How to Fix AirPods ‘Connection Failed’ Error on iPhone?

Are you getting an error AirPods connection failed error when you try to connect your AirPods to your iPhone? In this guide, I’m going to tell you how to fix the AirPods connection failed error. This issue is pretty common among iPhone users. This may happen when the AirPods are not correctly paired. The problem can also occur if the AirPods do not have sufficient charge.

On the other hand, software bugs relating to iOS can also cause the AirPods connection error on the iPhone or the iPad. Often, the reason can be something as simple as the AirPods not being closer to the iPhone, thus denying establishing the connection. I have mentioned some troubleshooting methods that you can utilize and fix the AirPods connection failed error.

Best Methods to Fix AirPods Connection Failed Error

Here are the Best Methods to Fix AirPods Connection Failed Error on iPhone and iPad

Restart Your iPhone

As always, I mention in any troubleshooting guide, first try to reboot your iPhone. If it’s a minor bug, then mostly, it will take you a minute to fix the issue.

1. Press the power button of the iPhone
2. On the next screen, drag the slider to switch the device off
   
3. After a few seconds, restart the iPhone by pressing the power button.

Now, try to connect your Airpods and check if they attach easily to your iPhone or not.

Is the Lid of the Apple AirPods Charging Case Open?

When you are trying to pair the Apple AirPods with your iPhone, then make sure to keep the lid of the AirPods charging case open. If the lids are closed, then it will show the AirPods Connection Failed Error.

Disable and Re-enable Bluetooth on your iPhone

This particular troubleshooting always works for me. Doesn’t matter if I’m trying to connect AirPods or any other Bluetooth gadget. In case I’m unable to establish a connection, then I simply turn off the Bluetooth on the iPhone and re-enable it within two seconds.

1. Open the Control center of the iPhone
2. Tap on the Bluetooth icon to turn it off
3. Wait for a second and tap on the Bluetooth icon again to enable it
   
4. Now, while trying to pair the AirPods with the iPhone, you will see the AirPods show up in the visible Bluetooth device list
5. Tap on the AirPods name, and it will connect with the iPhone.

Keep the AirPods and the iPhone Closer

As I mentioned earlier, let it be any Bluetooth gadget, you need to keep them close by to establish a connection successfully. So, make sure to have your Apple AirPods and the iPhone nearby and in the same room to achieve connectivity easily without any error.

Remove the AirPods Profile and Pair them Again.

When you initially pair the AirPods, a profile is created in the iPhone Bluetooth settings. That allows you to directly connect the AirPods without having to pair them all the time.

To fix the AirPods Connection Failed Error, you can remove this profile by using the option Forget This Device. Then pair the AirPods from scratch and then connect to the iPhone.

To do this,

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Bluetooth, or you can also access Bluetooth settings from the Control Center of the iPhone.
3. Under My Devices, you should see your AirPods name is listed.
   
4. Tap on the name and then tap on Forget This Device.
5. To confirm, tap on Forget Device.
   

Now, to reset the Airpods,

1. Keep both the AirPods in the charging case
2. Close the lid of the charging case
3. Press the set up button which is on the backside of the charging case
4. Ensure that both the iPhone and the charging case are close to each other
5. You should see the AirPods displaying as visible on the iPhone Bluetooth settings screen
6. Tap on the name to connect to the AirPods and save the new profile

This is another troubleshooting that I have personally used and found working in fixing the AirPods connection error issue.

Update the iOS

A persistent bug in the system software can also hamper your AirPods connection causing you to see the error. Mostly, it happens to those users who have installed the iOS beta builds.

To fix that, try to install the latest system build of iOS if it is available.

1. Typically, you will see a notification in the Settings app when a new update is available.
2. Otherwise, you can access the Settings app
3. Tap on General
   
4. Then tap on Software Update and wait for the iOS to check for available updates.
5. If a new update is available, follow the on-screen instructions and install it.

Post-installation, the connectivity bug should be fixed, and the AirPods connection failed error should now be fixed.

Reset Network Settings

Here is the last troubleshooting you should follow if other solutions did not fix the AirPods connection failed error, resetting the Network settings.

To do it,

1. Launch the Settings
2. Navigate to General and tap on it.
   
3. Then tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
   
4. Select Reset
   
5. From the menu, choose Reset Network Settings.
   
6. Provide the passcode to proceed

After the network resets, try to reconnect Apple AirPods and see if you still face the connectivity issue. It should be fixed, though.

So, these are the various troubleshooting techniques that you should follow if you see the Apple AirPods connection failed error while trying to pair it with your iPhone or iPad.