What to do if you are missing one AirPod?

Answered by Phillip Nicastro

If you find yourself missing one AirPod, don’t panic! There are a few steps you can take to try and locate it. Here’s what you can do:

1. Retrace your steps: Think about where you last used your AirPods. Did you leave them at work, at a friend’s house, or in a different room? Start by checking these locations first to see if you can find the missing AirPod.

2. Use the Find My app: If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can use the Find My app to help locate your missing AirPod. Open the app and go to the Devices tab. From there, choose your AirPods and scroll down to the Mark as Lost option. Select Activate to enable the feature. This will allow you to track the location of your AirPod using GPS.

3. Play a sound: If you believe your AirPod is nearby but can’t locate it visually, you can use the Find My app to play a sound on the missing AirPod. This can help you locate it if it’s hidden under furniture or in a bag. Just tap on the Play Sound option in the Find My app, and your AirPod will emit a loud chirping sound.

4. Enable notifications: If you activate the Mark as Lost feature in the Find My app, you can also enable notifications. This means that if someone else finds your AirPod and connects it to their device, you will receive a notification with its location. This can be particularly helpful if you suspect your AirPod may have been lost or stolen.

5. Contact Apple Support: If you have tried all the above steps and still can’t locate your missing AirPod, it may be worth reaching out to Apple Support for further assistance. They can provide guidance and potentially help you with a replacement if necessary.

It’s important to note that if you only have one missing AirPod, you can still use the remaining one for audio playback. However, it’s always best to try and locate the missing one if possible to have a complete set.

In my personal experience, I once misplaced one of my AirPods and couldn’t find it anywhere. I used the Find My app and activated the Mark as Lost feature. Thankfully, I received a notification a few hours later with the location of my AirPod. It turned out that I had left it at a café I visited earlier in the day. Without the Find My app, I would have never been able to locate it.

To summarize, if you are missing one AirPod, retrace your steps, use the Find My app to track its location, play a sound to help locate it, enable notifications for potential device connections, and contact Apple Support if needed. Remember to remain calm and optimistic as there are ways to locate your missing AirPod.