Are you aware of how to change the ownership of AirPods so your details aren’t compromised or tampered with?
We all know Apple often comes up with a better upgrade for its devices and though you might already own a pair of AirPods, if you are considering upgrading to the latest version then you may either want to get rid of your current pair or hand it down to your child.
In this case, you need to reset your AirPods and eliminate them from your Apple ID as they are remotely connected to your phone.
Recommended Read: How to Make AirPods Discoverable
Make sure you read this till the end to get into the details of it and ensure you say goodbye to your AirPods the right way.
There are essentially three steps to completely change the ownership of your AirPods.
- Resetting the AirPods
- Renaming the AirPods
- Remove AirPods from “Find My”
Table of Contents
How to Change the Ownership of AirPods
Let’s say you’re Neo and you lend your AirPods to Morpheus for use. When your AirPods are connected to your phone, they’ll be displayed as ‘Neo’s AirPods. But when Morpheus takes the pods and pairs them with his phone, it would read as ‘Morpheus’ AirPods’.
But here, the pods won’t be paired to your (Neo’s) phone any longer. As the AirPods cannot be paired to both Neo and Morpheus’ devices at the same time, Neo would again need to pair it back with his device.
This back and forth of pairing is tiresome and full of hassles. Sure, this was the case with lending but when you’re giving it away or selling it off, it’s advised to unpair your AirPods completely.
Reset your AirPods
Since your AirPods got directly connected to your Apple ID when you first paired them, it is essential to unpair it straight from the source. Unpairing your AirPods from your Apple ID removes them from all your connected devices, may it be Mac, Apple Watch or iPad. Though the process is the same for all your Apple devices,
Keep the following steps in mind while resetting your AirPods:
Keep the AirPods in the case when resetting
Place your AirPods in the case and close the lid. Let the AirPods remain in the case for about a minute. You can then open the lid of the case and move on to the next step.
Go to Settings and tap on Bluetooth
From there, go to the list of the paired devices. You should find your AirPods among the list of devices being displayed.
Tap on the ‘i’ next to your devices
Once this is done, you will see a few options, including ‘Forget this device’. Tap on the option to unpair the AirPods from all your devices.
Keeping the lid open, press the small button at the back of the case
Once you have located the small button, press and hold it down for about 12 seconds. A blinking amber color will shine indicating the status of the case. You can then release the button as the unpairing is complete.
Once this is done, your AirPods are as good as new, as they have gone through a factory reset and need to be paired from start to any other device. But the question that follows is if your tracking is enabled to the AirPods, how do you disable it?
How to Rename your AirPods?
| AirPods Pro | AirPods (1st & 2nd Gen) |
| 1. Keep the case open with the AirPods fixed in your ears 2. Go to Settings and tap on ‘i’ next to your AirPods’ name 3. Click on the current name and enter a new name 4. Select ‘Done’ 5. Unpair your Device You can also: Change the modes that you can choose with the noise control button (only for iOS 14.3 or later) Set the mic to left, right or automatic Set automatic head detection on or off. This will sense when you wear the AirPods and play or pause audio automatically (only for iOS 14.3 or later) | 1. Keep the case open with the AirPods fixed in your ears 2. Go to Settings and tap on ‘i’ next to your AirPods’ name 3. Click on the current name and enter a new name 4. Select ‘Done’ 5. Unpair your Device You can also: Change the double-tap settings Set the mic to left, right or automatic |
How Do you Disable Tracking of AirPods?
When you are giving away your old AirPods, there is no need to keep track of it anymore. And so it is best to turn off the tracking of your AirPods. Follow these steps to do so:
If you have a device that runs on iOS 13 or later,
- Go to Settings
- Tap on the Head Banner with your name on it
- Scroll down the ‘Find My’
- Tap on Find My and view the list of devices
- Turn off ‘Find My AirPods’ by switching off the toggle
- Enter your Apple ID on the pop-up
- Tap on ‘Turn off’ or ‘Remove Device‘ and you’re done!
Now that you’ve changed the ownership of your AirPods, and disabled tracking, it is time to hand it over to the new owner. But before that, it is a matter of basic courtesy to clean them properly before the transition.
How do you Clean OLD AirPods?
Cleaning your AirPods is a kind and thoughtful gesture. It shows that you care about the person you are gifting. However, cleaning is essential as the wax from your ears might have settled on the buds over a long-time and might affect the next owner. Also, over time, the AirPods become grimy because of continuous use.
When it comes to the surfaces, they can be cleaned with pure alcohol. Use Blu-Tack for the sticky wax on the surface. It is the same procedure used by Apple for the AirPods that have been traded in.
Now that you have changed ownership, turned off tracking and cleaned the AirPods as well, you can safely turn it over to the next chosen successor of your buds.
However, there is one small issue.
When you first pair your AirPods to your device, they automatically name themselves. For instance, you might have named them ‘Neo’s AirPods’ when you bought them and they might still be ‘Neo’s AirPods’, even after the unpairing.
Hence, it is advised that you rename the AirPods before gifting or selling them to someone.
FAQ’s
Can you remove the activation lock without the previous owner?
If your device is activation locked, it simply means that you or someone else’s iCloud account is still linked to the factory erased iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. The official way to remove this barrier is by providing the password to the linked iCloud account without which no one will be able to access the device.
My AirPods disappeared from Find My? What do I do?
If your AirPods are out of Bluetooth range, out of charge, or in the case with the cover closed they won’t appear in Find My. You just have to find them manually by looking for them.
Can you steal AirPods?
You shouldn’t but according to Apple, there are no proper anti-theft measures in place to safeguard your AirPods. If they are stolen or misplaced, there is no option but to buy new ones, just like any other Apple product.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re upgrading, bored of or switching to another audio device, giving your previous AirPods away needs a few essential checks to be done first. The most important is to remove the pair from your iCloud so no information is misused and it feels as if it were never in use.
Moreover, you can always opt to save them as a spare when, heaven forbid, your new ones face are damaged or lost. However, gifting them to someone in need can always make their day and get you paid in smiles, prayers and blessings.
Besides, it’s not necessary to give gifts only when it’s the season of giving.
Also Read:
- Does Leaving My AirPods In The Case Drain The Battery?
- Is it Possible for Someone to Connect to My AirPods Without My Knowledge
- Can You Control Volume With AirPods
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Based in California, I keep attending special launch events across the globe. This has helped me understand the products better, and with a unique hands-on experience I'm able to provide you with easy to understand reviews about the best in audio tech from around the world.
