How to remove AirPods from your Apple Account and reset them before selling

AirPods stay tied to your Apple Account through Find My until you remove them, and the next owner cannot set them up on their own account until you do. Here is how to unlink, reset and hand them over properly.

Open Find My on your iPhone, go to Devices, tap your AirPods, swipe up and tap Remove This Device. Then forget them in Bluetooth settings and reset them: hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds on older models, or double-tap the front of the case three times on AirPods 4 and newer. The reset is done when the light flashes amber, then white.

• 1. Keep the AirPods close to your iPhone: Put both earbuds in the case and keep it next to your iPhone or iPad. Apple says they do not need to be connected over Bluetooth to be removed, but the process can finish faster when they are connected and within range.
• 2. Remove them in Find My: Open the Find My app and choose the Devices tab. Tap your AirPods, then swipe up and tap Remove This Device. Tap Remove to confirm. You only need to do this on one Apple device; it unlinks them from your whole Apple Account.
• 3. No iPhone handy? Use a Mac or a browser: On a Mac, open Find My, click Devices, select the AirPods, click the More Info button on the map and choose Remove This Device. From any browser, go to icloud.com/find, sign in, pick the AirPods from your devices list, tap the name and choose Remove This Device.
• 4. Forget them in Bluetooth settings: Put the earbuds in the case, close the lid and wait 30 seconds. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth. If the AirPods appear under My Devices, tap the More Info button next to them, tap Forget This Device and confirm. If they are not listed, just move on.
• 5. Reset AirPods 1, 2, 3, Pro 1 or Pro 2: Open the lid of the case. Press and hold the small setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds. Let go when the status light on the front flashes amber and then white. That means the AirPods are back to factory settings.
• 6. Reset AirPods 4, AirPods 5 or AirPods Pro 3: These cases have no setup button. Open the lid and double-tap the front of the case while the status light is on. Double-tap again when it flashes white, and a third time when it starts flashing faster. Wait for the light to flash amber, then white.
• 7. If the light never turns white: Put the AirPods back in the case, close the lid for 20 seconds and then open it again. Repeat the reset method for your model. If it still does not work after a couple of tries, the case or an earbud may have a fault worth checking before you sell.
• 8. Do the final checks: Open Find My once more and confirm the AirPods no longer appear in your Devices list. Give the earbuds and case a gentle clean. If they have AppleCare cover, you can cancel it or transfer it to the buyer. Pack them with the box, cable and bill.