Airpods Still Connected to Previous Owner [4 Solutions]

Reset your AirPods by pressing and holding the case button for 15 seconds until the light flashes white then amber. Also reset your iPhone’s network settings in Settings > General > Reset. Then try pairing your AirPods again. If it fails, contact Apple Support to unlink remotely with your AirPods serial number.

Have you ever bought a pair of used AirPods only to find they are still connected to the previous owner’s Apple ID? This common issue can be incredibly frustrating, leaving you unable to use your new AirPods until the connection is removed.

Fortunately, with the right troubleshooting steps, you can get your AirPods disconnected from the old owner and paired with your devices. This comprehensive guide will provide you with step-by-step solutions to Airpods Still Connected to Previous Owner.

Why Troubleshooting is Critical for Used AirPods

With AirPods being one of the most popular headphones globally, buying used AirPods is an attractive option for many looking to save money. However, used AirPods often come with a major catch – they may still be connected to the previous owner’s iCloud account. You can also love to read How to Remove Apple Id from Airpods Without Previous Owner?

This occurs because the AirPods pairing is stored in the case, which relies on the original owner’s iCloud account for connectivity. So even if you reset the AirPods themselves, they could easily reconnect to the old iCloud account.

Until you disconnect the used AirPods from the previous owner’s account, you’ll face significant functionality issues:

• You can’t manually pair the AirPods with your Apple devices
• Features like “Hey Siri” won’t work properly
• Firmware updates will fail
• You won’t be able to see battery levels or track AirPods location
• Automatic switching between Apple devices will be disabled

Clearly, troubleshooting the AirPods connection is an essential first step before you can use your used AirPods.

This guide will equip you with in-depth solutions to remove the old iCloud link completely. By the end, your AirPods will work seamlessly with your Apple ID and devices.

5 Common Issues Faced When AirPods Connect to Previous Owner

To troubleshoot effectively, you first need to understand the core problems that arise when used AirPods remain paired with the original buyer. Here are the most frequent frustrations faced in this situation:

Can’t Manually Pair AirPods

The most obvious issue is being unable to manually pair the AirPods with your iPhone, iPad or MacBook. When you open the AirPods case near your Apple device, you’ll see a message that the AirPods are still connected to the previous owner.

This happens because the previous owner’s iCloud account has priority in connecting to the AirPods. Unless this link is removed, your devices cannot connect to the AirPods.

Audio Sharing Disabled

With the AirPods tied to another iCloud account, features like “Hey Siri” and audio sharing between two AirPods users do not work properly.

Siri will be linked to the old account, ignoring any “Hey Siri” commands you say. And you won’t be able to leverage audio sharing to listen with a friend.

Can’t Update Firmware

AirPods firmware updates are delivered based on the iCloud account associated with the AirPods.

So if your AirPods are still synced to the previous owner, your iPhone will be unable to push new firmware updates to the AirPods. This prevents you from getting the latest features and optimizations.

No Battery Status or Location Tracking

You rely on your iPhone to check AirPods battery levels, charging status, and track location in case they are lost.

But with another person’s iCloud account controlling connectivity, your iPhone will be unable to pull battery and location data from the AirPods and display it to you in Find My app.

Automatic Switching Not Working

A key benefit of the H1 chip in AirPods is the ability to automatically switch playback between your iPhone, iPad and MacBook.

However, this automatic switching depends on all devices being signed into the same iCloud account. With the AirPods still synced to the old owner, automatic switching will fail.

Now that you comprehend the critical problems caused, let’s explore solutions.

4 Solutions to Disconnect AirPods from Previous Owner

The good news is that there are tried and tested methods to unlink the AirPods from the original buyer’s iCloud and pair them properly with your account.

Here are step-by-step guides covering the top troubleshooting approaches:

Solution 1: Factory Reset AirPods

Resetting your AirPods to factory settings is the first solution to attempt. The steps are:

1. Open the AirPods case and keep it close to your iPhone.
2. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods.
3. Tap “Forget this Device” to remove the AirPods from your iPhone’s Bluetooth menu.
4. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the AirPods case for 15 seconds. The status light on your AirPods case will flash white then amber, indicating a successful reset.
5. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and pair with the AirPods again like new.

This factory reset wipes the AirPods’ memory and breaks the connection with the previous owner’s iCloud account. It’s the simplest first step to try.

However, if the connection persists, you’ll need to attempt more advanced solutions covered in the following sections.

Solution 2: Reset Network Settings on Your iPhone

Beyond resetting the AirPods themselves, you may also need to reset the network settings on your iPhone to clear any links with the old iCloud account. Follow these steps:

• Go to Settings > General on your iPhone.
• Scroll down and tap “Reset”.
• Choose “Reset Network Settings” from the menu.
• Enter your passcode if prompted.
• Confirm that you want to reset network settings when asked. This will wipe all Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth pairings saved on your iPhone.
• Once your iPhone reboots, try pairing your AirPods again.

Resetting network settings forces your iPhone to forget any previous AirPods connections and allows a fresh pairing. Together with the AirPods factory reset, this may resolve your issue.

Solution 3: Turn Off Automatic Switching

The automatic device switching function can sometimes cause used AirPods to reconnect with the previous owner.

Turning off automatic switching prevents this behavior:

• On your iPhone, open the Settings app and select Bluetooth.
• Tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods.
• Turn off “Connect to This iPhone” and “Connect to This iPad” toggles.
• Disable Automatic Ear Detection too for good measure.
• Repeat this on any other Apple devices you own.

With automatic switching disabled on all devices, the AirPods have a lower chance of reconnecting to the old iCloud account.

Solution 4: Contact Apple Support to Unpair Remotely

If all other troubleshooting steps fail, you can contact Apple Support to unlink the AirPods remotely from the previous owner’s account:

1. Reach out to Apple Support by phone, chat or email.
2. Provide the serial number of your AirPods case. This can be found engraved on the inside of the case lid.
3. Ask the representative to remotely unpair the AirPods from the old iCloud account on their end.
4. Apple will verify if the AirPods were lost/stolen. Share your proof of purchase to confirm you rightfully own them.
5. If satisfied, Apple Support can transmit a remote unlink command. This breaks the tie to the old owner.
6. Finally, pair the AirPods with your devices normally.

Contacting Apple is the last resort to remove the previous pairing if all else fails. However, Apple may refuse to help if the AirPods appear stolen, so have your purchase proof handy.

5 Preventative Measures to Avoid AirPods Connecting to Old Owners

Beyond troubleshooting fixes, you can also take preventative measures to avoid used AirPods maintaining the old link.

Here are proactive tips when purchasing pre-owned AirPods:

1. Only buy AirPods from reputable sellers who provide proof of purchase and ownership. Avoid sketchy sites.
2. Before purchasing, ask the seller to factory reset the AirPods on their end. This gives you a clean slate upon receiving them.
3. When you receive the AirPods, immediately factory reset them again yourself to be safe.
4. While making the initial connection, turn off automatic switching on your devices.
5. Avoid updating firmware until your AirPods have been fully disconnected from the old owner.

Following these best practices reduces the likelihood of used AirPods staying paired to the previous account.

5 Common Troubleshooting Mistakes to Avoid

When trying to fix AirPods still paired to the ex-owner, there are also some common mistakes that should be avoided:

1. Performing a factory reset without first “forgetting” the AirPods from your iPhone’s Bluetooth menu. Always forget first before resetting.
2. Not resetting both AirPods and your iPhone’s network settings together. Both steps may be required for a clean slate.
3. Continuing to use automatic switching between Apple devices when it could be triggering the old link.
4. Updating firmware before properly unlinking the AirPods from the previous owner’s iCloud account.
5. Not providing Apple Support with your AirPods serial number and proof of purchase when seeking remote unpairing.

Being cognizant of these pitfalls will help your troubleshooting go smoothly and avoid frustrations.

7 Tips for Troubleshooting Unpaired AirPods

To round out this comprehensive guide, here are some bonus troubleshooting tips for used AirPods:

1. If “Hey Siri” isn’t working, disable then re-enable the feature using iOS settings while AirPods are connected.
2. Check Find My app to see if previous owner marked AirPods as lost and enable Lost Mode. This can block pairing.
3. Try resetting your iCloud password if AirPods seem to automatically reconnect to your account.
4. Soft reset both iPhone and AirPods by powering them off completely then back on.
5. Make sure both AirPods (not just one) are properly seated in the charging case when resetting.
6. If issues arise after updating firmware, downgrade to the previous firmware version.
7. Avoid using public Wi-Fi when first pairing to reduce connection conflicts.

Airpods Still Connected to Previous Owner, You should now have in-depth knowledge to troubleshoot any used AirPods still connected to the previous owner.

Just take it step-by-step. Start with the basics like factory resets, then progress through more advanced solutions until the AirPods successfully unpair and work flawlessly with your Apple ID and devices.