Can You Use AirPods If The Case Is Dead? (Answered + Details)

Do you have AirPods that still have some charge, but the case is completely dead?

Or, perhaps you’re about to head out, but don’t have time to charge the case.

Either way, this can lead you to wonder – will you still be able to use your AirPods, even without the case having any power?

In this article, I’ll cover everything that you need to know!

Can You Use Your AirPods If The Case Has No Battery?

Yes! Thankfully, your AirPods can still be used as long as they have a charge. However, you will not be able to recharge them again until the case itself has been charged back up.

This is because the AirPods have no way to charge on their own – only the case actually receives power, which then transfers it to the AirPods once they are inside the case.

So, you should be mindful of how much battery your AirPods have left if you aren’t able to charge them again anytime soon. It would sure suck if they died while you were still using them!

Setup Is One Exception, However

Note that while you are able to use AirPods without the case, there is one exception – setup.

If you’re connecting your AirPods to a new device for the first time, you will need to have your case on hand, and it will need a charge in order to do so.

So, if your AirPods aren’t yet connected with your iPhone or iPad, you still won’t be able to use them, even if the AirPods themselves are fully charged.

Only after setup has been completed once will you be able to use them without the case, unfortunately!

So, if you know your case is going to die soon, make sure to connect your AirPods to your device before that happens!

How To Connect Your AirPods To Your iPhone Without The Case

If your AirPods don’t automatically connect to your iPhone when you take them out of the case, you can manually connect them via Bluetooth as well.

This process is pretty simple. To connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad – even without the case being charged, follow these steps:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app.
2. Tap on ‘Bluetooth.’
3. Enable Bluetooth if it’s not already on.
4. Look for your AirPods under ‘My Devices.’
5. Tap on them to connect your AirPods.

And that’s all there is to it – no case needed!

Help! I’ve Lost My Case Entirely! What Now?

Let’s say that not only is your case dead somewhere, but you have no idea where it is! You’ve looked and looked, but it’s nowhere to be found.

What now?

Unfortunately, there is no way to charge your AirPods without the case. This is by design, as it’s part of what keeps the AirPods light, stylish, durable, and convenient to use.

This leaves you with two options.

First, you should try to track your case if you haven’t already. This can be done using the ‘Find My’ app on your iPhone or iPad, or signing into iCloud at iCloud.com

Through the Find My app, you can not only track the precise location of your case (at least if it’s charged, otherwise the last known location will be available), but you can also have the case play a sound on eligible devices. One such example would be the AirPods Pro 2nd generation.

Unfortunately, if you are not able to locate the case, you will need to get a replacement.

Official replacements are available from Apple or authorized retailers like Best Buy, and come in at $79.

Alternatively, third-party replacements are available on websites like Amazon for under $40. While these aren’t official AirPods cases, many users report that they work just as well.

That being said, they may not have the same level of durability or longevity that official cases have, and they may not charge your AirPods as effectively either.

So, whichever option you go with is entirely up to you!

Conclusion

Although it can be frustrating when your case is dead, you can fortunately still use your AirPods without them.

However, if you are pairing your AirPods to a device for the first time, you will unfortunately need your case in order to do so – there is no getting around this. Therefore, if you’ve lost your case entirely, you will either need to track it down, or purchase a new one.

I hope that you’ve found this article helpful, and that it’s answered your questions.

If you have any other questions about AirPods, ask them below and I’ll be happy to help!

Wishing you the best,

– James McAllister