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Broken means many things when you talk about AirPods. The problems are related to hardware, like the cracked silicon tip, flashing blue light, accidental water exposure, or physical damage to the AirPods.
In this guide, we’ll take a detailed look at these reasons and explore how to fix broken AirPods so that you can try to resolve the problem yourself before taking them for repair or replacement.
How Can I Make My AirPods Work Again?
To fix your broken AirPods and make them work again, here are a few DIY approaches:
1. Replace the Tip
The little white part on the AirPods is a silicone tip, and it often gets broken due to misuse. If that’s the case, the fix is easy because it is not the AirPod itself. You can just take it off, buy a new one from Apple or any third-party reliable source, and you’re all set.
2. AirPods Flashing Blue Light
Another common problem is a flashing blue light on AirPods. When you see it, especially turning them on for the first time, they won’t work at all.
This usually means you bought the fake pair. However, these fakes do have serial numbers on the box because the cheaters use the ones from genuine AirPods. But you can verify this very conveniently. Here’s how:
- Pair the AirPods with your device (iPhone, iPad, iPad Touch).
- Open device Settings.
- Scroll to the Serial section and tap on it to see the serial numbers of the left and right AirPods.
- Match the serial number on the box, and then you’ll know for sure.
- Alternatively, copy the serial number, go to the Apple Check Coverage site, paste it, and you’ll get your answer.
3. Clean Your AirPods
It’s also possible that your AirPods are just dirty, and you think they might have been broken and are failing to work. To rule this out, try cleaning them this way:
First, remove the silicone ear tips, and then clear the upper surface with a lint-free cloth. Next, take a dry cotton swab and clean out the dirt and grime on the mesh of each speaker.
There is no need to apply too much pressure or use any sharp objects to clean the AirPods. Also, don’t use liquids like water, detergents, or any other form of clear on the cotton swab for cleaning because this can cause permanent damage.
Finally, put the silicone tips back on, pair the AirPods, and see if they work this time.
4. Eject Water from AirPods
If your AirPods had water exposure, this doesn’t mean they are totally broken. There is a way to get the water out of them virtually. Here’s how:
- In the first step, clear the excess water by cleaning the AirPods speaker mesh, as mentioned above.
- Next, open your iPhone’s “Settings” app, tap “Shortcuts,” and toggle on “Private Sharing.”
- Now, pair the AirPods to your iPhone, open its browser, and head to the “routinehub” website. Then, tap “Get Shortcut” and tap “+Add Shortcut.”
- Now open “Shortcuts” on your iPhone, go to “My Shortcuts,” tap “Water Eject,” and select “Begin” to automatically get the water out of the AirPods speaker cavity.
You can also use the Water Eject shortcut. To download it, go to the Shortcuts gallery page on your iPhone browser, and then follow the same instructions on your iPhone as mentioned above to clear the water inside of your AirPods.
- Expose your AirPods to sunlight for a few hours, or put them in a closed plastic box with a few silica packets in it for a couple of days to dry them. Lastly, charge the AirPods, and hopefully, they will work again.
5. Check for Physical Damage
If you see visible damage on the AirPods, like cracks and stuff other than the silicone tips, and they are not working at all, this doesn’t come under warranty.
You need to take them to Apple or a nearby trusted repair shop and let them have a look at them. Although the chances are slim, the technician may be able to fix them.
Conclusion
In this guide, we’ve discussed how to fix broken AirPods if the damage is not severe. It is best to try the simplest of solutions first and then move on to the complex ones. Cleaning the mesh gently and ejecting the water out of the AirPods usually brings them back to normal. But if none of it works, you may need to get them looked at by a technician.
FAQs
How to fix your AirPods if one is not working?
If one AirPod isn’t working, place both in the charging case and let them sit for a minute. Take them out and check if the sound returns. If not, head into your Bluetooth settings and forget the device, then reconnect it. You can also try resetting your AirPods. To do so, press the setup button on the charging case and hold it till the light flashes. If that still doesn’t solve it, clean the mesh gently and try again.
What can I do with broken AirPods?
If your AirPods are broken, first check if they’re still under warranty or covered by AppleCare. You can take them to an Apple Store or an authorized service provider to get them checked. If the damage is minor, a technician might fix it. Apple usually charges around $90 to $100 per earbud to repair and $40 to $50 for a broken charging case. For more serious issues, you might need to replace just one piece instead of the whole set. If they’re completely dead, Apple also offers a recycling program where you can turn them in responsibly for safe disposal.
Do AirPods work if they get wet?
AirPods aren’t waterproof, so getting them wet can cause sound issues or stop them from working. If that happens, dry them gently with a lint-free cloth and leave them in a dry place for a few hours. Don’t use heat or a hairdryer. You can also try using the Water Eject shortcut on your iPhone, which plays sound vibrations to push out trapped water. It won’t fix everything, but it helps remove moisture from the speakers.
