How to Charge AirPods Without a Case: Tricks & Workarounds

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Recharge your AirPods if your case is lost or damaged
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Did you lose your AirPods or AirPods Pro charging case or forget to bring it with you? The only way to charge your AirPods is to insert them into a charging case. But don't worry—if your AirPods case is lost, damaged, or otherwise unavailable, you can easily charge your AirPods using a different charging case for the same model. Keep reading to learn more.

Charging AirPods Without Your Case

You can't charge AirPods without a case. Don't follow any DIY steps to make your own charger, as that could cause damage or injury. Instead, borrow a friend's charging case to charge your AirPods in the meantime, and contact Apple to purchase a new AirPods case for yourself.

Section 1 of 6:

Can you charge AirPods without the case?

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  1. It's not possible to charge AirPods or AirPods Pro without the case.
    While many hacks on the web claim you can use certain chargers or apps to give your AirPods a charge, the only way to charge AirPods is to use an AirPods charging case. Do not follow any instructions to create a DIY charger, as this can damage your AirPods and void your warranty. Plus, you could get injured via electrical shock. But don't worry—if your case is lost, damaged, or defective, you have options:
    • Use a friend's charging case in the meantime. If you lost or damaged your AirPods charging case, you can use any charging case for the same model of AirPods to get anywhere from 4.5-6 hours of listening time (depending on your model) with a full charge.[1]
    • Get an official Apple replacement case. The best way to get a replacement case is through Apple. The steps and pricing are a little different depending on whether the case is lost, damaged, or defective.
    • Get a third-party replacement case. If you don't want to pay the full price for an Apple AirPods replacement case, you can purchase a more affordable case from an electronics retailer. It's very important that you buy a case that supports your exact model of AirPods, or else the case will not charge your AirPods.
      • Apple doesn't recommend using third-party charging cases and can't guarantee their quality.
      • Be sure to read customer reviews before buying a third-party charging case.
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Section 2 of 6:

How to Charge AirPods with a Different Case

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  1. Step 1 "Forget" your old AirPods on your iPhone or iPad.
    Whether you're borrowing a charging case or got a replacement, you'll need to pair your AirPods with the case before you can use them. Start by "forgetting" your AirPods in your Bluetooth settings:[2]
    • Open your iPhone or iPad's Settings.
    • Tap Bluetooth.
    • Tap the small "i" in a circle next to your AirPods.
    • Tap Forget This Device.
    • Tap Forget Device twice to confirm.
  2. Step 2 Insert the AirPods into the new case.
    Make sure you're using a case for the same model of AirPods.
    • If the AirPods case does not have a charge, you'll want to charge it using a Lightning cable or Qi-certified charging mat for at least 15 minutes first.[3]
  3. Step 3 Open the lid of the charging case.
    The status light on the case will flash amber.
  4. Step 4 Press and hold the Setup button on the case.
    You can release your finger once the status light starts flashing white.
  5. Step 5 Go to your iPhone or iPad's Home screen.
    You will see a message asking you to connect to your AirPods.[4]
  6. Step 6 Tap Connect.
    Your iPhone or iPad will now pair with the new charging case.[5]
  7. Step 7 Tap Done.
    You can now use this case to charge your AirPods or AirPods Pro.[6]
    • If you're borrowing the case from a friend, your friend will need to pair their own AirPods back to the case when you return the case. They can use the same steps in this method to do so.
    • If you won't be able to recharge your AirPods for a while, you can conserve battery power by turning off noise cancellation and transparency modes.
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Section 3 of 6:

How to Replace a Lost AirPods Case

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  1. If you lost your charging case, you can buy a new one from Apple.
    While there is a fee to replace a lost charging case, it's much cheaper than buying a new set of AirPods. To get a replacement charging case:[7]
    • Locate your AirPods serial number first. You can find it on your iPhone or iPad—go to Settings > Bluetooth > your AirPods, tap the small "i" in a circle, and scroll down to "Serial Number." You can also find it on the original packaging for your case.[8]
    • Go to [9] and select AirPods > Lost or Missing AirPods > Replace lost AirPods case. Alternatively, you can call Apple support at 1-800-275-2273 in the US, or visit support.apple.com/en-us/106932 to find the Apple support phone number for your region.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to process your payment for a replacement. If you call Apple by phone, a technician will assist you in processing your payment.
Section 4 of 6:

How to Replace a Damaged AirPods Case

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  1. Step 1 Understand your replacement options.
    If you've dropped, submerged, crushed, or otherwise damaged your AirPods charging case, you can get a replacement case from Apple. The replacement options vary depending on your level of Apple coverage:[10]
    • If you purchased AppleCare+ for Headphones coverage and damage your charging case within your 2-year service term, Apple will replace the charging case for a small service fee.[11]
    • If you don't have AppleCare+ for Headphones, you can still replace your case through Apple. You'll need to pay for the case, but it's a lot cheaper than buying a new set of AirPods.
  2. Step 2 Get your replacement.
    Creating a service request for your replacement AirPods case is easy:
    • Locate your AirPods serial number first. You'll see it beneath the lid of your charging case. You can also find it on your iPhone or iPad—go to Settings > Bluetooth > your AirPods, tap the small "i" in a circle, and scroll down to "Serial Number."
    • Visit [12] , select AirPods, choose Physical or Liquid Damage, and then select Replace damaged AirPods case. Follow the on-screen instructions to create your service request.
    • You'll receive instructions for returning your AirPods and charging case to Apple at your local Apple service provider or through the mail. Apple will ship you a replacement immediately so you can continue enjoying your AirPods without much interruption.[13]
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Section 5 of 6:

How to Replace a Defective AirPods Case

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  1. Your AirPods are protected by Apple's Limited Warranty.
    This warranty lasts for one year from the original purchase date.[14] This warranty covers manufacturing defects and battery issues, but not accidental damage or normal wear and tear. If your charging case stopped charging your AirPods and there is no physical damage during this one-year term, Apple will replace the case for free. To replace a defective AirPods case:
    • Get your AirPods serial number—you'll see it beneath the lid of your charging case. You can also find it on your iPhone or iPad—go to Settings > Bluetooth > your AirPods, tap the small "i" in a circle, and scroll down to "Serial Number."
    • Call Apple support at 1-800-275-2273 in the US, or visit support.apple.com/en-us/106932 to find the Apple support phone number for your region. Alternatively, you can create a support request at getsupport.apple.com.
    • Apple support will walk you through some basic troubleshooting steps, which may include cleaning your charging case—excess debris and buildup on the charging contacts could prevent your case from charging your AirPods. If the support team finds that your charging case is defective, they'll replace the case.
Section 6 of 6:

Ways to Stop Losing Your AirPods Charging Case

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  1. Step 1 Set up Notify When Left Behind.
    If you have an iPhone 12 or later, you can use the Notify When Left Behind feature to alert you when you leave your AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd Generation) at an unknown location.[15] To set up this feature:
    • Open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.
    • Tap Devices or Items.
    • Tap your AirPods.
    • Tap Notify When Left Behind and toggle on the switch.
  2. Step 2 Use Find My iPhone.
    If you misplace both your AirPods and your case in the future, Find My iPhone will display their last known location on a map.[16]
  3. Step 3 Attach a Bluetooth tracker to your AirPods case.
    You can buy a special case for your AirPods case that contains a slot for an Apple AirTag or Tile tracker. Adding an AirTag, Tile, or other type of tracker to your case makes it easy to track down your missing AirPods case from your iPhone or iPad.
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/119912
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/airpods/unpair-restart-or-reset-airpods-iph561965261/web
  3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/119912
  4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104989
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104989
  6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104989
  7. ↑ https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MR8U2AM/A/wireless-charging-case-for-airpods
  8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/109525
  9. ↑ https://getsupport.apple.com/products
  1. ↑ https://checkcoverage.apple.com/
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/airpods/repair/service
  3. ↑ https://getsupport.apple.com/products
  4. ↑ https://www.apple.com/support/products/headphones/
  5. ↑ https://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/
  6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102414
  7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/109020

About This Article

Hannah Dillon
Written by:
Hannah Dillon
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Dillon. Hannah Dillon is a Technology Writer and Editor at wikiHow. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University in 2013 and has since worked in the video game industry as well as a few newspapers. From a young age Hannah has cultivated a love for writing and technology, and hopes to use these passions in tandem to help others in the articles she writes for wikiHow. This article has been viewed 109,399 times.
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Co-authors: 6
Updated: February 23, 2026
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