You just purchased a new pair of AirPods Max and really enjoy them. However, the battery is draining fast and cutting into your listening time. Thanks to the Smart Case, your AirPods Max can burn through battery even when you're not using them! In this article, I'll explain what to do when your AirPods Max won't hold a charge.
Is The Smart Case To Blame?
The AirPods Max comes with a flimsy Smart Case. The Smart Case has received a lot of criticism for the lack of protection it provides to these $549 headphones.
Your AirPods Max are designed to enter a low power state when you put them into the Smart Case. However, it's easy to put these headphones in the case backwards, in which case they may not enter the low power state. You'll know your AirPods Max are in backwards if the magnetic flap doesn't close all the way.
If you don't put your AirPods Max back in their case when not in use, they may continue to use battery life at a normal rate for up to two hours. Apple claims the AirPods Max enter a low power mode when not in use and not in the Smart Case, but they'll enter a much lower power state when properly secured in the Smart Case.
Automatic Switching
Another feature that might contribute to your AirPods Max battery drain is Automatic Switching. AirPods Max are designed to pair automatically to every device linked to the same iCloud account. For example, if you set up your AirPods Max with your iPhone, they may automatically connect to your iPad or Mac computer if you have one logged in with the same iCloud information.
While this feature is designed to improve user experience, it might also explain why your AirPods Max are not staying charged. It's possible that your AirPods Max have been connecting to other devices in your ecosystem, even when you're not trying to use them.
This is another good reason to make sure you place your AirPods Max back in their Smart Case when you finish using them. In addition to saving battery, the Smart Case puts your AirPods Max in sleep mode so they don't start playing audio accidentally.
You can disable Automatic Switching entirely if you find this feature to be more harmful than helpful.
How To Disable Automatic Switching On iPhone And iPad
Put on your AirPods Max and open Settings on your iPhone or iPad. Tap Bluetooth and find your AirPods Max in the list of Bluetooth Devices. Tap the blue “i” icon for more information.
Next, tap Connect to This iPhone or Connect to This iPad, then tap When Last Connected. If you'd ever like to use Automatic Switching again, you can always enable it by following these steps and selecting Automatically instead of When Last Connected.
How To Disable Automatic Switching On Mac
If you'd like to keep your AirPods Max connected to your Mac at all times, go to System Preferences -> Bluetooth while wearing your AirPods Max. Under Devices, find your AirPods Max listing and click Options. Click Connect To This Mac, then click When Last Connected To This Mac.
Just like on the iPhone and iPad, you can always enable Automatic Switching again by clicking Automatically under Connect To This Mac.
Clean Out The Lightning Port
The AirPods Max have the same Lightning port as iPhones and iPads. It's pretty easy for things like lint or dirt to get stuck in a Lightning port, especially since it's left exposed by the Smart Case. Debris in the charging port can prevent your Lightning cable from making a clean connection and charing your AirPods Max.
Grab a flashlight and shine it into your AirPods Max Lightning port. If you notice anything lodged in there that shouldn't be, grab an anti-static brush or brand new toothbrush and scrape it out. Try plugging your AirPods Max back into a charger and see how long their battery lasts.
Contact Apple Support
Your AirPods Max may not be holding a charge because of a hardware problem. If that's the case, we recommend getting them repaired through Apple. We wouldn't trust a third-party company to repair these expensive headphones.
Apple provides support in-person, over the phone, online, and through the mail. Make sure to schedule an appointment at the Genius Bar before going into your local Apple Store. Without an appointment, you may find yourself waiting hours before someone can help you with your AirPods Max.
Max Out Your Battery Life!
You should be able to rely on your AirPods Max, especially considering how much they cost. We hope these steps have helped you fix the problem for good. Make sure to share this article with friends and family when they tell you their AirPods Max won't hold hold a charge!
