The status light on your AirPods or AirPods Pro’s case can change to three different colors: green, orange, and white. Sometimes, you may even notice your AirPods flashing a specific color. But what exactly do the different colors signify?
What Do the Different Colors on Your AirPods' Case Mean?
Depending on your AirPods model, you can find the status light outside the case (on the front) or inside it. The only exception is the AirPods Max, where the status light sits next to the Lightning port.
When your AirPods are in their charging case with the lid open, the status light indicates the battery status of your earbuds. On the other hand, if you’re using your AirPods and you open the lid of your charging case, the status light indicates your charging case’s battery status. In both cases, the status light will either be green or orange.
A green status light indicates that your AirPods case is fully charged, while an orange light indicates that it can’t deliver one full charge. If you see no light at all, it’s best to connect your charging case to a power outlet or place it on a wireless charging pad. While Apple doesn’t explainwhy your AirPods status light may be flashing green, it likely means the charging case can’t recognize your AirPods.
On the other hand, a flashing white light simply means that your AirPods are in pairing mode. You’ll see this status light when you long-press theSetupbutton on the back of the charging case or theNoise Controlbutton on the AirPods Max’s left earcup.
If the status light flashes orange, it’s a sign that your AirPods have faced some sort of pairing error. We’ll help you fix that below.
How to Get Rid of the Orange Light on Your AirPods Case
Getting rid of the static orange light is easy; you just need to fully charge your AirPods and the charging case. However, fixing a flashing orange light often involvesresetting your AirPods to factory settingsand then re-pairing them with your device.
To reset your AirPods, put them back in the case and wait for a minute. Then, press and hold theSetupbutton for about 15 seconds. The status light will flash orange first and then white to confirm you’ve reset your AirPods. If you own the AirPods Max, you’ll need to press theDigital CrownandNoise Controlbutton simultaneously for roughly 15 seconds to do the same.
Next, forget or remove your AirPods from your device’s Bluetooth settings. On iPhones, you can go toSettings > Bluetoothand tap theInfo (i)button next to your AirPods' name to find theForget This Deviceoption.
Once you’ve unpaired your AirPods, put both earbuds in the charging case, keep the lid open, and bring them near your iPhone. When a pop-up appears, tapConnect. Press and hold theSetupbutton at the back of your charging case until the status light flashes white to enter pairing mode. AirPods Max users should press and hold theNoise Controlbutton instead.
Remember that you won’t get a similar pop-up on non-Apple devices. You’ll need to manually connect by searching for Bluetooth accessories on your device once you’ve put your AirPods in pairing mode.
Unfortunately, if your AirPods status light continues to flash orange and you can’t pair it with your device, your only option is to contact Apple Support for hardware assistance.
