How To Fix AirPods Max Not Charging? – 8 Easy Fixes!
AirPods Max is Apple’s first over-ear headphones with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Spatial Audio support. It also has a new adaptive EQ that automatically tunes the music to the fit and seal of the ear cups.
It has nine microphones that cancel the surrounding noise exceptionally well. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the premium headphones, but many customers reported charging problems with AirPods Max.
I know how frustrating the situation could be when your AirPods Max stopped charging. You’ve invested a lot in this premium Apple product. But don’t panic, I found some easy fixes.
Similar Guide: How To Fix AirPods Pro Not Charging?
Why Won’t AirPods Max Charge?
Apple’s AirPods Max won’t charge due to several reasons. It includes a wrong power source, frayed lightning cable, dirty charging port, faulty power adapter, or buggy firmware.
AirPods Max will face charging problems with a fast charger (25W or above). Also, you’ll face extremely slow charging with an old Apple 5W adapter. I recommend you use Apple’s 20W adapter to charge your AirPods Max efficiently.
How To Fix Apple AirPods Max Not Charging?
Please follow these solutions to fix the charging problem on your AirPods Max:
1. Charge in the case
You can’t power off your AirPods Max. You heard it right – there is no option to power off your AirPods Max. However, placing your AirPods Max in the magnetic case will go into ultra-low power mode.
When experimenting, I found that my AirPods Max starts charging after placing it into the magnetic case. So, I would advise you to try charging your AirPods Max in the case and check whether the charging issue is fixed.
2. Restart your AirPods Max
If your AirPods Max doesn’t charge in the magnetic case, restart it. A force restart will fix the minor software bugs, and it will start charging again.
To force restart an AirPods Max, press and hold the Digital Crown and Noise Control buttons for 10 seconds and immediately release both buttons when the led light flashes- Amber.
Once your AirPods Max restarts, plug in the lightning cable and check whether it’s charging. Most probably, the charging issue will be fixed after restarting your headphone.
3. Clean the Charging Port
A clogged charging port is one of the most common reasons for charging issues. If dirt or lint is stuck in your AirPods Max’s charging port, it won’t charge.
To clean the charging port, take a toothpick and remove any dirt or lint. Ensure that you won’t damage your lightning port.
You can also use a can of compressed air to clean the charging port but do not increase the pressure too much.
4. Reset your AirPods Max
A factory reset will restore your headphone to their factory condition. It will fix all major software bugs and make your AirPods Max work.
Follow these steps to factory reset your AirPods Max:
- Go to your iPhone’s Bluetooth settings and forget AirPods Max.
- Press and hold Digital Crown and Noise Cancellation buttons for 15 seconds.
- Release both buttons once the led indicator blinks red and then white.
That’s it. Your AirPods Max has been hard reset. Now, insert the lightning cable to see whether it’s charging.
5. Replace the charging cable
If your lightning cable has been frayed or damaged, your AirPods will not charge. You can try another lightning cable to charge your AirPods Max.
Note– Immediately replace your charging cable if you notice any damage. Otherwise, a spike in current will damage your expensive headphone.
Click here to check the price of Apple’s type C to lightning cable on Amazon
6. Change your power adapter
A faulty or wrong power adapter will also create problems in charging your device. So, ensure that you only use Apple’s original 20W adapter to charge your AirPods Max. If you’ve another adapter at home, try charging with that.
Click here to check the price of Apple’s 20W Original Charger on Amazon
7. Change the power outlet
A faulty wall outlet is another major reason a device faces charging problems. So, if you’ve tried all the above solutions but your AirPods don’t charge yet, I would advise you to try a new wall outlet.
If you have a MacBook or power bank with a USB-C hub, please also try charging your AirPods Max. The power output from a MacBook’s USB-C hub is sufficient to charge any Apple device.
8. Update AirPods Max firmware
The idle drain was very aggressive when AirPods Max was launched initially. Later, Apple released firmware version 3C39, which reduced idle drain. The latest firmware version 5B59 has improved the sound quality and other bug fixes.
If you’re facing a charging problem, ensure that your AirPods Max runs the latest firmware. Apple regularly updates its devices to improve performance and bug fixes.
To check the firmware version, go to Settings > General > About > AirPods Max, and here you’ll see the recent firmware version.
How do I know if my AirPod Max is charging?
If you’re wondering whether your AirPods Max is charging, there’s an easy way to find out. On your iPhone, you’ll see the current battery level of your headphones. The battery level will increase as it charges. If the battery level isn’t increasing, your headphones aren’t charging.
Also, you can confirm the charging by pressing the physical button on the right headphone. Press the button, and if the led light glows orange, it means your Apple headphone is charging.
Why is my AirPods Max not turning on?
Your AirPods Max won’t turn on if the battery is completely drained. You need to charge your headphones for at least 20 minutes before turning them on.
A green led will glow when the AirPods Max battery percentage is charged above 20%. To turn on your AirPods Max, press the physical button on the right headphone until you see the led light glow white.
Can AirPods Max be used while charging?
No, you can’t use your AirPods Max while charging them. You’ll need to wait until they’re fully charged before using them.
You need to place the AirPods Max in the case to charge the battery. I know it’s freaking weird, but that’s Apple, and we must live with that.
How long does it take to charge Apple AirPods Max?
It takes around 3.5 hours to charge your Apple AirPods Max from 0% to 100%.
The battery life is pretty good, as you can use them for 20 hours on a single charge with active noise cancellation and spatial audio turned on.
But if you disable these features, the battery life will be increased, and you can use them for a few more hours.
How do I update my AirPods Max?
To update your AirPods Max, you need to connect them to your iPhone and enable auto-update for all devices.
To check the firmware version, go to Settings -> General -> About -> AirPods Max, and here you’ll see the current firmware version.
How do I factory reset my Airpod Max?
Press and hold the Digital Crown + Active Noise Cancellation button on the right headphone for 15 seconds. Release the buttons once the led flashes red and turns white. That’s all, your AirPods Max has been factory reset.
Why Won’t My AirPods Max Hold Charge?
This is a common issue that many AirPods Max user face. It happens because your AirPods Max doesn’t have the option to power off. So, even when you’re not using it will keep draining the battery.
So, when you don’t use your AirPods Max, place it inside the magnetic case provided by Apple. Also, ensure that your AirPods are running on the latest firmware version.
Conclusion
I hope one of these steps will work for you. If not, then there might be a hardware issue, and in that case, you need to contact Apple support.
This is incorrect: “Can AirPods Max be used while charging?”
Yes you can use them while charging. They provide both playback and charge at the same time. Where did you get this info? The Sony version and Boss versions both require them to power off to be charged. Airpods Max work without interruption. I’ve confirmed this with Apple engineers as being a feature specific to the Max’s.