Show

AirPods battery and cases

Another very common reason why AirPods can’t be seen on a Find My map is the battery. Like most devices, AirPods need to have some charge available for their current location to be identified and when the battery runs out, that connection is lost. Technically, Find My will still show the last known location of the AirPods, although this will also eventually stop showing after enough time. Similar to no battery, AirPods also cannot be tracked when they are in their charging case. The case itself can’t be tracked and when the AirPods are stored within the case, their ability to be tracked is also disabled. In addition, AirPods also can't be tracked when they are out of range. Whether the issue is battery or range-related, the user will be presented with a “No location found" or "Offline" message instead of their location.

If none of these situations apply, then the problem could be related to the Find My network in general. Apple services can occasionally encounter issues that result in a service disruption, and this includes Find My. However, these are usually short-lived issues with the services typically returning to normal once Apple has identified and fixed the problem.

Next: Can You Charge AirPods Without The Case?

Source: Apple

You can use the Find My tool on iOS, iPadOS devices, and Mac or try playing a sound to locate missing AirPods

Updated on October 7, 2022

What to Know

  • On your iOS device, tap Find My > Devices > tap your AirPods. Their current location will appear on a map.
  • Sign in to iCloud.com, select Find iPhone > All Devices and choose your AirPods. Or launch Find My on a Mac.

This article explains four different ways to find lost AirPods. Instructions apply to both AirPods and AirPods Pro and iOS devices with iOS 10.3 and higher.

How to Find Lost AirPods on iOS and iPadOS Devices

Here's how to find your lost AirPods using your iPhone or another iOS or iPadOS device with Find My enabled.

The Find My feature must be enabled on your iOS device before you lose your AirPods. There's no way to turn it on after you've lost a device. When you set up Find My on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, the feature is automatically enabled for your AirPods, too. 

  1. Open the pre-installed Find My app on your iOS device and tap Devices.

  2. Scroll through your list of devices and tap your AirPods.

  3. You'll see your AirPods plotted on a map in their current location or last known location. Tap Directions to get driving directions in Apple Maps to their location.

    If the lost AirPods can't be found, you'll see No Location Found (more on this below).

    If your AirPods aren't in the same place, the map will only show one of them at a time. Find the AirPod shown on the map and put back in the case. Then, refresh the map, and the map will show the other AirPod to help you find it.

How to Find Lost AirPods Using iCloud

Don't have an iOS device handy? Locate your lost AirPods from a computer using iCloud by following these steps:

  1. Go to iCloud and sign in with your Apple ID.

  2. Tap Find iPhone.

  3. Choose All Devices. (You may be required to sign in again.)

  4. Choose your AirPods.

  5. The current, or last known, location of your AirPods is plotted on a map.

    You can also use the Find My application installed on your Mac to find your AirPods. Launch the app, tap your AirPods, and view their location on a map.

How to Find Your AirPods on a Mac

You can also use the Find My application installed on your Mac to find your AirPods.

  1. Launch Find My on Your Mac through Spotlight Search, Launchpad, or your applications folder.

  2. Tap Devices.

  3. Tap your AirPods. You'll see their location on a map.

How to Make Lost AirPods Play a Sound

If your lost AirPods are near any of your Apple devices and connected to Bluetooth, you can play a sound to help find them. Here's how:

  1. In either the Find My app (on iOS and iPadOS devices or on a Mac) or in the Find iPhone section of iCloud, choose your AirPods.

  2. On iOS, tap Devices > [your AirPods] > Play Sound.

  3. On iCloud, select All Devices > [your AirPods] > Play Sound.

  4. In the Find My app on a Mac, tap your AirPods on the map and then tap Play Sound.

  5. A sound will play from your AirPods to help you locate them if they're nearby. You can choose to play the sound to either the Left or Right AirPod. Tap Stop to end the sound.

What to Do if You Can't Locate Lost AirPods

There are a few reasons why you'll get a No Location Found message when you're trying to find your lost AirPods.

If you didn't turn on Find My before your AirPods went missing, you won't be able to locate them. If your AirPods aren't charged, they won't be found until they're recharged. If they're out of range of your iOS device, they won't appear.

If you see the No Location Found message, you can't play a sound to find your AirPods, but you might be able to get directions to the location where they were last connected.

We hate to say it, but if all of this doesn't work, you might need to look at purchasing new AirPods. If you're over it with Apple, however, there are plenty of other great wireless earbuds on the market to get you back on track, too. If you've only lost one AirPod, you can buy a replacement from Apple and then connect the replacement AirPod.

FAQ

  • How do I find my AirPods case?

    If your AirPods aren't in your case, there's no precise way to find the case. You can do some sleuthing, however. Go to Find My > Devices and find your AirPods. Look for a green or grey light by the AirPods. Green means the case is near, while grey means it isn't.

  • Can I find my AirPods if they're in their case?

    If you have AirPods Max, you'll be able to see them in Find My for up to 18 hours while in their case.

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Why are my AirPods not showing in Find My?

If you didn't turn on Find My before your AirPods went missing, you won't be able to locate them. If your AirPods aren't charged, they won't be found until they're recharged. If they're out of range of your iOS device, they won't appear.

What to do if your AirPods won't show up on Find My iPhone?

If your AirPods are out of Bluetooth range, out of charge, or in the case with the cover closed, Find My won't give a current location. You just have to find them manually by looking for them. However, Find My may list the most recent location where they were last connected.