Imagine one of those alone times you are watching a movie or listening to a song. Or maybe you are at an important meeting, and a notification causes your airpods to disconnect.
Such a situation can be very frustrating, but in this article, we will examine why this happens and how to fix these problems if you are facing them.
On a broad scale, the most likely reason your airpods disconnect is when they connect automatically to other devices capable of receiving notifications. These devices may include Apple Watch, Mac, iPhone, or even iPad; the only way to address this issue would be to disconnect the device. But ensure that you continually update your airpods and devices.
Why Are My AirPods Disconnecting When I Get a Notification?
There are so many reasons why your airpods keep disconnecting whenever you receive a notification.
Below are some of the most viable reasons why it happens;
#1. Automatically Switching Device
There is an existing feature in airpods that allows them to switch from one apple device to another automatically.
Usually, if you use an airpod in a particular apple device but then begin using a different one, you should receive a notification asking if you want to connect the device.
Unfortunately, this does not always turn out, as the Apple device may end up connecting automatically.
When this switching occurs, it is most likely because the airpod disconnected from your device. After all, you were not using it with the device at that moment.
Or it could be that you began playing sounds from an entirely different apple device.
And this is why at times, airpods disconnect from iPhone to Apple watcher after receiving a notification.
#2. When Airpods Need Update
Yes, your airpod does need software updates from time to time. So when your airpod suddenly disconnects and keeps doing so, it may require an update.
As of 2016 and 2017, disconnecting with the iOS 10.1 airpods was ridiculously common. Yet this continues with iOS 11.2.6 in 2018 and iOS 12.1 update.
#3. When Your Devices Need Update
You must constantly check and update your devices. If any appears to be lacking or not up to date, then endeavor to update it.
If you do so, your iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch will no longer disconnect whenever you receive a notification.
#4. Connection Loss with Time
Over time, your connection gets weak, so it ends up disconnecting. When this happens, the connection between the airpods and the device is lost.
The only option would be to reestablish a connection between the airpods and devices.
#5. Turn Off Notifications
Another way this disconnection can occur is when the apps receiving notifications aren’t disabled.
So to avoid this problem of airpods disconnecting, you have to disable the notification from any app you do not wish to receive notification from.
How Do I Stop AirPods From Disconnecting When I Get a Notification?
If your airpods are disconnecting from your iPhone, below are the 12 steps you can carry out to fix the problem;
Step 1: Choosing the Correct Software
For the past few years, there have been three generations of airpods that we have come to know, and each requires compatible software.
Below are the airpods and their compatible software;
| Airpod | Compatible Software |
|---|---|
| Airpods 2 | iOS 12.2 and macOS 10.14 |
| Airpod pro | iOS 13.2 and macOS 10.15.1 |
| Airpods 3 | iOS 15.1 and macOS 12 |
Step 2: Keep Watch on Battery
Ensure that the battery is fully or almost fully charged. The reason is that as long as you are out of batteries, you will not be able to hear anything.
Follow all of these if you intend to check the charging state of your airpods on your iPhone;
- Open the lids and hold the airpods case close to your iPhone with the airpods.
- Then, you will see the battery levels from the appearance of a popup on your phone.
- On the homepage, swipe from left to right and scroll down so you can also access the battery widget to check the battery status.
- If you haven’t added the battery widget, keep scrolling down until you find and tap on “Edit.” Then, you can add batteries.
- The widget is capable of showing the battery status of apple devices that are associated.
Step 3: Bluetooth State
Whichever device you use with the airpods, turn on that device’s Bluetooth.
Check if the Bluetooth is on by opening your iPhone or iPad’s control center.
Go to your device settings, then to Bluetooth. And after accomplishing all these, there should be a green indicator showing that the Bluetooth is activated.
Even if the Bluetooth is on, turn it Off and then On again. You can turn it off by tapping on the green indicator, which will turn white.
Then give it a period of 15 to 20 seconds before trying to turn it on again. Once you turn it off, it will tell you that the Bluetooth is disconnected.
Step 4: Check the Device Setting of Your Audio
Make sure you select your airpods as the output audio device. For example, if your airpods report that they are in your ear, then the selection as an output device will happen automatically.
But if it still hasn’t happened, you can make it happen if you pick up your iPhone and tap the AirPlay icon that you can find just below the track you are Playing.
Step 5: Reconnect Airpods
a specific action that is undertaken by many when their devices are giving them a hard time is to turn it off and then on again. A similar approach also applies to your airpods.
Below are the ways you can do this;
- After putting the airpods in their case, shut the lid for 20 seconds
- Go to the back of the case, open the lid, and then press and hold the power button at the back
- After a few seconds, the light should display an orange and then white light
- Then your air would reset
- And make sure to place your airpods beside your iPhone with the Bluetooth turned On.
- Finally, consider the setup options offered by your iPhone device.
Step 6: Airpod Reset
You reset your airpods by doing the following;
- Insert the airpods in their case and close the lid
- Wait for about half a minute
- Go to your Bluetooth setting and locate the airpods in the device list of your iPhone and tap the I symbol that appears close to devices to open a new page.
- Then tap on “Ignore this device”.
- Then press the setup button on the case for 20 seconds and display the orange and white light.
Step 7: Clean Airpods
You might not know, but the problem might be related to dirt in your airpod. So the best thing will be to clean it, although it’s a delicate procedure.
Researching how to clean airpods will be helpful to you rather than taking a head dive without knowing anything.
Step 8: Make Use of One Airpod
Many reports show that if you use one airpod, the problem occurs. You can set the airpods to only use one of the airpod microphones;
- Go to Settings, tap on “Bluetooth,” and then on “Airpods.”
- Tap on “i” and then “Microphone.”
- The default setting allows both airpod to function. Still, you can switch it to “Always right” or “Always left.”
Step 9: Switch Off Automatic Ear Detection
To do this, open your Settings and tap on “Bluetooth” and then on “i,” which is next to “Airpods,” and then turn off the Automatic ear detection.
Since sounds are diverted automatically to the airpods once they detect the ear, the action above will seal this function.
Step 10: Unpair Watch
Most times, wearing an Apple watch may result in interference; to prevent this interference, you should unpair the watch.
But this does not just end with unpairing the Apple watch but also other connected Bluetooth devices.
Step 11: Turn WiFi Off
Just like disconnecting and reconnecting airpods help, so does turning off the WiFi on your iPhone. And this issue is most likely due to WiFi interference.
Step 12: Determine the WiFi and Bluetooth Interference
The interference on your device audio has come from any device around you, which is why the following will best help you avoid this interference;
- If the interference happens in a call, come closer to your iPhone device.
- Avoid fluorescent lights, cordless phones, microwave ovens, and video cameras.
- If your device can use the 5GHz band, change it to a device using the 2.5GHz band for Bluetooth.
Why Do My AirPods Not Work When My Apple Watch is Connected?
Sometimes your apple watch won’t play with your airpods. For instance, I once tried to connect my 2nd generation airpods with my apple watch but failed.
After restarting both phones and watch and carrying out the necessary updates, I played a song, and yet after playing a song on my Apple watch, it said, “To play audio, connect Bluetooth headphones to Apple watch.”
How to Keep Airpods On When the Apple Watch is Connected
A way to address this issue would be to set them up as separate Bluetooth devices. It is a great way to troubleshoot the problem.
But then, if you do not want to set up the airpods as a Bluetooth accessory, make sure that you first connect it to your iPhone before connecting to your Apple watch.
You can also switch between devices. By setting your airpods with your iPhone, the airpods are simultaneously connected with the Apple watch and can play sound from either device.
Conclusion
Airpods disconnect when you get a notification because other devices close by are capable of getting a notification and, most likely, when your device needs an update.
With the 12 steps above, you fix the issues relating to your airpods disconnecting from your device.