Here’s what to do if the white pairing light on your AirPods is flashing but they still won’t connect. If the white light on your AirPods begins flashing, it means they are searching for and connecting to a compatible device. For this reason, it can be puzzling if your AirPods flash white but still refuse to pair.
Unfortunately, the only indication of a problem is a flashing status light on the AirPods themselves. That leaves you to figure out the problem on your own.
So, how to fix AirPods flashing white light? If your Apple AirPods are flashing white light, simply put them in their charging case. Then, press and maintain the setup button. Open up Bluetooth settings while the light is blinking white, and give pairing another go. However, this approach doesn’t always pan out, so it’s important to have a few backup plans.
How to Fix AirPods Flashing White Light?
If your AirPods are blinking white, here are some alternative solutions to try:
- Recharge the AirPods
- Clean the AirPods and the Case
- Toggle the Bluetooth Off and On
- Connect AirPods Individually
- Update Your AirPods
- Restart Your Device
- Keep Devices’ Software Updated
- Reset Your Network
- Reset, Reconnect, and Repair Your Devices
- Check if Your AirPods Are Fake
- If All Else Fails, Visit an Apple Service Center
Recharge The Airpods
Your AirPods may lose connection with your phone or other device if they are low on battery. If your AirPods aren’t working properly, check to see if they’re fully charged.
In case you were wondering, the AirPods case status light also shows up in two other colors. Indicating that the case (or the AirPods within it) are fully charged, a green light will turn on when the charging process is complete. When the charging case or AirPods indicator turns amber, it means you need to recharge them.
To charge your AirPods, you should:
- Make sure your AirPods are securely inserted into their case.
- Put the top back on. In order to conserve battery life, your AirPods will power down and begin charging as soon as you put them in their case. The status indicator on the case, meanwhile, will show amber.
If the case’s indicator light does not switch to amber, it probably needs charging. Plug a Lightning to USB cable into the case and your device. Place the wireless case, status light facing up, in the middle of the MagSafe charger.
Clean The Airpods and The Case
If your AirPods or case are dirty, debris may accumulate on the connectors, making it difficult for the headphones to connect to your device. The issue is that the case has difficulty detecting the presence of the AirPods.
You should clean your AirPods to make sure there is no physical obstruction triggering the white flashing light:
- Prepare 70% isopropyl alcohol and dampen a cloth.
- Avoid getting any fabric into the speaker grill and other openings in the case by wiping your AirPods and case with this soft cloth.
- Apply some rubbing alcohol to a Q-tip and use it to clean the speaker grill and the charging ports on the inside of the case (where you place your AirPods).
Related Post: How to Make Airpods More Comfortable
Toggle The Bluetooth Off and On
Turning Bluetooth off and on again will force your device to begin pairing all over again. By starting the pairing process over, you may be able to get your AirPods to connect despite whatever glitch is preventing them from doing so.
To activate or deactivate Bluetooth on an iPhone:
- The Bluetooth settings menu can be accessed by opening the device’s settings.
- To disable Bluetooth, access the setting’s menu by pressing the corresponding button. Simply tap it once more to activate it once more.
A few things you should do if you use Android are:
- Navigate to your device’s Connections menu.
- To turn Bluetooth on or off, simply tap the switch.
- Connect AirPods Individually
Some users have said they were able to resolve this issue by pairing each AirPods separately. To accomplish this, you must:
- Simply insert a single AirPods into the case.
- Open the case and set it down next to your gadget. Your device should be able to pair with the AirPods.
- Get rid of the AirPods that’s still connected and replace it with the spare. So, once again, proceed to step two.
Update Your AirPods
In many cases, issues like the one you’re having can be resolved by downloading the latest update for your AirPods. As a bonus, regular updates to the AirPods ensure that the headphones always work with the latest mobile devices.
To see if an update is available for your AirPods, you can:
- Go into your device’s Bluetooth settings.
- To learn more about your AirPods, select the question mark icon that appears next to them in the list of devices. The firmware version will be indicated by an icon.
Related Post: Can AirPods Survive the Washing Machine
Restart Your Device
Your device will reset some of its internal settings whenever you restart it. This may resolve a number of issues that could be preventing your AirPods from establishing a reliable connection. If you need to reboot your device, try:
- Keep holding down the power button until a menu appears.
- For the iPhone X, 11, 12, or 13, you must press and hold the power button and either volume button.
- The Restart option should be chosen. On Android, this feature takes the form of a button, while on iOS it’s represented by a power slider.
- After the reboot, you can log in normally.
- You can view a list of your Bluetooth-enabled gadgets by navigating to the Settings menu and tapping the Bluetooth option.
Keep Devices’ Software Updated
Even if your devices aren’t AirPods, updating them will make them more functional. Software updates are essential to the continued operation, efficiency, and connection reliability of your devices (such as Bluetooth).
If you want to update your devices, you can do so as follows:
Android
- The Settings menu can be accessed by selecting the appropriate option.
- Find the option labeled “System Updates” and click on it.
- Select the Check for Updates option from the new menu.
- If there is a newer version available, you can get the updated files here. Once that happens, the upgrade will be applied immediately.
iOS
- Select “General” under “Settings.”
- The option to update the software must be selected
- You can check if there is an available iOS update and see what version your device is currently running. The update installation option is available here.
MacOS
- Select System Preferences from the Apple menu.
- Select the Updates tab.
- By clicking the Update Now button, your Mac will automatically update to the latest version if one is available.
Reset Your Network
If you want to delete all Bluetooth and WiFi connections from your device, you can do a network reset. Furthermore, it eliminates the possibility of interference from other wireless networks by forcing your device and AirPods to restart the pairing process again.
It’s important to keep in mind that doing so will log you out of your current WiFi network and require you to log back in.
If you need to reboot your network, do the following:
Android
- Launch the device’s configuration menu.
- Google “reset network settings” or something similar.
- Then, select the option to “Reset Settings.”
iOS
- Navigate to Preferences > General.
- To completely reset your network settings, go to Settings > Reset.
MacOS
Resetting your entire network on a Mac is not possible. You can, however:
- Select System Preferences from the Apple menu.
- Connect to a network by clicking here.
- Choose from the list of available gadgets (including WiFi and other connected devices). Then, remove a device from the list by clicking the minus sign (-) that appears below the list.
- If a confirmation window appears, select Yes; repeat this process until all warnings have vanished.
- The last step is to select the Apply option.
Reset, Reconnect, and Repair Your Devices
Fixing many problems simply requires disconnecting and reconnecting all of the devices in question to their factory settings. It will force each device’s software to restart entirely, which should resolve any issues you’ve been having with your AirPods.
How to reset AirPods
Trying this out first will save you the trouble of having to recover all of your data after you’ve reset your device.
In order to factory reset your AirPods, please:
- Restore your AirPods to their case and snap the top shut. Don’t do anything for at least 30 seconds.
- To learn more about your AirPods, select them from the list of connected devices in your device’s Bluetooth settings by clicking the I icon next to them.
- The option to select a menu from a floating window will appear. Choose “Forget This Device” and then confirm.
- Turn your charging case upside down and press and hold the setup button on the back for about 15 seconds. The amber light will turn white.
- Leave the case’s lid open and set it next to your gadget. You should now be able to successfully pair your AirPods. If you are interested, please continue reading.
How to Reset IPad And IPhone?
The following are the steps to take in order to factory reset your iPad or iPhone:
- Navigate to Preferences > General.
- Go to Settings > General > Reset > Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad.
- Tap the button labeled “Erase All Content and Settings” and enter your password to confirm.
Related Post: Can I Shower with AirPods
Check if Your AirPods Are Fake
To factory reset an Android device, one must:
- Click the “Backup and Reset” tab in the settings menu.
- Select “Factory data reset,” then “Reset Device,” to erase all of the device’s data and settings.
- A “Erase All” option will appear.
In case you think you might have fake AirPods, you should check.
- If the aforementioned steps do not fix your AirPods, they may be counterfeit. Lower quality materials and construction are typically found in knockoffs, making fake AirPods more prone to malfunction or even complete failure.
- Using the AirPods’ serial number is a quick and easy way to determine if they are authentic. In order to locate the unique identifier for your AirPods, try these methods:
- If you’re using an iOS device, under the list of paired gadgets, you’ll find a “More Info” button. The identifying serial number will be displayed.
- AirPods Carrying Case: The serial number can be found on the inside of the lid of the original AirPods or AirPods Pro carrying case.
- Use the following phrase while wearing your AirPods Max: The AirPods Max serial number is not located on the case, but rather beneath the left ear cushion.
- New in Factory Sealed Package: The AirPods serial number can be found above the barcode on the back of the original packaging, if you still have it.
- Find the serial number and then check Apple’s warranty status online. Put in the serial number. A page displaying the AirPods’ specifications should load if the headphones are genuine.
If All Else Fails, Visit an Apple Service Center
If you’ve tried everything above and your AirPods still won’t connect, head on over to an Apple Service Center. There, experts will examine your AirPods and decide whether to repair them or provide a replacement.
Free of charge if you have AppleCare+. Read our article on AppleCare+ if you’re debating whether or not to buy it.
You can save time by providing Apple support with a detailed list of the troubleshooting measures you’ve already tried. With this data, they can eliminate more likely culprits. Alternatively, you could forward them this very article.
Before visiting the service center, it’s also a good idea to locate and write down your serial number. Having the number on hand will speed up the process of turning over your AirPods.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have reinserted your AirPods and are once again enjoying your music. You have gained the knowledge necessary to deal with this issue in the future.
