There can be nothing worse than losing AirPods, especially if someone else finds them and resets them. So, can earpods be tracked? Yes. Lost AirPods can be tracked by Apple’s Find My feature, but resetting them removes them from your account. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how Find My AirPods works, what happens after a reset, and whether Find My AirPods is still tracking after a factory reset.
Understanding Find My AirPods
The Find My app includes a tracking feature called Find My AirPods. It shows the last location of lost AirPods on a map. Users can also play a sound on AirPods if they are close by, making them easy to locate.
As long as AirPods are attached to an Apple ID, this feature keeps working. They disconnect from your account if they’re reset, thus you cannot track them. For that reason, before the AirPods get reset, you must track them quickly.
How to Find Lost AirPods
How can I find my AirPods? Losing your AirPods can be frustrating, but Apple’s Find My feature makes it easier to locate them. Whether they are nearby or far away, you can track them using the Find My App or iCloud to recover them quickly.
Using Find My App
The easiest way to track lost AirPods is through the Find My App. It locates them on a map and plays a sound if they are close by. It’s easy and fast to retrieve.
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Select Devices and tap on your AirPods.
- The last known location appears on the map.
- If nearby, tap Play Sound to locate them.
Using iCloud
If you don’t have access to your iPhone, then the iCloud Find My AirPods tracker app can also help you track your lost AirPods. This shows you their last known location, so you know where they were last connected.
- Visit iCloud Find My.
- Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Click on All Devices and select your AirPods.
- If they are online, you’ll see their location.
Tip: If AirPods are lost in public, enable Lost Mode in Find My to alert anyone who finds them.
What Happens When AirPods Are Reset
If you reset AirPods, all previous connections are erased, and AirPods are reset as if they were a new pair. Find My AirPods stops working, and your Apple ID is no longer linked to them.
After a reset:
- AirPods cannot communicate with your devices.
- Find My tracking is disabled for the previous owner.
- Anyone can pair them with another iPhone as new.
Once reset, tracking is impossible, making it crucial to find AirPods before they are erased.
Can Someone Connect My Lost AirPods to Another iPhone?
If the person who got your lost AirPods resets them, then they can pair them with any iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Unlike iPhones, AirPods don’t have an Activation Lock on them — that means that they aren’t bound to your Apple ID.
Once reset:
- The new user opens the AirPods case near their device.
- A setup prompt appears, allowing them to connect.
- The AirPods will no longer show in your Find My app.
To prevent theft, Apple should introduce an Activation Lock for AirPods, similar to iPhones. Until then, anyone can use reset AirPods without restrictions.
Can You Track AirPods If Someone Factory-Reset Them?
If you reset AirPods can they still be tracked? No, once AirPods are factory reset, they disconnect from your Apple ID and cannot be tracked. Find My AirPods only works if they are still linked to your account.
After a factory reset:
- Your AirPods disappear from Find My.
- The new owner can pair them as new AirPods.
- Apple does not have a way to block stolen AirPods.
However, if AirPods are lost and not reset yet, you can still track them. If someone finds them, Lost Mode can display a message on the device with your contact details. Unfortunately, once the factory reset AirPods Pro is done, tracking is permanently disabled.
How Far Can AirPods Be Tracked
AirPods can be tracked only when they are within Bluetooth range (about 10-20 meters) of a connected Apple device.
- If AirPods are online, you’ll see their live location.
- If they are offline, you’ll see their last known location before they disconnected.
- If lost outside Bluetooth range, tracking becomes difficult unless they reconnect to another Apple device.
The Find My network works better with AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) and AirPods Max, which use Apple’s U1 Ultra Wideband chip for precise location tracking.
Can Apple Track AirPods by Serial Number
No, Apple cannot track AirPods using the serial number. The serial number is used for:
- Warranty claims
- Authenticity checks
- Repair or replacement services
If someone finds your lost AirPods and takes them to an Apple Store, Apple can verify ownership only if you have proof of purchase. However, they cannot use the serial number to track or disable stolen AirPods.
To protect your AirPods, always enable Find My and store your purchase receipt in case of theft.
What to Do If You Cannot Locate Lost AirPods
If your AirPods are missing and not showing up in Find My, follow these steps to increase your chances of finding them.
Check Find My App
- Open the Find My app and check the last known location.
- If they are nearby, tap Play Sound to help locate them.
- If they are offline, you may only see their last connected location.
Enable Lost Mode
- In Find My, activate Lost Mode for your AirPods.
- This locks them and displays your contact details if someone finds them.
- If the AirPods reconnect to a network, you will receive a notification.
Recharge Your AirPods
- If your AirPods run out of battery, charge them and check Find My again.
- Sometimes, location updates once they reconnect to a device.
If none of these steps work, your AirPods may have been reset or disconnected, making them untraceable.
FAQs
Can AirPods be tracked?
Yes, stolen AirPods can be tracked using Find My as long as they remain linked to your Apple ID. However, if the thief resets them, they will disappear from your account, making tracking impossible. Lost Mode can help if they are still connected to the internet.
How do I reset my AirPods from a previous owner?
You should learn how to factory reset AirPods. To reset AirPods, place them in the charging case and press the setup button for 15 seconds until the status light flashes white. This removes previous connections, allowing them to be paired with a new device. However, this does not prevent tracking if Find My is enabled.
Can AirPods be tracked if dead?
Yes, but only their last known location will be visible in Find My. If they are out of battery, offline, or out of Bluetooth range, tracking will not update until they reconnect to a device.
Conclusion
Tracking lost AirPods is possible using Find My, but once reset, tracking stops. Apple does not offer serial number tracking or an Activation Lock for AirPods, making them easy to reuse after theft. To protect your AirPods, always enable Find My, keep your case safe, and consider marking them with your details.v
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