You can take Apple’s AirPods anywhere and everywhere, using them on the go or on the couch at home. But this is a prescription for disaster for those of us who are forgetful or easily distracted. If this sounds like you, you aren’t alone. In fact, more than 5% of Apple’s AirPods sales each year are replacement AirPods. That’s $700 million a year people spend on lost AirPods! If you’re worried about losing your costly little wireless earbuds, it’s time to add your AirPods to Find My iPhone.
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Find My iPhone will help you play a sound to find a single earbud that went astray or track the charging case on a map. If you don’t set this feature up correctly, you’ll join the millions who have to re-purchase another set of AirPods.
There are a few steps to set the feature up, and you must do this before you lose them. Of course, if you’re here because you can’t find your AirPods, we’ll show you how to check your Find My iPhone too!
How to Add AirPods to Find My iPhone
Apple’s AirPods are one of the best wireless headset solutions on the market today. Even better, the Find My feature will help you locate misplaced AirPods. But you can’t enable Find My iPhone on the AirPods without a companion device. So, what can you do?
Well, there is a trick to adding your AirPods to Find My iPhone; You must first pair your AirPods to an iCloud-enabled device (an iPhone, iPad, or Mac). Then, Apple will add your AirPods to your Find My iPhone list for you.
Follow these steps to add your AirPods to Find My iPhone (also known as Find My):
Step 1: Pair Your AirPods to Your iOS Device
Apple’s Find My feature is the only way to find any of your Apple devices, including AirPods. But unlike the Watch, iPad, or iPhone, you can’t enable the AirPod’s Find My iPhone feature from the device. Instead, you’ll need to pair your AirPods with an iOS or macOS device first.
If you haven’t done so already, make sure your AirPods are paired with an Apple device that is attached to your iCloud account. Go to the Bluetooth settings and look for your AirPods in the device list.
Helpful Hint: Tap the i icon to the right of your AirPods and change the name. This step makes it easier to find on your iCloud or the Find My application.
Step 2: Open the Settings on Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
Your AirPods central command hub is in your iPhone’s settings. Here, you can change the AirPods name, customize features, and add your AirPods to Find My iPhone. So, to start, open Settings on your iOS device.
Step 3: Tap on Your Name at the Top
Instead of going to the Bluetooth settings, we’ll work in your iCloud Settings to manage Find My iPhone. Older versions of iOS had their own Find My iPhone tab on the Settings home page. But today, we need to access that option when we click on your name. You’ll see it at the top of the Settings page.
Click on your name at the top of the Settings window.
Step 4: Tap on Find My
Here, you will see the Find My iPhone settings.
Tap on Find My in the list that appears.
Step 5: Tap Find My iPhone
Then, tap on Find My iPhone. Ensure the Find My iPhone, Find My Network, and Send Last Location are all green. If they aren’t, tap the toggle switch to turn them green.
Check Your Find My iPhone for Your AirPods
Now, it’s time to make sure your AirPods are sending a signal to your iCloud. You can use a web browser or the Find My app. We’ll show you the steps to find your AirPods on both applications.
Step 1. Check the Find My App
Now it’s a good idea to check that your AirPods appear in the Find My device list. If you prefer to use the Find My mobile app on your iOS device, you can.
Open the app and tap Devices at the bottom. Then, tap on your AirPods. You should see the option to play a sound, get directions, and their location on the map.
Step 2. Check Find My iPhone on a Web Browser
If you prefer the web browser version of Find My, you can track your AirPods that way. Open the browser and visit the iCloud website. Then, sign into your account.
Click on the Find My app. Then, click All Devices at the top. Your AirPods should appear in the list. Click on them and verify the location. You can also play a sound and get directions to your lost buds.
Find My AirPods
The Find My feature isn’t without its faults. For example, older AirPod models cannot appear on the map if they aren’t charged or near another paired device in your Find My iPhone app. However, the feature is still useful, especially if you lose your AirPods in your home or office.
Find My lets you play a sound to locate a lost bud or see the location where you left them, and it’s incredibly easy to add your AirPods to Find My iPhone. Then, you can keep up with your tiny but valuable AirPods a little easier.
