Have you recently sold or gifted your AirPods? Did you know you need to change the owner in order to allow full functionality for the new user? Transferring your AirPods to a new owner is essential and luckily, it‘s a simple process.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you step-by-step through how to change the owner of AirPods or AirPods Pro. You‘ll learn:
- Why it‘s critical to change owners
- Detailed instructions for the process
- What new owners need to do to pair
- Answers to common AirPods questions
Let‘s get started!
Why Change the AirPods Owner?
Before we get into the how-to, let me explain a bit about why it‘s important to change the owner of your AirPods. There are over 100 million AirPods users worldwide. When selling or gifting your AirPods, you need to remove them from your Apple ID so the new owner can access all functionality.
There are three main scenarios when you‘ll need to change AirPods owners:
Selling Your AirPods
When selling your AirPods secondhand to someone, you must unlink them from your Apple ID first. As of 2022, used AirPods sell for approximately 70% of original value. This makes reselling a great way to reinvest in a newer model.
However, if you don‘t change the owner in Find My app, the buyer won‘t be able to set up the "Hey Siri" wake word, customize touch controls, use spatial audio or other key features tailored to their preferences.
Gifting Your AirPods
Similarly, if giving your AirPods as a gift to friends or family, changing owners enables full personalization. Did you know AirPods use adaptive EQ to tune sound based on your ear shape? By releasing from your Apple ID, your lucky gift recipient can set up optimizations to their liking.
Buying Secondhand AirPods
On the flip side, if you‘re purchasing used AirPods, confirm that the seller has removed them from their Apple account. Ask them to demonstrate changing the owner. If not transferred, you‘ll be locked out of customization and integration with Apple ecosystem.
Step-By-Step Instructions to Change Owner
Ready to properly allow your slick white earbuds to live their next chapter? Let‘s walk through how to change owner of AirPods in 5 simple steps:
Step 1: Place AirPods in Charging Case
First, put your AirPods in their oval charging case and close the lid. The case will put the AirPods in Bluetooth pairing mode to prepare for setup by a new device.
[image here]Pro Tip: Fully charge your AirPods case and paired iPhone before starting for smoothest transfer
Step 2: Rename Your AirPods
Next, you‘ll want to erase your identity associated with your magical wireless earphones. Open the Bluetooth settings menu on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Select your AirPods and tap the "i" icon to access more options.
Delete your name, or whichever custom name is set, and replace it with something generic like "AirPods". This removes personalization so new user can customize.
[image]Step 3: Remove AirPods from Find My App
The Find My app integration is part of what makes Apple products so secure. It allows tracking location history, locking device if lost, and linking accessories.
To transfer ownership, we‘ll need to remove AirPods from your account‘s Find My app:
- Open the Find My app
- Select your AirPods from list of devices
- Tap "Remove This Device" button on details screen
This releases AirPods from your Apple ID so new owner can add to theirs.
[screenshot]Apple Tip: Find My network uses end-to-end encryption and anonymous Bluetooth beacons to locate devices
Step 4: Give AirPods to New Owner
The prep work is finished – time to complete the transfer! Physically give your AirPods and charging case to new owner.
For you, the process is complete! You‘ve successfully changed the owner in advance.
Step 5: New Owner Pairs AirPods
Lucky new owner begins setup by:
- Pressing and holding small button on back of charging case
- Following on-screen pairing prompts with their iPhone/iPad
- Customizing controls, sound, Siri and more in Bluetooth settings
Once finished, they‘ll be rocking personalized tuneage in no time!
[pairing video]Troubleshooting Tips
Having issues changing your AirPods owner? Try these troubleshooting tips:
- Update iOS and AirPods firmware
- Disable Bluetooth and re-enable to reset
- Use a different iOS device for setup
- Contact Apple support to remove device from account
Stuck? Book a Genius Bar appointment for hands-on help.
Let‘s Recap
Changing owners before gifting, selling or buying used AirPods is simple:
- Put AirPods in charging case
- Rename generic in Bluetooth
- Remove from Find My App
- Hand off AirPods
- New owner pairs
This process allows full personalization of settings for the new user while wiping the identity of past owners.
Ready to pass along your AirPods? Following this guide makes it a breeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use AirPods with Android?
Yes, AirPods will connect to Android devices but won‘t have deep integration so functionality is limited. Features like automatic ear detection and spatial audio won‘t work.
How do you check battery percentage?
Put AirPods in case near iPhone. A popup will display exact battery level for AirPods and charging case. Alternatively, add Batteries widget to your home screen.
Can you listen with only one AirPod?
Yep! Each AirPod works independently so you can wear one at a time and conserve battery. Great for calls or when you need an ear open.
Do AirPods update automatically?
Firmware updates install automatically over-the-air. No action needed – just connect your AirPods in case to your iPhone via Bluetooth and updates roll out in the background.
Ready for Your AirPods‘ Next Chapter?
And there you have it – a complete guide to changing AirPods owner before selling, gifting or buying used.
With this simple 5-step process, you can seamlessly release your AirPods from your Apple account and allow a new owner to pair them to their device for personalized listening.
It‘s quick, easy and essential to get the most out of your AirPods – or any new pair you might acquire pre-owned. This will unlock full functionality like spatial audio, customizable controls, Find My network and other great features.
So go on, pass along those precious wireless earbuds to a new owner to enjoy! Just don‘t forget to change that owner first.
