Apple AirPods have become one of the most popular wireless headphone choices across the globe.
With their innovative sound and simple charging technology, you can listen to high-quality spatial audio for hours, without the need for a wired connection.
However, what happens when the charging case becomes damaged and ineffective?
How are you meant to go about your daily commute without your all-important music blasting in your ears?
Unfortunately, many people have encountered this dilemma. They are unable to maintain the battery level when the USB becomes damaged or their charging case is stolen or ineffective.
In this article, we are going to give you some simple steps to resolve this frustrating problem, as well as debunk some common charging myths that have somehow worked their way into society.
We’ll also let you know if there’s a way how to charge AirPods without charger.
Let’s get into it.
How To Charge AirPods Without Charger — Is It Possible?
Spoiler alert: You cannot charge your AirPods without a charging case!
There is not a single real option that allows you to charge your Airpod Pros without a case unless you are a serious pro with technology, electrics, and welding.
Why is this the case, you’re probably asking?
Well, one thing that makes Apple earphones so unique is that they pack a lot of punch for their size, and this requires a lot of hardware to fit in a small area. That makes it very difficult for Apple to add a power source big enough for a USB cable connection
If we then decide that we are going to try and make a makeshift cable that inserts into the small narrow pin charging holes on your AirPods, we can cause major damage to the battery’s health and lifespan.
So, overall, it is best to stick with the charging method developed by the manufacturers.
How Long Can You Expect The Battery Life of Your AirPods To Last?
Without any battery issues, and with a full charge, the AirPods Pro boasts an outstanding 24 hours of listening time.
And with just 15 minutes of charging in the case, you can expect up to three hours of listening time. You’ll get two hours out of the same charge if you are using your wireless earphones for a mobile conversation.
Another nifty little aspect built into the Apple AirPods is a software application called the battery widget.
With this, a user can check the battery status, determine the battery’s health, and find out how long their buds will last from their iPhone or Apple Watch.
This means if you do find there’s damage to your earphones’ case or charging cable, you can figure out the exact remaining lifespan of your AirPods, allowing you some time to sort out a replacement.
How To Charge Apple AirPods When Your Charger Malfunctions
So, your charger has stopped working.
Time to figure out the problem and sort out a safe and effective solution.
Here are the methods for solving the most common problems when your AirPods stop charging.
Borrow a Friend’s Charging Kit
The quickest and simplest method to charge up your AirPods without going to more precise and time-consuming lengths is to borrow a friend’s charging kit.
This is not a long-term solution. However, it is better to use this method if you are unsure whether your problem is the actual battery in the buds, the case, or the charging cable.
Not only will this give you a few extra hours of battery life in your wireless headset, but it will also afford you time to determine exactly what is wrong with your charging set.
For this solution to work, you will have to ensure the borrowed cases are compatible with your AirPods’ design.
For example, if you have a set of first-generation AirPods, then they will only charge in first or second-generation cases. In the event you have a set of AirPod Pros, you will only be able to charge these in your pal’s case if they also own a set of AirPod Pros.
Buy a Replacement Charging Cable
USB charging cables are extremely flimsy and can break often.
Luckily, this fix is a lot cheaper and simpler than having to replace your bud’s battery or the entire case.
One way to tell if you have an issue with the charging cable is when the status light on the charging case will be flashing, but after a long period of charging, the light does not switch to green.
Also, you will find that the battery widget indicates the battery level is not increasing, and that no change in the battery percentage has occurred. In some bizarre cases, you may notice battery drain, and that your AirPods actually begin to lose juice when connecting a USB cable to the case.
If you want to triple-check that you have a problem with the USB cable, then you can always attempt to charge or connect it with another device. Devices such as laptops, security cameras, or game consoles will have inputs for a USB cable. If you notice that it still isn’t working, then you may have to buy another.
If you are after a cheap and reliable Airpod Charger Cable for Recharging generation 1 and 2 AirPods, then check out these being sold on Amazon for only $15. You can also get free next-day delivery so you can get back to your music almost instantly.
You can also pick them up from your local Apple Store, but expect to pay premium prices!
Buy A Replacement Wireless Charging Case
For most of us, having a USB charger that breaks often or a case that seems to malfunction at every turn can become infuriating.
And that’s when we decided to take the plunge into wireless charging.
That’s right. By purchasing a Wireless charging compatible case and a Qi-certified charging mat, we were able to charge our AirPods without any cables.
Having a wired connection makes the likelihood of damage and battery drain a lot higher, with it being fairly simple to pull the connection during mundane tasks, such as vacuum cleaning.
A wireless charging pad is very simple, doing exactly what its name implies. All we need to do is place our buds in the compatible charging case and lie them on the mat.
If it works, the status light should flash amber during the battery charging phase. Then after an hour or so, it will change to a green light to signify a fully charged set of wireless audio devices.
Unfortunately, some brands claiming to have great wireless charging devices are not telling the truth. A few particularly bad apples don’t even sell a fully Qi-compatible charging mat.
You must do research when buying one of these, ensuring that they have a decent amount of reviews and won’t ruin the battery health of your AirPods.
Can You Charge Apple AirPods With a New Case?
There’s a common misconception that you need to buy an exact replica of your generation of AirPods from the apple store for it to work correctly.
And while this is your safest option to avoid faulty knock-offs that can harm your battery life, it isn’t entirely necessary.
Hey, I’ve even met some people who believe any damage or malfunctioning with their charging case must be resolved by purchasing a whole new set of AirPods.
You do not need to do this!
First up, you need to check any warranties or guarantees you may have with Apple. If your device is still covered, then you can send the malfunctioning case back for repair or replacement.
If not, then shop around. Look for refurbished or high-quality off-brand AirPod cases for sale. Make sure you read the reviews and that it is compatible with your buds.
If you are a bit of a techie, then you can double-check the hardware in the case yourself. If you know your stuff, you can see if it really has lightning-fast charging speed and all of the features that will maintain your battery health.
Obviously, if you have the money to spare and want everything branded by Apple, then your best option is to spring for the Apple versions. This is especially true if you own a pair of AirPods pro, as the cases compatible with these are quite rare.
How To Charge AirPods With a Different Case
AirPods are extremely interchangeable, and pairing them with a new case is very simple. It can be completed in just 5 minutes.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide you can follow to switch between your cases or change from a broken one to your brand new charging case:
- First, find and purchase a compatible charging case.
- Place the two buds in each section of the case, and close the lid.
- Wait for the status light to blink orange. If this does not occur, reposition your AirPods in the case.
- Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
- Click connect on your mobile device to finish pairing the wireless headset.
- Allow the charging case to return to the orange status light to signal it is charging, and then leave it in this position until it turns green, showing that it is fully charged.
What Are The Best Replacement Charging Cases On The Market?
Finding high-quality charging cases to replace your broken ones is a very important task. It requires hours of scouring the internet comparing the original case and different brand cases to ensure you are making the right choice.
Luckily for you, we have two perfect recommendations available on Amazon if you’re looking to buy a replacement wireless charging case.
1. Wireless Apple Charging Case
Look, purchasing an Apple-branded charging case is going to set you back a hefty amount.
Arguably, though, the main thing you are buying with this product is the logo.
It is created with the same lightweight durable plastic as most other brands, with the hardware inside being fairly reliable, but nothing special.
The only thing that you can be sure of with this type of charging case is the high-speed charging and great protection for your battery health. You’ll also have the added benefit of a flashing, LED light when your AirPods are fully charged.
This wireless Apple Charging Case is compatible with Qi charging mats, meaning we can escape wired USB connections and remove the risk of cable damage.
Pros
- Reliable and safe
- Compatible with Qi Charging Mats for wireless charging
- LED light that flashes when the battery is fully charged
- Allows you to stick with Apple-branded accessories
- The highest reviewed charging case on Amazon
- If purchased from the Apple store, will have a warranty
Cons
- Unnecessarily expensive
- Plastic case can be easily damaged and scratched
- Rarely in stock
This link is only for 1st and 2nd generation AirPods, however, you can easily find some for the 3rd generation AirPods and AirPod Pros.
2.ORNARTO Compatible with AirPods Pro Case
If those with first or second-generation AirPods choose this option, you’ll be halving the cost of buying an Apple Branded case.
And the first thing you will notice about the design is the extra silicone protection.
That’s right — rather than buying a plastic-covered case, you will have one that is protected from damage, scratches, and dirt, so you won’t have to worry about dropping them on the floor.
They also pack pretty powerful hardware, with a 450 mAh battery that can charge in around 3 hours, and leave you with a whole day of listening time. If you only have time for 20 minutes of charging, you will have around 4 hours of battery life!
The reviews for this device are high and plentiful, with one user stating it is “well priced, works well, looks nearly the same as Apple.”
Pros
- Very reasonably priced
- Looks similar to its Apple counterpart and works just as well
- Has an LED light to signal when your buds are fully charged
- Silicone protection to prevent damage and scratches
- A lot of high reviews from a variety of users
Cons
- Doesn’t feature the Apple Logo.
- Only available for the first two generations of AirPods.
- Has been known to be a little bit temperamental and stops charging in some positions
Biggest Myths About Charging Airpods Without a Case
You must fully understand that you cannot charge your AirPods without a case.
Whether you need to borrow a friend, or purchase a new one, you need a case.
Sometimes, we can get sucked into myths and conspiracy theories on the internet, and some people have come up with a method you can try and use to charge them without a case: Using a narrow pin charger.
That’s right, by putting an old Nokia charger into the small holes of each AirPod, some believe that you can increase the battery health.
However, you are just going to damage them.
A narrow pin charger will be likely to force a voltage across the buds that it is not prepared for. This can be extremely unsafe and can lead to you shocking yourself and melting the innards of your AirPod.
Not only this, but you probably won’t even be able to get electricity to flow into the buds using a narrow pin charger. Remember, all devices and charges have been manufactured with a certain contact point and these types of Nokia chargers are not developed for an AirPod.
While we are on the topic of myths, if you come across a website or mobile application that claims it can transfer battery percentage from your phone to your AirPods, do not trust it.
This is a method scammers use to get you to give up your personal information, download some odd apps, put a virus on your phone, or worse, sell your information.
Don’t fall for it!
Conclusion
So, if you wanted to know how to charge AirPods without charger, the bad news is you can’t. But we hope we’ve given you the tools to find a solution when your charger stops working.
If your charging case breaks, or the wire malfunctions, you will need to replace it before you can use your AirPods again, do not fall for the common myths that you can charge your AirPods without a case.
We believe that MEUBRJ wireless charging case is the perfect option for those of you who need a new charger, with it coming in a lot cheaper than the Apple options.
Unfortunately, if you have the 3rd generation AirPods or AirPod Pros, you may have to get your replacement from the Apple website.
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