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If you're having problems with iOS 11.2.6 and your AirPods, disconnect them, then re-link to your iPhone

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Reports are circulating that some users are experiencing odd behavior from connected AirPods following the iOS 11.2.6 update — but there's an easy fix and it will only take a few minutes.

It's not clear why problems are manifesting. While the reports of problems are rare, some users are reporting the same channel coming from both AirPods, and others are noting problems with assigned controls. Regardless of the reason, the answer is to disassociate the AirPods with the connected iPhone, and then connect them again to a host device. Here's how to do it.

In the iPhone's Settings, select Bluetooth and tap on the AirPods. Tap Forget This Device.

The iPhone will then tell you that it will remove the AirPods from all the devices on an iCloud account. Tap Forget Device to wipe out the pairing.

After the process is complete, there's nothing else you have to do but pair them with the iPhone again, through the normal means.



19 Comments

mavemufc 8 Years · 326 comments

No problems with the phone and AirPods but trying to connect them to my Watch has been annoying me in the last few weeks.

f1ferrari 13 Years · 262 comments

mavemufc said:
No problems with the phone and AirPods but trying to connect them to my Watch has been annoying me in the last few weeks.

I’ve had the same thing, especially when finishing an exercise with the iPhone and Watch both close. 

mavemufc 8 Years · 326 comments

f1ferrari said:
mavemufc said:
No problems with the phone and AirPods but trying to connect them to my Watch has been annoying me in the last few weeks.
I’ve had the same thing, especially when finishing an exercise with the iPhone and Watch both close. 

Mines just annoying when I'm at work, can't have my phone on me so sometimes I connect the AirPods to my Watch to listen but lately they haven't been pairing.

lostkiwi 18 Years · 640 comments

Yeah I have some weird behavior from my AirPods as well, not finding the iPhone or only playing one channel.

it is quite noticeable as they are usually rock solid. I guess it sticks out more when the performance has almost always been outstanding before this. 

kruegdude 13 Years · 340 comments

jsmythe00 said:
mavemufc said:
No problems with the phone and AirPods but trying to connect them to my Watch has been annoying me in the last few weeks.
SMH I expect nothing less from buggy ios

And yet the fix for this is trivially simple.