How to charge wireless headphones. How to properly charge wireless headphones Why does the battery in a Bluetooth headset drain quickly?

About two months ago I finally gave in and bought my first personal ones.

Before this, I didn’t really think about purchasing the first completely wireless headphones from Apple and this made my friends. I changed my mind about these inserts very dramatically.

However, I It took me a while to make friends with them. First, I came across defective headphones, and then I encountered a whole set of problems, the solutions to which I will discuss below.

1. AirPods don't play well enough


The equalizer has a bunch of presets. Don't forget about them.

What should be done: Go to Settings > Music > Equalizer and select More Bass.

Before AirPods, I actively used in-ear headphones. Due to the design features, they play louder and bassier, and after them apple headphones seem weak.

However, this is not due to the mediocre speakers that are used in the earbuds, but to the manufacturer’s policy of trying to create the most balanced sound possible.

If you want to, to make the noise louder, use the “More lows” item in the equalizer settings. After turning it on it will definitely get better.

2. Headphone volume leaves much to be desired


Many people forget about this setting.

What should be done: Go to Settings > Music > Volume Limit and change Maximum Volume.

When I first bought the headphones, I always thought they were too quiet. The volume was clearly not enough in city public transport, as well as on trains and planes.

It turned out that for some reason “Volume Limit” was turned on in the settings of my iPhone - apparently, I experimented with its level as part of tests for some material on the site.

When I raised it to maximum the problem went away.

3. Earbuds lose connection within a short distance


AirPods are great.

What should be done: stop believing in magic and carry an iPhone in your pocket or upload music to Apple Watch.

AirPods use a special W1 chip. It is designed for ease of switching between sources, increasing time battery life and expanding the range of use.

Surprisingly, without additional interference, the headphones actually pick up the signal from an iPhone or MacBook at a distance of up to 30 meters. However, at home or in an office space it is significantly reduced. Through a couple of interior walls their range unlikely to exceed 10 meters.

For AirPods, which are not felt in the ears, this is especially true. When you put on headphones, you completely forget about them after a couple of minutes and are very surprised that the signal starts to cut out in the next room.

The solution to the problem turned out to be iPhone as a source in your pocket, as well as the Apple Watch, which rarely leaves my left wrist.

4. AirPods sometimes fly out of your ears


Feel free to use silicone tips.

What should be done: Put special ear pads on your headphones for an active lifestyle.

Many people actively use AirPods in the gym or while jogging. Despite this, I can confidently say that they were clearly not created for sports.

For example, they easily fly out of my ears during dynamic shaking, so I always take Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless with me on the treadmill.

If you simply don’t have an alternative to AirPods for sports, I recommend taking a closer look at the additional ear pads. You can use either regular earbuds from any inexpensive earbuds or special silicone ones.

5. Headphones get lost quite often


Clearly. Where are my headphones, Apple?

What should be done: find them using the Find My iPhone app.

I've only worked out with AirPods at the gym a couple of times. In both cases, one of them flew out of my ear, and it took me a long time to find it.

The Find My iPhone app came to the rescue every time. Few people know, but it not only displays the last location of the headphones, which is determined by the connection with the iPhone, but also gives the ability to play sound on them.

When you choose this option, a ringing trill begins to flow from them, which can be heard from afar. She will tell you exactly where the headphones went.

6. Sometimes the earbuds stop playing music

What should be done: Disable Auto-Ear Detection.

About once every couple of weeks, for some reason, the Auto-Ear Detection feature stops working for me. I don’t yet know what exactly this is connected with - perhaps a minor glitch is associated with regularly switching headphones between dozens of devices.

When the headphones refuse to play music, I turn off Auto-Ear Detection and then turn it back on. The error disappears.

7. AirPods refuse to connect to iPhone

What should be done: Forcibly connect the headphones through the Music widget in Control Center.

When you take the headphones out of the case and put them in your ears, they should automatically connect to your iPhone. In theory, you just need to start playing and start enjoying your favorite music.

However, if the AirPods were previously connected to another device, they will not always be able to find their way, and they'll have to be pushed a little.

Simply open Control Center and select headphones as the source in the Music widget.

8. Headphones won't connect to your Mac

What should be done: Turn Bluetooth on and off.

My AirPods always work without any problems. However, not so long ago I had to work for a couple of days on a firmware that was before Retina screens - 2009 or 2010.

So, sometimes headphones just refused to connect to a computer that was not the latest. What causes this is unclear, but the problem can be resolved by turning Bluetooth on and off.

9. The case with earbuds refuses to charge

What should be done: Check the Lightning cable and port, which quickly becomes clogged with dust.

Since headphones are always in the pockets of jackets, pants, backpacks and more, their port is sufficient quickly becomes clogged with dust. After this, the AirPods refuse to charge until the Lightning is cleaned with a toothpick.

If cleaning does not help, check the cable. Connect it to your iPhone and watch the charging process. If it doesn't work, try another Lightning.

By the way, the network also writes that The contacts inside the case may become dirty, which serve to charge the headphones themselves. I haven’t encountered this yet, but I’m sure they can be easily cleaned with a cotton swab.

10. AirPods began to discharge quickly


- the thing is not only convenient and practical, sometimes it becomes a real salvation for music lovers, but you need to know how to properly charge wireless headphones.

Advantages of wireless headphones

There is no need to constantly waste time untangling constantly crumpled wires. They just aren't here. Athletes have also long appreciated all the advantages of such a wireless headset. You can safely engage in your favorite sports without fear of accidentally snagging a wire, damaging the gadget’s connector, or even breaking it. Some professions require constant use of headphones. Using a wireless headset allows you to calmly move from your computer or laptop to a distance of about ten meters without interrupting your work process. This setting may differ depending on which model you are using.

Secrets of long-term operation of wireless headphones

If all operating conditions for a wireless headset are met, it will serve the user for a long time.

It is enough to follow a few rules for using such a device:

  1. Proper storage away from moisture and high temperatures;
  2. Careful operation, minimizing mechanical damage;
  3. Correct and correct charging.

Most often, these three points are quite enough for wireless headphones to serve without problems for a very long period.

How to charge wireless headphones


Wireless headphones, like any other equipment, require regular charging. Otherwise correct work device may be broken.

There are several charging features that must be taken into account when using such headphones, in other words, how to charge wireless headphones:

  1. Duration of the charging process;
  2. A wire that is used to recharge the device;
  3. State of charge of the headphones at the time of recharging;
  4. Selecting the charging method (from the network, from a computer or from a car).

How long to charge wireless headphones

On average, the charging process for wireless headphones takes approximately 2-3 hours. The exact amount of time depends on the model and manufacturer. This parameter must be indicated in the operating instructions.

If the headphones have not completed the full charging time and are not charged 100%, this may result in damage to the device. Especially if you do such actions regularly. You may notice an increase in the discharge rate of the headphones and a deterioration in sound. To prevent this from happening, you need to complete the charging.

Wireless headphone charging cable

The headphones should always come with a special wire, which is necessary for charging the device. Manufacturers advise using just such a wire, if possible without replacing it with another charger. The secret is that the charger and headphones are completely adapted to each other. If you replace the charger, you can damage the headphone connector, as a result of which they will stop charging altogether. The voltage of different chargers may differ from each other. This way you can either reduce the charging speed or increase it. Neither the first nor the second option is useful for the device. After systematically using an incorrect charger, you can notice how the discharge rate of the headphones increases significantly. This can significantly shorten the working life of wireless headphones.

Wireless headphone charging level

Whatever the model of headphones, almost every one is equipped with special indicators that show the state of charge. Most often there are two or three of them. By the color of the indicator light you can find out how much charge is left in the device. Also, a critical decrease in the charging level can be understood by the deterioration of the sound. The reproduced sound will significantly reduce its level, and you may notice some distortion. Only if the wireless headphones are completely discharged should they be recharged. Do not interrupt the process until complete.

If the headphones are not completely discharged, but only by a certain percentage, then you should not charge them. If the unit is frequently recharged without being completely discharged, you may notice a deterioration in its performance. This method will definitely not extend the service life of the headphones.

Selecting a charging method for wireless headphones

Wireless headphones require regular charging. Can wireless headphones be charged from the mains? Charging device made in such a way that you can carry out this process both from a regular outlet and from a computer using a USB connection. This does not particularly affect the charging time. If the user does not have the opportunity to recharge the headphones indoors, then this process can also be performed in the car. To do this, you need to acquire a special adapter. If your car has a USB connector, you can also use it.

If all operating rules are followed, wireless headphones can last for quite a long period without problems or malfunctions.

Apple knows how to surprise by releasing something completely new, fabulous and technically magnificent. Something that changes the usual rules of the game. This was the case with the revolutionary iPhone, MacBook Air and iPad.

Two years ago, Apple introduced smart wireless headphones AirPods, which also shook up the market. The popularity of wireless headphones has begun to grow rapidly. In 2017, the overall sales growth compared to 2016 was 18%.

But many consumers still doubt the advisability of buying wireless headphones.

These are the main fears in such cases, and many of them are long overdue to be refuted.

1. The sound from wireless headphones is terrible. No

Many people believe that wireless headphones can only produce “plastic” mediocre sound. They say that only through wired ones you can hear all the subtleties of sound, cool maximum bass, deep sound and reproduction of even ultra-low frequencies. Wrong opinion.

Answer for doubters:

Firstly, there are a huge number of wireless headphones on the market that can enjoy powerful, energetic bass, hear clear, tight sound and sound stage detail. It's a question of price.

Thanks to Qualcomm's apt-X technology, wireless headphones can deliver high-quality sound comparable to many wired models.

Secondly, in order to hear the difference, not only the headphones themselves must meet high demands, but also the sound source and music file. If you listen to music using a smartphone, the difference will be minimal.

2. Wireless headphones drain quickly. No

The second frightening myth is that the batteries of wireless headphones quickly drain. They say you will have to constantly monitor the condition of the battery, as well as manipulate the daily charging of gadgets.

Answer for doubters:

First, it’s time to come to terms with the fact that we live in a time when smartphones can hardly survive on one charge until the evening, and smart watch maximum lasts for three days. The question of systematic actions. I put my smartphone on charge and charge my headphones too.

In addition, the batteries in modern wireless headphones are enough even for a flight across the Atlantic. Even budget ones Philips models They hold a charge for 12 hours, and the revolutionary AirPods together with the case allow you to listen to music for 24 hours. With breaks for exercise.

Finally there is wireless solutions, which also come with a wire. For all music lovers.

3. You don't look like an idiot. Controversial

Of course, when you are a “king” going to a match of the Russian national team, it doesn’t matter what is inserted into your ears. But for many ordinary people, AirPods-level earplugs look like crap. Like you look like a clown.

Answer for doubters:

I would like to ask such skeptics a question - Don't you look strange and funny tied up with wires? I am sure that in the future people will look at photographs of people with wired headphones as if they were Neanderthals.

Those who worry about their appearance may take a closer look at wireless headphones, which are closer in appearance to the “classics”. For example, the chic Beats X.

4. Wireless headphones can be lost. Yes, but who's to blame?

Of course, small wireless headphones look like shelves in a lost and found office.

In this regard, wired ones seem more reliable. Firstly, their fall from the ear will not go unnoticed, and secondly, the wire, on the contrary, can save your smartphone.

Surely, many readers literally “caught” falling iPhones by the wires. But they can pull in the other direction. And the smartphone will fly to the asphalt.

Answer for doubters:

You can lose everything. A question of one’s own composure (or absent-mindedness).

5. Wireless headphones are much more expensive. Not always

Good wired headphones are significantly cheaper than high-quality wireless ones. There are no questions here. Moreover, there are cool “classics” that simply have no analogues in the wireless world.

Answer for doubters:

It is necessary to evaluate not only the purchase price, but also the price of owning the gadget. Many cheap wired solutions have a lifespan. Any creases or frayed cable can lead to damage to the headphones.

Over the course of my life, I have replaced more than a dozen budget wired headphones. They all “died” according to approximately the same scenario. One of my ears refused to work.

As a result, a rhetorical question arises - What is “cheaper”? 3-4 pairs of wired headphones, the durability of which depends on careful ownership and the absence of “accidents”, or one pair of wireless ones, which will last longer.

You can also remember about the annoying tangle of tangled wires, which is a pleasure to unwind. About limiting movements with “classics”, while Bluetooth headphones give you the opportunity to move freely and not think about where your smartphone is. And also about ease of management wireless headphones(the control logic in AirPods is amazing!).

And a logical question arises - People, what’s wrong with you, why are you struggling with wired headphones?

Apple slightly delayed the release of new wireless AirPods, thanks to which, they say, the company managed to solve a number of technical problems that inevitably happen with new devices. However, judging by the reviews, Apple specialists have not yet solved all the problems with AirPods.

On the other hand, most of the troubles that users most often complain about can be classified as standard. That is, those that the user himself can eliminate without much effort.

If it comes to the point, competently.

In this regard, about what can happen With during their operation, and what should be done in such cases.

AirPods problems - won't connect

If one or both AirPods suddenly stop connecting to the iPhone, iPod or iPad with which you usually use them, then the first thing you need to do is simply insert them into the case. Next, wait at least 10 seconds, then take out both headphones and insert them into your ears. After another 3-5 seconds, AirPods should automatically connect to any of the devices already “familiar” to them, if one is nearby and in working condition.

During the process, the connection indicator on the headphone case should blink white. If White color the indicator is not visible, close the case, press the reset button, holding it, open the case again and look at the color of the indication. It will either immediately turn white, or you need to hold the button down a little longer until it flashes yellow several times and then finally flashes white.

If the headphones still do not connect, then you need to turn off and on Bluetooth, to which the headphones are “attached”, and to which this moment time they don't want to connect. Open " Control Center ", turn off the Bluetooth module, wait with half a minute , turn it on again and look at the behavior of our AirPods. Connected - good, if not connected - reboot them (more on this separately - at the end of the post ).

AirPods problems - only one earphone works ( left or right)

As practice shows, this sometimes happens if for some reason you replace one of the headphones in a pair. Without preset The new AirPod, as a rule, simply does not sync with the old one and does not connect to the playback device. To fix the problem, you just need to command your iPhone, iPad or Mac to “forget” the old AirPods and then connect both existing ones as a new pair. You can do this as follows:

  • open " Settings ", then " Bluetooth » and find the old AirPods in the list;
  • tap the letter “i” on the right and then “ Forget this device "(if you didn’t find the “Forget” function in the device settings, try restarting the network settings: “Settings” → “General” → “Reset” → “Reset network settings”).

After this, we connect both headphones to the device by following the standard pairing procedure. If after this only one earphone still works, perform the reboot procedure (see below).

AirPods problems - won't connect to Mac

First, let's note that if your Mac is, let's say, not very new, then connecting AirPods to it may indeed not be so easy. But sometimes AirPods for some reason don’t want to connect to new Macs. If such an opportunity occurs, then we begin with the actions listed in the previous paragraph.

But keep in mind that if you turn off Bluetooth on your computer, then all wireless BT peripherals that worked with it will also turn off. In particular, a mouse, if it is also Bluetooth. Therefore, instead of disconnecting the laptop’s Bluetooth module, it is better to try removing the current pair with headphones and pairing them again ( « System Settings" -> "Bluetooth" choose "AirPods" and click " X «).

By the way, directly from the Mac, via iCloud, you can also “unlink” the headphones from all your iOS devices with which they are paired, i.e. iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Only after this is it advisable to reboot each of these devices.

New pair with AirPods, open the Bluetooth settings on the Mac again and carry out the standard pairing procedure. Next, iCloud will automatically connect the headphones to all other devices. In the vast majority of cases, failures when connecting AirPods to Apple devices are resolved in this way.

If your AirPods suddenly stop automatically connecting to your Mac...

...then you can quickly resolve the problem using one of the following methods:

  • open " System Settings ", click " Bluetooth ", Further - " Turn off Bluetooth ", wait at least 30 seconds, then click " Enable Bluetooth «;
  • in the menu bar, click the speaker icon and in the list “ Output device » indicate AirPods ;
  • on Mac open " System Settings", click " Bluetooth", wait a little while the computer finishes searching for all available Bluetooth devices and AirPods appear in the list (most likely marked " Not connected"), Now in the menu bar (at the very top of the screen) click the speaker icon, also wait a little until all devices are displayed in the list, select AirPods and wait for the sound signal, which indicates the completion of the headphone connection procedure.
  • in some cases they also help several Mac reboots in a row , during which the old iCloud and Bluetooth cache is cleared.
AirPods problems - won't connect to Apple Watch

Before connecting Airpods to your smartwatch via Airplay, try turning on Airplane mode on your Apple Watch for a few seconds, and then turning it off. Focus often helps resolve bugs with connecting or syncing headphones to the Apple Watch.

AirPods problems - won't sync with iCloud

In this case, you should simply log out of iCloud and then log in again. Often this is enough to eliminate various synchronization bugs. Including those that cause one earphone to stop working (this often happens in the first 1-2 days after connecting AirPods).

If reconnecting to iCloud does not help, then the synchronization problem can also be solved by restarting the headphones themselves. The procedure is described below.

AirPods problems - turning off while talking on the phone

There is such a problem. And it is especially annoying if the call is very important, or the headphones are turned off when you are on the move - driving, walking or running. Such a sudden shutdown occurs for a number of reasons, and therefore the problem is also resolved in different ways.

Let's start with the simplest thing - check the battery charge level of the headphones. If this is okay, then we switch the AirPods to work with phone calls only through one earphone. This is their normal mode and AirPods should work without problems in it. We configure AirPods so that the left or right earbud always works as the headset microphone. To do this, tap on the iPhone “Settings” -> “Bluetooth” , in the list of devices we find AirPods and click letter "i" to the right of the name, then tap “ Microphone " and choose at your discretion " Always left AirPods" or " Always the right AirPods«.

In addition, you can also try disabling the automatic ear detection feature for a while. This will reduce the mega-functionality of your AirPods somewhat, but you may be able to find out why the headphones turn off during a call. On the iPhone, press again “Settings” -> “Bluetooth” , in the list of devices we find AirPods and tap letter "i" to the right of the name and on the next screen turn off “ Auto ear detection «.

It also helps in some cases reboot iPhone and/or a complete reboot of AirPods.

AirPods problems - they discharge very quickly

Ideally, fully charged AirPods have up to 5 hours of battery life. A 15-minute charge of completely discharged headphones is enough for about 3 hours of work. And the headphones work for about a day if you put them in the case from time to time.

If the autonomy of your AirPods differs noticeably from these indicators, then first check if the " Auto ear detection ". Thanks to it, the headphones automatically turn off as soon as you take them out of your ears, and do not waste battery power. Let's tap “Settings” -> “Bluetooth”, letter “i” next to AirPods -> “Auto-detection ear”(switch must be green).

If your headphones are draining faster than usual, try opening and closing the AirPods case near your iPhone (or iPad) less often. It is believed that the headphones somehow update the Bluetooth connection every time, which also does not help save the power of their tiny batteries.

If the AirPods discharge very quickly, even if they are not used in any way, then you need to reboot them. And if resetting the settings did not produce the desired effect, then it is better to contact a service or store for advice. It may be that the AirPods will have to be replaced.

how to restart AirPods

The procedure is simple, takes about 20 seconds, but, as you already understand, it allows you to solve many software problems that arise with AirPods. Plus, after rebooting the headphones. As a rule, they also connect faster. So, in order:

  • put AirPods into the case;
  • on the back of the case we find the button, press it and hold the press for at least 20-30 seconds;
  • the orange light on the case lights up - the reboot is complete, close the case;
  • open the case next to the iPhone, after which the headphones will automatically reconnect to the smartphone;
  • iCloud will also automatically reconnect AirPods to all your other Apple devices.
how to clean AirPods

First of all, regularly. Secondly, if you notice that one earphone has started to sound worse (or both have started to sound worse at once), then the first thing you need to do is inspect both devices for the presence of various kinds of substances on them, that is, dirt.

The longer you wear your headphones and the longer you neglect to care for them, the more unpleasant this procedure will end up being. For the simple reason that getting out the earwax that has accumulated in the AirPods holes is not only unpleasant, but also difficult.

You can clean your AirPods using a regular toothbrush (clean and dry) with soft bristles. If the radiator grilles are heavily clogged, try first “stirring up” the dirt with a brush, and then, with the utmost care, pull it out using... for example, a vacuum cleaner. And don’t forget that you have in your hands, “ears” for 160 bucks.

As a last resort and if the headphones are yours , then you can use your mouth (they say that this is even more effective than using a vacuum cleaner). It’s unlikely to succeed the first time, but if you repeat the procedure several times and using a suitable brush, sooner or later you will remove debris from the grates.

Let’s repeat, there really isn’t much that’s pleasant, so it’s better not to let things get to that point and just clean your headphones at least from time to time, without waiting until they get clogged to a completely indecent state.

Around the beginning of summer, I was lucky enough to purchase SVEN AP-B550MV wireless headphones. The headphones pleased me with their sound and autonomy. Thanks to good battery life, I didn’t immediately recognize that wireless headphones had become wired.

One morning the headphones died and refused to turn on. Everything seemed simple. You take the headphones and put them on charge. But neither after an hour, nor after 2, nor even after 4 hours did the headphones turn on.


Having disassembled the headphones, the first thing I did was inspect the board. The board was intact and had no visible damage. The second thing in line was voltage measurements. The tension turned out to be okay too. The battery produced 2.9v, both on the board and at the terminals. I connected the charger to a standard port and measured the voltage at the output from the board. Nothing was going to the battery, so I connected the charger directly to the battery terminals. After a 10-second recharge from a 5v 0.5A source, I tried to start the headphones. They earned it.
Since my experience in repairing any boards infinitely tends to zero, I didn’t touch anything (especially since the board was still connected via BT and played music perfectly).

The simplest thing that seemed to me was to solder it to the battery and connect it to an additional connector.

The connector was used from a set of adapters to accommodate the DC plug.

The charging cable was soldered straight USB → DC. Everything worked, the headphones were charging. But there was one “BUT”. Charging had no control. Accordingly, when disconnected from charging, the battery could either not be fully charged or overcharged. And the latter is very undesirable.

In order to control the charging process, I decided to use a small LCD voltmeter.


To protect against overcharging, I used an FDC-2S-2 controller.


The housing for this was the Housing for 2 AA batteries.


Using a soldering iron and a knife, I soldered everything together and also made a hole in the case.

However, I made a mistake and drew a conclusion from the power supply side, from which the information was not reliable.

Having disassembled everything and soldered it correctly, I got the correct values.

Result: The wireless headphones are now wireless again and charge without problems, plus I can now determine the battery charge level.

Update: re-uploaded the photo.