Published Feb 16, 2024, 8:01 AM EST
Mahnoor Faisal is a tech journalist covering AI and productivity tools with bylines at XDA, SlashGear, MakeUseOf, Laptop Mag, and Android Police.
She's been writing professionally since she was sixteen, and has since penned hundreds of articles. This includes in-depth coverage of AI tools like NotebookLM to breaking news across the AI space. Her passion for technology started when she received her first iPod Touch (4th generation) on her 8th birthday, and she's been deep in the tech world ever since.
Currently pursuing a degree in computer science, Mahnoor brings both a journalist's eye and a technical foundation to her coverage of how AI is reshaping the way we work and learn.
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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.
Credit: Hamlin Rozario/MakeUseOf
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 explain why your AirPods status light may be flashing green, it likely means the charging case can't recognize your AirPods.
Credit: Mahnoor Faisal/MakeUseOf
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 the Setup button on the back of the charging case or the Noise Control button on the AirPods Max's left earcup.
Credit: Hamlin Rozario/MakeUseOf
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 involves resetting your AirPods to factory settings and 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 the Setup button 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 the Digital Crown and Noise Control button 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 to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the Info (i) button next to your AirPods' name to find the Forget This Device option.
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, tap Connect. Press and hold the Setup button at the back of your charging case until the status light flashes white to enter pairing mode. AirPods Max users should press and hold the Noise Control button 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.