AirPods Flashing White Light | Complete Troubleshooting

When AirPods flash white, they enter pairing mode or attempt to connect to a nearby device. It’s perplexing when AirPods Flashing White Light but won’t connect. Sadly, aside from the AirPods’ flashing status light, there are no other clues as to the precise issue. So, you are left to determine the issue on your own.

Not to worry about this situation; I got you covered. In this article, you will learn why Airpods flash white light, and there’s a one-stop guide with all the possible fixes you can try if your AirPods are flashing white but not pairing.

Airpods Flashing White Light | Reasons and Fixes

Airpods are Out of Charge

When AirPods are running out of charge, they might not have the power to maintain a connection to the device.

Ensuring that AirPods are fully charged and can fix the problem.

For reference, the status light on the AirPods case can glow in two other colors. If the light is green, then it means that the case (or the AirPods in it) is fully charged. If you see an amber light, the case or AirPods need charging.

To charge AirPods: Put your AirPods in their case and ensure they sit correctly in the sockets. Close the lid. Your AirPods will automatically shut down and start to charge. In addition, the status light on the case will glow amber.

You likely need to charge the case if the light does not turn amber.
Connect the case to a power source using a Lightning USB Cable.

Dirt on AirPods

Dirt or grime on AirPods or case can obstruct the connectors on AirPods and the case, resulting in pairing issues. By dirt accumulation, the case is struggling to register that the AirPods are there.

To ensure that it’s not a physical obstruction causing the AirPods to flash white, you have to clean your Airpods by the following method:

Dampen a cloth with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Use this cloth to gently wipe your AirPods and case, avoiding the speaker grill and other openings in the casing.
Wipe your AirPods and case
Wet a Q-tip with rubbing alcohol and use it to clean the speaker grill and the charging connectors inside the case (where you place your AirPods).

Bugging

Toggling the Bluetooth off and on will restart its pairing process. This action will make the AirPods start pairing from the beginning, which might bypass whatever bug has stopped my AirPods from connecting.

To toggle Bluetooth on an iPhone, you should:

Open the settings of your device.
Open the Bluetooth menu, and tap on the switch to toggle your Bluetooth off. Tap again to turn it back on
Bluetooth toggle switch

If you’re an Android user, you should:

Open your Settings.
Connections
Tap the switch to toggle your Bluetooth off and then on
Bluetooth toggle switch
Connect AirPods Individually

Outdated Airpods

When AirPod updates are released, they often fix bugs and glitches, which might be what’s causing your problem. In addition, AirPod updates also keep the earbuds compatible with newer devices.

To check if your AirPods need an update, you should:

Open the Bluetooth settings of your connected device.
Information button
Tap on the ‘i’ icon next to your AirPods in the list of connected devices. The icon will display the firmware version.
Firmware version
At the time of writing, the latest firmware for AirPods is 4E71.

Poor Airpods Connection

When you restart your device, it will reset parts of the system. This action can fix several bugs and glitches that might be causing your AirPods to have connection issues. To restart your device, you should:

Press and hold the power button on your device until a power menu comes up. If you have an iPhone X, 11, 12, or 13, you’ll need to hold the volume or power buttons.
Up the volume button and power button
Select the Restart option. This option appears as a button on Android, whereas it’s a simple power slider on an iPhone.
Restart button
Wait for the device to restart, then sign in as usual.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth and find your Connected Devices list. Hopefully, your AirPods will show up.

Update Issue

Like AirPods, your devices also work better when updated. Updates to your devices’ software maintain their functionality, efficiency, and even your device’s connection stability (such as Bluetooth).

Here’s how you can update your devices: Android

Click your device’s Settings.
Scroll down and select the System Updates option.
Software update.
Download and install
If a new update is available, you can download the updated files. Then the update will automatically install.

Potential Interferences

The interferences like other electronics like microwave ovens working around you will disturb the connection.

Resetting the network on your device will make it forget all Bluetooth and WiFi connections. In addition, it forces your device and AirPods to restart their pairing process again and eliminate potential interferences from other wireless networks.

Remember, this will also forget your current WiFi network connection, so you must log back in afterward. To reset your network, you should:

For Android

Open your device’s Settings.
Search for: Reset network settings.
Then, click Reset Settings.

For iPhone

Unfortunately, you cannot reset your entire network on a Mac. However, you can:

Go to the Apple menu, then System Preferences.
Mac System Preferences
Click Network.
Select one of your devices (WiFi and other connected devices) from the list. Then, click the minus (-) icon beneath the list of devices.
In the pop-up, click Yes and do the same with the rest until everything is cleared.
Finally, click Apply.

Factory Defaults And 3Rs

Resetting and reconnecting all devices to factory default can fix many issues. It will force the software of each device to restart entirely, in turn fixing any glitches affecting your AirPods.

How to reset AirPods?

Try these steps before resetting your device to avoid the hassle of recovering the data you would lose.

Put your AirPods back in their case and close the lid. Wait for at least thirty seconds.
Go to your device’s Bluetooth settings and click the ‘i’ icon next to your AirPods in the list of connected devices.
A pop-up menu will appear. Select ‘Forget Device’ and confirm. It will remove your AirPods from all the devices using the same Apple account.
Open the lid of your charging case, then hold the setup button on the back for about fifteen seconds. The light will change from amber to white.
Keep the lid open, and place the case next to your device. Hopefully, your AirPods will now connect! If not, then read on.

How to reset your iPad and iPhone?

To reset your iPad or iPhone, you should:

Go to Settings > General.
Select ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad.’
Select ‘Erase All Content and Settings,’ and enter your password.
Resetting your iPhone or iPad to factory default will wipe all your files and information. However, you can follow these steps to back up your phone or tablet. When you’ve reset your device, you can restore its previous settings and files with this backup.

Service Center / Customer Support

If you’ve tried all the steps above and your AirPods still won’t connect, you should visit an Apple Service Center. There, professionals can check your AirPods and either fix or replace them. If you have AppleCare+, then this service will be free! If you’re wondering whether AppleCare+ is worth it, you should read our article on the plan.

What does the white light on the Airpod case mean?

This light (a blinking white light) is usually activated when we put our AirPods into pairing mode. This blinking white light should stop once a connection is established. So, if the blinking white light lasts for a more extended period and the AirPods can’t connect, then there is a problem that requires our attention.

What does the orange light on the Airpod case mean?

If you see this light on your AirPods case while the AirPods are still in there, it is a sign that they are charging. If the AirPods are not inside, the orange light on the case indicates that the case needs a charge. And finally, a flashing orange light usually indicates that there is a problem.

What does the green light on the Airpod case mean?

If the AirPods are inside the case, the green light will indicate that they are fully charged. If the AirPods are not inside, the green light on the case indicates that the case is fully charged.

No light on the Airpods case. What does It mean?

The case and your AirPods are entirely drained out and require immediate charging. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use them at all.

Airpods flashing light but not showing up. Why does this happen?

When your AirPods flash white, they are entering pairing mode or attempting to connect to a nearby device. That’s why it’s perplexing when your AirPods flash white but won’t connect. Sadly, aside from the AirPods’ flashing status light, there are no other clues as to the precise issue.

Final Thoughts

You may experience trouble with AirPods blinking white lights occasionally. However, in most cases, the problem is quickly resolved in several steps, and you needn’t worry much. If you try the solutions I offered, you will solve the issue quickly, and your Apple device’s light color will return to normal.

Hopefully, your AirPods are back in your ears, and you’re listening to your music again. You now know what to do if this problem comes up again.

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