Airpods and their charging case are quite portable and can easily get lost. Asides from charging the AirPods, the charging case is also needed for connectivity since it has a power button on it that shows the white and amber LED light. Misplacing the case can be very painful, especially when you don’t have the money to get a new one at the moment.
This article will guide you through the steps in which you can charge Airpods without its charging case. Anyway, is that possible? Well, read on to find out! Without the case, you won’t be able to connect your AirPods to any nearby device. Even if you were lucky enough to have paired and connected your devices before they lose when the Bluetooth is turned on, you might need to place the Airpods back into the case to pair and connect subsequent times.
One of the limitations of owning a pair of AirPods is that you can’t use any of the AirPods while charging. This is why many Airpods users wonder if it’s possible to charge Airpods without its charging case. There is no authentic option to charge Airpods without its charging case other than buying a replacement case. In this post, you will find answers to all your Airpods charging questions, disprove common myths, and also get your AirPods charged up again!
If you still believe you can charge your AirPods without the case, then the options are only fictional. Although Apple has upgraded its AirPods’ brands to the new AirPods Pro and AirPod Max, the Max headphones can however be charged directly, while other brands of the Airpods still require the use of the charging case to recharge the battery.
For now, a charging case, either sold by Apple or a verified third-party, remains the best and only factual option for charging a pair of AirPods. Read on to learn how you can get a replacement wireless charging case and how to identify the original AirPods from the fake ones if buying from a third-party vendor and not Apple.
How to Get a Replacement Wireless Charging Case
In case your original Apple AirPods case got missing, destroyed, or stolen, we recommend you buy a new case to resolve the problem easily. This is the only genuine option left. However, you have two options when it comes to purchasing a replacement wireless charging case, the options are:
Original Apple Wireless Charging Case
To get an original Apple wireless charging case, you must contact Apple support. However, before you go ahead contacting customer support, you need the following:
- Apple AirPods model (You need to ascertain the model your Airpods are).
- The serial number of the charging case you misplaced (So that the right replacement case will be sent to you).
To locate the serial number, you can check the “My Devices” page on Apple.com. In case you can’t find the serial number, you can visit any Apple store close to you with your AirPods for quick rectification.
Once the Apple support has all the necessary details needed for a replacement, you will be charged a fee of (about $100) and your replacement Airpods charger will be sent to you.
Initially, the first generation Apple AirPods did not support wireless charging, but you can now make use of a wireless charging case to charge your Airpods without a wire.
Replacement AirPods Case by Other Brands
In case you can’t afford Apple’s Airpods, the good news is that you can as well buy a replacement wireless AirPods charging case from other brands. You can simply locate multiple options for a different case online for any AirPods model you have.
However, getting replacement Airpods charging cases from other brands may not be as fast and reliable as the original AirPods charging case. They may not have all the features and functionalities that the original AirPods case possesses.
These other charging cases by other brands can be used to charge AirPods without its charging case and still keep your AirPods charged.
You can as well charge these alternative AirPods cases using:
- A lightning cable
- A QI certified charging mat
How to Charge AirPods without its Charging Case
How to Charge AirPods via the Alternative Wireless Charging Case and Lightning Cable
Follow the steps below to charge your AirPods first-generation, AirPods Pro, AirPods second generation, and AirPods third-generation via the alternative charging case and a lightning cable:
- Make use of a USB-C to Lightning cable or a USB to Lightning cable.
- Plugin the Lightning cable into the Lightning connector on your charging case.
- Then, connect the other end of the cable into a USB charger or port.
Note that charging is fastest and most effective when you use an iPhone or iPad USB charger or when you plug the lightning cable into your Mac.
The location of the status light may also differ from one alternative wireless charging case to another.
How to Charge AirPods via the Alternative Charging Case and a Qi Certified Charging Mat
To charge your Airpods first-generation, AirPods Pro, AirPods second generation, and AirPods third generation using the Alternative charging case and a Qi-certified charging mat, you need to follow the steps below:
- Gently place the wireless charging case directly on the Qi charging mat (with or without the AirPods).
- Inspect the status light that blinks to display the charged status of the case for about 8 seconds (amber light if charging and green light if fully charged).
- Move the wireless charging case in case the status light doesn’t blink soon after placing it on the charging mat.
How to Debunk Myths on Charging Airpods without its Case
Just as it has been stated earlier above that it’s impossible to charge Airpods without its charging case, therefore, we recommend you don’t get trapped by the following myths below so you don’t end up damaging your Airpods all by yourself:
First Myth: Using a Narrow Pin Charger to Charge AirPods
It’s not possible to use a narrow pin charger to charge Airpods. It’s all lies! In the long run, you may end up damaging your AirPods.
Using this method, you will need to insert the pin into your AirPods directly for a few seconds. Airpods users who used this method said they were unable to pair the AirPods. Therefore, it’s proper not to experiment and follow the right process by using a wireless charging case.
Some users who tried using Nokia 1110’s narrow pin charger complained that rather than the pin charger to solve their problems, it only complicated it. Note that if you don’t provide the accurate voltage for charging, you will end up damaging your AirPods.
Second Myth: Using a Mobile App to Replenish Your AirPods’ Battery
It’s not possible to use a Mobile App to replenish your AirPods battery. This is another common myth that’s not reliable. When a variety of apps claiming to charge AirPods were installed by users but none of them worked. Therefore, you should avoid the mobile app solution. This implies your AirPods are safe only when charged wirelessly.
How Long Do AirPods Take to Charge?
The time taken by AirPods to get fully charged depend solely on their model. For instance, if you charge second-generation AirPods for 15 minutes in their charging case, you can get up to 2 to 3 hours of listening time or talk time.
If it’s a third-generation AirPods you charged for 5 minutes in their case, you can get up to 1 hour of listening time or about 1 hour of talk time.
However, if you charge AirPods Pro for 5 minutes in their case, you are likely to get up to 1 hour of listening time or up to 1 hour of talk time.
AirPods Case not Charging? Try these Fixes!
Are you wondering why your AirPods case is not charging, try the following fixes:
Connections might not be in Place
If your AirPods or AirPods Pro case is charging on the charging mat, check the connections thoroughly and ensure it is properly situated and the charging mat’s connection to the power outlet is working properly.
In other words, if the AirPods’ charging case or Apple’s wireless AirPods Max are charging using a lightning cable, make sure the cable is connected properly and the power adapter is accurately connected to the power outlet.
The Charging Case might need a Reset
If you noticed your case is not charging, you can reset it and try to charge it again. Consider using the “Reset” function. To charge AirPods without its charging case is not possible. Below is how you can reset your AirPods’ wireless charging case:
- Locate the setup button behind the charging case.
- Long-press on the setup button for about 15 seconds till you see blinking amber and white light.
- That’s it, your charging case has now been reset.
You might need to clean your Case’s Charging Port
In case your AirPods case won’t charge, clean it! If checking the connections and resetting the charging case doesn’t fix the issue, then it’s time to clean the charging port of the charging case, most especially the bottom silver parts. Below is how you can clean the charging case’s port:
- Thrust a toothpick or static brush into the charging port.
- Remove the dirt therein very slowly.
- Connect the lightning cable to the charger and try again.
Something might be wrong with the Charging Cable
In case your charging cable has been damaged, you might need to get a new one. At times, when the AirPods’ case is not charging, the problem might be from the charging cable. You can get an alternative charging cable if you feel the cost of buying a new “original” lightning cable is high; however, make sure it is MFi certified.
AirPods’ Firmware might need to be Updated
Check your Airpods, they might need a firmware update. In case your AirPods’ firmware is pending update, this may prevent your case from charging your AirPods. However, in case all the above-listed fixes do not work for you, you need to update the firmware and try again. This is the last and final solution on our list for this article since it’s not possible to change AirPods without its charging case.
However, if none of the fixes above solved your issues, then you can try the last resort by contacting or visiting the nearest Apple Store to get the AirPods’ or AirPods’ case inspected.
Buying a new charging case is the only authentic option for you to charge AirPods without its Charging case. Although, it might put a strain on your finances that month, it is worth getting a new case.
As it has been stated in this article earlier, it’s not possible to charge AirPods without its charging case. The best and the only authentic option is to get a replacement charging case so you can enjoy your music and video experience.
However, while purchasing a new case, make sure it’s a reliable and original-quality replacement case, not minding if it’s a bit expensive. You will personally enjoy it! But if you buy a bad-quality case, it can affect the audio playback of your AirPods. You can’t charge AirPods without its charging case.
We sincerely hope you found this article on how to charge AirPods without its charging case very useful and informative. In case you have any questions or suggestions, you can feel free to drop them in the comments section below. Thanks for reading thus far!