Misplaced AirPods usually come down to whether they were added to Find My before they disappeared. Start with Find My, because Apple supports it for checking location, playing a sound, getting directions, turning on lost-device options, and setting alerts for next time.
These steps cover iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iCloud.com/find, starting with the fastest path for most people. Every AirPods model can show its location and play a sound; Find Nearby, Notify When Found, Notify When Left Behind, and lost-device options are limited to AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro (all models), and AirPods Max.
Start in Find My on iPhone or iPad
The most common cause of a failed search is looking in Bluetooth instead of Find My. Open the Find My app, then tap Devices.
Select your AirPods. Find My shows the current or last known location when one is available. If your AirPods are separated, find one AirPod first, put it in the charging case, then refresh the map to locate the other. AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3 can show each AirPod and the charging case separately on the map.
When a map location appears, tap Directions. Apple Maps opens with directions to the AirPods location.
Use Find Nearby when they are close
When your AirPods are nearby, Find can guide you from your iPhone or iPad. Open Find My, tap Devices, select your AirPods, tap Find, and follow the onscreen instructions.
Nearby finding works with AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 add arrow and distance guidance, including precise charging-case location.
If this method fails, use Play Sound next, because sound works better than map guidance once you are searching a room, bag, couch, or desk.
Play a sound from your iPhone or iPad
Use this when the map gets you close but you still cannot see them; earbud sound requires the AirPods to be out of the case, while charging-case sound is supported for AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3.
- 1.Open Find My on your iPhone or iPad.
- 2.Tap Devices and choose your AirPods.
- 3.Tap Play Sound.
- 4.If the AirPods are separated, tap Left or Right to mute one side and find them one at a time.
- 5.To stop the sound, put the AirPods in the case and close the lid, or tap Stop in Find My.
Try iCloud Find Devices from any browser
This fixes the problem of not having your iPhone or iPad with you. Go to iCloud.com/find in a browser, then sign in to the Apple Account used with Find My. Select All Devices or the device list, then choose your AirPods.
When a location is available, use it to narrow your search. On iCloud.com, Apple shows the last known location for up to 24 hours when a device is offline.
If your AirPods are online, choose Play Sound. You cannot play a sound on the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3 charging case from iCloud.com.
If you are asked for a code from a trusted device you do not have, select the Find Devices button at the bottom of the window to continue without entering that code.
Turn on Notify When Found for offline AirPods
When Find My says No location found, your AirPods are not currently locatable from the app. On AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro (all models), and AirPods Max, open Find My, tap Devices, choose your AirPods, then turn on Notify When Found below Notifications. AirPods 1, AirPods 2, and AirPods 4 without Active Noise Cancellation do not offer Notify When Found; Find My gives those models location and sound only.
You can also use iCloud.com/find. Select your AirPods from the device list, and when Offline appears, select Notify me when found.
If this method fails, turn on Lost Mode for supported AirPods so the lost-device status stays active while you keep looking.
Mark supported AirPods as lost
Lost Mode applies to AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max when Find My network was turned on before they were lost. AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3 can mark each AirPod and the case as lost separately.
On iPhone or iPad, open Find My and tap Devices. Select your AirPods, then turn on Lost Mode and follow the onscreen instructions.
On Mac, open Find My and choose Devices. Select your AirPods, click the Info button on the map, then choose Lost Mode and follow the onscreen instructions.
On Apple Watch, open Find Devices and tap your AirPods. Tap Lost Mode, then turn on Lost Mode.
Use your Mac or Apple Watch
This fixes the problem of needing another Apple device to search from. On Mac, open Find My, click Devices, then select your AirPods.
Click the Info button on the map for actions such as Directions or Play Sound. For quicker Mac access, control-click a device in the sidebar to reach actions such as Play Sound or Directions. Press Command-2 to switch to the Devices list.
On Apple Watch, open Find Devices and select your AirPods. For route guidance, tap the device, tap Directions, then tap the route.
To play a sound from Apple Watch, tap your AirPods in Find Devices, then tap Play Sound. If the AirPods or AirPods Pro are separated, tap Left or Right to mute one side and find them one at a time.
Set up Find My before the next loss
The most common cause of AirPods that cannot be found is that Find My or Find My network was not enabled before they went missing. Pair your AirPods with an iPhone or iPad where you are signed in to your Apple Account.
On that device, open Settings, tap [your name], then tap Find My. Tap Find My [device], then turn on Find My [device]. For offline location support, turn on Find My network.
To enable it for AirPods, wear your AirPods and make sure they are connected. Open Settings, then tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen. Scroll down, then turn on Find My Network.
You can also open Settings, tap Bluetooth, tap the More Info button next to your AirPods, tap Find My network, and make sure it is on. Find My network support includes AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro all models, and AirPods Max.
Allow Find My to use location by opening Settings, tapping Privacy & Security, tapping Location Services, turning on Location Services, then choosing a location permission for Find My. For better distance and location behavior, turn on Precise Location for Find My.
Prevent repeat losses with alerts
Set up separation alerts and family help before you need them.
- 1.On iPhone or iPad, open Find My, tap Devices, select your AirPods, tap Notify When Left Behind, then turn on Notify When Left Behind.
- 2.To add a trusted location, choose a suggested location or choose New Location, select a location on the map, then tap Done.
- 3.On Mac, open Find My, choose Devices, select your AirPods, click the Info button, choose Notify When Left Behind, then turn it on.
- 4.On Apple Watch, open Find Devices, tap your AirPods, tap Notify When Left Behind below Notifications, then turn it on.
- 5.For Family Sharing help, set up family location sharing from Settings, Family, Location Sharing, then turn on Location Sharing for the family member.
Notify When Left Behind works with AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max when Find My network is on. Notifications can appear on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch when Find My notifications are allowed.
Managed Apple Accounts cannot use Find My. Use a personal Apple Account and eligible personal device where your organization permits it.
Third-party Bluetooth scanner apps are not Apple-supported AirPods-finding paths. Use Find My, Find Devices on Apple Watch, or iCloud.com/find. Apple does document Siri as a way to locate devices in Find My, with example phrases such as Where's my iPad?, but Apple's published Siri examples cover iPhone, iPad, and Mac rather than AirPods.
If Find My still cannot locate the missing AirPod or charging case, Apple's remaining route is to buy a replacement AirPod or charging case. Availability, price, and coverage vary by region and AppleCare status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find AirPods if they are inside the case?
Earbud sound requires the AirPods to be out of the case. Charging-case sound is supported for AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3.
Why do my AirPods say No location found?
Find My cannot currently locate them. On AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro (all models), and AirPods Max, turn on Notify When Found in Find My, or use iCloud.com/find and select Notify me when found when Offline appears. AirPods 1, AirPods 2, and AirPods 4 without Active Noise Cancellation do not have Notify When Found.
Can someone else in my family help find my AirPods?
Yes. Family location sharing must be set up first, then a Family Sharing member can use Find My or Find Devices to see shared family devices.
What should I do before selling or giving away AirPods?
Remove them from your Apple Account in Find My. AirPods can be paired with only one Apple Account at a time, and removal lets the next owner use Find My features.