An open AirPods case beside an unlocked iPhone ought to deliver up a setup card. When the animation stays lacking, the AirPods should still seem below Settings > Bluetooth and join usually, or they might be fully absent from the machine checklist.

The setup animation is just the onscreen a part of pairing. The Bluetooth checklist and the case mild present what is definitely occurring: a flashing white mild means the AirPods are discoverable, whereas no Bluetooth entry means the iPhone has not discovered that pairing sign but.

What the iPhone or case reveals	What it tells you
The AirPods seem in Bluetooth and play audio	Pairing works; solely the setup card was skipped.
The AirPods seem, however tapping them provides Connection Failed	Bluetooth detects them, however pairing has not accomplished.
The AirPods don’t seem, and the case by no means flashes white	The case is just not getting into pairing mode or doesn’t have sufficient energy.
The case flashes white, however the AirPods stay absent	Check the iPhone restart and iOS compatibility sections.
The iPhone says the AirPods are linked to one other Apple Account	The earlier proprietor should take away Find My Lock.

1. Return to the Home Screen and Open the Case Nearby

Apple’s automated card expects an unlocked iPhone on the Home Screen, Bluetooth enabled, and the AirPods shut to the cellphone. Opening the case inside one other app or eradicating the earbuds instantly may cause the transient setup window to cross and not using a card.

1. Unlock the iPhone, return to the Home Screen, and ensure Bluetooth is on below Settings > Bluetooth.
   

   

2. For AirPods or AirPods Pro, go away each earbuds within the case, open the lid, and maintain the case subsequent to the iPhone.
3. For AirPods Max, take them out of the Smart Case and maintain them subsequent to the iPhone inside 60 seconds.
4. Keep the gadgets nonetheless for a number of seconds. If the cardboard seems, faucet Connect and full the onscreen steps.
   

   

5. If no card seems, open Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the AirPods if they’re already listed.

These are the circumstances in Apple’s present AirPods setup directions. On a managed work or faculty iPhone, an administrator might have disabled Bluetooth; that coverage can’t be modified from the traditional Bluetooth display.

If the AirPods join and play audio, the lacking animation wants no additional restore. If they’re absent from Bluetooth, examine the case mild subsequent.

2. Charge Both AirPods and Put the Case in Pairing Mode

The iPhone can not uncover AirPods till their case advertises a pairing sign. A flashing white standing mild confirms that sign; a darkish case or a distinct mild state doesn’t.

1. Seat each AirPods within the charging case and ensure that each are charging. If the case cost is unsure, join it to energy for no less than 20 minutes earlier than retrying.
   

   

2. Close the lid for 15 seconds, then open it.
3. For AirPods 4, AirPods 5, or AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the entrance of the case till the sunshine flashes white.
4. For earlier AirPods and AirPods Pro fashions, press and maintain the setup button on the again till the sunshine flashes white.
5. For AirPods Max, maintain the listening mode button for about 5 seconds till the sunshine flashes white.
6. Hold the open case or AirPods Max subsequent to the iPhone once more.

If the case stays darkish whereas linked to a known-good cable or charger, pairing can not start. Leave it on energy, check one other known-good cable or charger, and prepare service if the standing mild by no means responds.

A white flashing mild adopted by a Bluetooth entry confirms that discovery is working. If the sunshine is white however the iPhone nonetheless sees nothing, restart the cellphone earlier than resetting the AirPods.

3. Restart the iPhone and Retry From the Home Screen

A working pairing mild with no card or Bluetooth entry might be brought on by a stalled Bluetooth discovery session on the iPhone. Restarting clears that momentary state with out eradicating saved Wi-Fi networks or different Bluetooth gadgets.

If the AirPods already join from the Bluetooth checklist, this restart is pointless; it can not make the battery card seem each time.

1. Restart the iPhone.
2. After it turns again on, unlock it, return to the Home Screen, and ensure Bluetooth is on.
3. Put the AirPods again into pairing mode and maintain them beside the iPhone once more.
   

   

Checkpoint: If the AirPods now seem, end pairing and cease right here. If they continue to be lacking whereas the case flashes white, make certain the iPhone’s software program helps that mannequin.

4. Check the Minimum iOS Version for the AirPods Model

Newer AirPods can produce a standard white pairing mild whereas an older iPhone lacks the iOS model required to set them up. Updating iOS fixes that compatibility hole solely when the iPhone itself helps the required launch.

If the iPhone already runs the required model or later, no further software program replace is required for this examine.

AirPods mannequin	Minimum iOS model
AirPods 1	iOS 10
AirPods 2	iOS 12.2
AirPods 3	iOS 15.1
AirPods 4	iOS 18
AirPods 5	iOS 27
AirPods Pro 1	iOS 13.2
AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning)	iOS 16
AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)	iOS 17
AirPods Pro 3	iOS 26
AirPods Max 1 (Lightning)	iOS 14.3
AirPods Max 1 (USB-C)	iOS 18
AirPods Max 2	iOS 26.4

Apple lists the present AirPods Max necessities individually on its AirPods Max setup web page.

1. Open Settings > General > Software Update.
   
2. Install the newest iOS model provided for that iPhone.
   
3. After the replace and restart end, return to the Home Screen and retry pairing.

Checkpoint: If the cardboard seems after the replace, the outdated iOS model was stopping setup. If the iPhone can not set up the required model, repeated resets is not going to add assist; check with a appropriate iPhone as a substitute.

5. Complete the Pairing Manually From Bluetooth

Apple offers handbook Bluetooth pairing as the traditional fallback when the setup animation doesn’t seem. This bypasses the cardboard with out eradicating any working account or community settings.

1. Put the AirPods into pairing mode and ensure that the standing mild flashes white.
2. Open Settings > Bluetooth.
3. Tap the AirPods after they seem below Other Devices. If they’re already below My Devices, faucet their title there.
4. Play audio and choose the AirPods from the AirPlay output menu if wanted.
   

   

If the AirPods join and audio performs, the lacking card was beauty.

If tapping their title produces Connection Failed, the fixes in our AirPods connection-failure information cowl that actual message. If they keep listed however is not going to full pairing, rebuild the saved report beneath.

6. Forget the Saved Pairing, Then Reset the AirPods

The iPhone can retain outdated safety keys whereas the AirPods are attempting to start a brand new session. They stay seen, however authentication by no means finishes. Forgetting the machine removes these keys, and the manufacturing unit reset lets each side create a brand new pairing report.

Use this solely when the AirPods seem however fail to pair, or when the sooner discovery checks didn’t restore setup. AirPods that already join usually don’t want a manufacturing unit reset.

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth, faucet the More Info button beside the AirPods, choose Forget This Device, and ensure. If the AirPods usually are not listed, proceed with the reset.
   

   

2. Put each earbuds within the case, shut the lid, and wait 30 seconds.
3. For AirPods 1, 2, or 3 and AirPods Pro 1 or 2, open the lid and maintain the rear setup button for about 15 seconds, till the sunshine flashes amber after which white.
4. For AirPods 4 or 5 and AirPods Pro 3, open the lid and double-tap the entrance 3 times: as soon as whereas the sunshine is on, once more when it flashes white, and as soon as extra when it flashes quicker. A profitable reset ends with amber, then white.
5. For AirPods Max, cost them to no less than 50 p.c, then maintain the listening mode button and Digital Crown for about 15 seconds till the sunshine flashes amber after which white.
6. Hold the AirPods beside the iPhone and full the brand new pairing.

Apple’s present reset directions use totally different controls for the front-tap and rear-button circumstances, so match the process to the mannequin you personal.

Checkpoint: If the setup card returns, the outdated pairing was the issue. If it stays lacking and the AirPods are used, open-box, or assembled from alternative components, examine the account and half historical past subsequent.

If pairing succeeds however the AirPods don’t grow to be the lively audio machine, our information for AirPods that pair with out connecting covers that separate symptom.

7. Clear Find My Lock or a Replacement-Part Mismatch

Find My Lock is saved with Apple, not solely within the AirPods, so a {hardware} reset can not take away a earlier proprietor’s affiliation. Replacement earbuds or circumstances may also carry a distinct pairing state till all components cost and synchronize collectively.

This part is related solely to used, open-box, or alternative AirPods, or when the iPhone names one other Apple Account or an AirPods mismatch. A brand new matching set with no such alert can skip it.

Message or historical past	Required motion
Paired to one other Apple Account	The earlier proprietor should take away the AirPods from Find My.
AirPods Mismatch or one changed earbud/case	Charge all components collectively, then repeat Apple’s alternative setup.
No white mild or Bluetooth entry on any appropriate iPhone	The case or AirPods want {hardware} analysis.

1. Ask the earlier proprietor to open Find My > Devices, choose the AirPods, open the main points (or swipe up on older iOS variations), and faucet Remove This Device. They may also take away them by way of iCloud.com/discover.
   
2. Reset the AirPods after the elimination, then pair them along with your iPhone once more.
3. If Apple provided an AirPods 1-4 or AirPods Pro alternative earbud or case, put each AirPods within the case, join the case to energy, shut the lid for 20 minutes, after which repeat the model-specific reset.

Apple explains that Find My Lock might be eliminated solely by the account proprietor. Its alternative AirPods directions cowl the additional charging and synchronization steps for combined alternative components.

Checkpoint: If elimination or alternative setup restores the cardboard, full pairing and ensure the AirPods seem below your personal Apple Account.

If a appropriate iPhone nonetheless can not see them whereas the sunshine flashes white, check as soon as with one other up to date iPhone. Failure on each telephones makes a case, earbud, or inside radio fault extra seemingly than a lacking animation.

Record the AirPods mannequin, iPhone mannequin, iOS model, mild conduct, and any alternative historical past, then contact Apple Support.