How to properly charge wireless Bluetooth headphones - instructions

Wireless headphones operate from a battery built into the entire design or into each earplug separately. The average battery life of a Bluetooth headset ranges from 3 to 12 hours, so in order for the device to work, it must be periodically connected to the network. From the article, the reader will learn how to properly charge wireless headphones and how long this process should take.

How do you know if Galaxy BUDS are charged?

How to find out the battery charge of the Galaxy Buds case/cover?

1. Lights up solid red. The headphones are charging.
2. Lights up solid green. Headphones charged to 100%
3. Flashes red. The headphones cannot be charged due to overheating.

Mar 3
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Which cases charge wirelessly?

Apple introduced wireless charging with the release of the 2nd generation AirPods in March 2022.

They are sold with one of two types of cases to choose from:

1. Supports Qi wireless standard and Lighting cable.
2. Supports Lighting cable only.

Together with the second generation of headphones, cases for over-the-air charging went on sale. They are suitable for 1st and 2nd generation.

Released in October 2022, the Pro version supports wireless chargers and a Lighting cable.

Here are cases that can be charged “over the air”:

1. The Qi-enabled AirPods case shown in the picture above.
2. All AirPods Pro cases.

How to extend operating time

There are several rules that will help extend the life of wireless headphones:

• It is better to store the headset in the case, even if it is turned off;
• Before first use, you need to charge it fully;
• It’s better to charge the case and headphones at the same time, it will take less time;
• You should not wait for 100% discharge, it is better to recharge more often;
• do not leave the device near heating devices or in the sun, and, conversely, in the cold: high and low temperatures negatively affect the longevity of the battery;
• Avoid direct moisture entering the case.

What is charging possible from?

To charge any HeadSet or docking station, you should use the cable that comes with the kit or is specified by the manufacturer in the accompanying instructions.

The accompanying documentation indicates what can be used to charge the wireless gadget (computer, laptop, portable Power Bank or AC adapter).

Charging cable and connector

The cable that comes with the kit has connectors that are adapted by the manufacturer for manufactured wireless headphones and the power sources specified in the instructions for charging them.

Third-party cables may break the input jack on the headphones or charging case.

Headphones and cases from third-party companies may have different connectors as input ports:

• Micro USB (USB port).
• Lightning.

Wireless headphone charging cable

If the wire cross-section is smaller than that calculated by the manufacturer, then due to the increase in resistance, the charging current will decrease, which means the time it takes for the batteries to gain capacity will increase.

Can wireless headphones be charged using a phone charger?

The output voltage from the phone charger may differ from the voltage required to charge the batteries of the wireless HeadSet or charging box.

The phone itself will cope with this problem due to the input stabilization unit, but the gadgets will not charge correctly, which will reduce their service life.

You can use a phone charger or cables from other devices if they are from the same manufacturer as the headphones.

Headphone charging time

To charge AirPods in a case, you need to put them inside and close the lid.

How long it takes to charge AirPods depends on the model and condition of their batteries:

• Pro version - 5 minutes of charging in the case adds about an hour of work.
• 2nd generation - 15 minutes of charging in the case adds about 2.5 hours of work.

It turns out that you need to wait 20-30 minutes to get the headphones to 100%. In this case, the case is charged by air to 100% for at least an hour.

If charging the headphones to 100% takes more than half an hour (sometimes up to 2 hours), this is a sign of dying batteries.

Remember that wired charging is always faster than wireless, especially when using charger from an iPhone or iPad.

There is no way to charge AirPods Pro faster using the 18W charging brick from the iPhone 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max. However, its use will not damage the headphones, since it uses technology that prevents “overcharging”.

How long does it take to charge the headphones from the USB connector?

In fact, the maximum power consumption of any wireless headphones does not exceed 500 mA. This is very little... For comparison, the cheapest Chinese smartphones can already accept a current of at least 1 A. In addition, the current power is further reduced by the internal microcircuit (to about 50-100 mAh) before it enters the battery.

Therefore, it does not matter whether they will be charged from a fast mobile charger or from a regular USB 2.0 (the output current of which is exactly 0.5 A). Above we wrote about how long it takes for headphones to charge... This information is also suitable in the case when charging occurs via a USB port.

Battery in JBL wireless headphones

Despite the variety of JBL models on the market, the vast majority of them are charged via a USB charging cable connected to the box or the headphones themselves. The second end is connected to the USB connector of the charger (PC, tablet, Powerbank, etc.).

For example, in the case of the JBL FREE X headset, they must be inserted into the charging box. The white indicator will light up, indicating that the earbuds are charging. The time is 2 hours, after completion the LED goes out.

Wait until the indicators turn off

Checking the charging status: procedure

How to understand that AirPods are low and need to restore energy? Apple has provided several methods to manage the situation. Depending on what gadget is at hand, you can easily determine whether AirPods need to be charged, or whether the headphones will still work in autonomous mode.

On an iOS device

Any Apple device is suitable. To display the charge indicators of the headphones and case, you need to go through 5 steps. The entire action “from” to “to” takes 10-15 seconds. So, you need:

1. Synchronize the accessory with the device to which the information will be displayed (for example, an iPhone X) via Bluetooth.
2. Place the headphones in the case and bring it to the gadget.
3. Open the case and wait until a connection request appears on the phone (or tablet) screen. Select "Connect".
4. The information will appear on the display after a moment. The data will contain the charge of the headphones and, separately, the case, as a percentage.

If suddenly, after performing all the steps, a “miracle” does not happen, you need to close the box and try everything again.

To check the charge level, you can also use the “Battery” widget by connecting devices via Bluetooth in the same way. Headphone information is shown below the smartphone's power indicator.

Via Mac computer

Working as a duo between a laptop and AirPods, there is no need to use an additional gadget to control the charging of the headphones. All data on the accessory’s battery is also available on the MacBook. The synchronization process is similar to the previous option, using Bluetooth. Necessary:

• enable the data transfer function on the laptop;
• bring the closed case with headphones closer to the Mac screen;
• click on the bluetooth image in the upper right corner of the display;
• gadgets will “connect”;
• find the line with the name of the headphones in the Bluetooth menu;
• click and see the charge level.

The same information will appear through the computer's system settings. In them you need to find Bluetooth, bring the accessory to the display and wait for the necessary information to be displayed.

You may be interested: How to choose wireless headphones - 6 main tips

Using a case

It couldn't be easier, because the case is always next to your headphones. Here you need to focus on the indicator light. What does it show and how to interpret the signal?

In order for the charge data to be objective, you need to insert the accessory into the connectors without closing the lid. To measure the power level, one earphone is enough; the data for the second will be similar:

• the indicator glows green – full charge;
• red - needs recharging.

There are other signals, for example, white color - AirPods can be customized; yellow – the accessory requires re-setting. Using the same palette of colors, you can also navigate the degree of energy loss of the case itself. Only in this case it should be empty.

Using Android devices

When paired with gadgets running Android OS, AirPods headphones (for example, AirPods with Wireless Charging Case) have limited functionality, yet many users use the accessory with a smartphone on this platform.

This is interesting: A detailed guide on the choice and types of headphones

To monitor the charge of your headphones using Android, you need to download the free Air Battery app to your phone. The software is available through the PlayStore. When the utility is installed, further actions are similar to the previous scheme. Data is updated once per minute.

How to charge AirPods using wireless charging

The AirPods Pro wireless charging case and 2nd generation headphones can be charged on any Qi-compatible mat or stand. There are rumors about incompatibility with some Mophie brand memory devices, but it has not yet been possible to reliably verify this.

The cases have an LED status indicator:

How to charge your AirPods case wirelessly:

1. Place the case on the charger with the indicator facing up (or facing you if using a stand). Its lid must be closed. Please note that you can charge the case without or with headphones.
2. The status indicator will turn on for 8 seconds and show the current charge level: green - the battery is 100% charged, yellow - less than one cycle left (a fully charged case is enough for several charging cycles of the headphones).
3. After this, the indicator will turn off and the case will continue to charge.

To see whether the case is charging (yellow light) or is already fully charged (green light), press it while it is on the wireless mat (stand). After tapping the case twice, the LED indicator will light continuously for 8 seconds.

We also recommend watching 6 ways to check your AirPods charge.

List of popular wireless models with cases

• AirPods 2;
• Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2;
• Meizu POP 2;
• Xiaomi Airdots;
• Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds;
• OPPO Enco Free;
• CaseGuru CGpods;
• JBL Tune 120 TWS;
• HARPER HB-508:
• HONOR Choice TWS Earbuds;
• HONOR Sport;
• Accessstyle Darkblack TWS;
• TWS i7, i9, i10, i11, i12.

The charging features of some models are due to their design, although most of them are not very different from AirPods. However, for example, the TWS i7 earphone can be charged not only in the case, but also using a cable. A similar option is available for JBL models.

Some gadgets, like HONOR Sport, can be recharged from any other device - a smartphone or tablet that has a reverse charging function. If you have the appropriate cable, you can connect the case to the phone through the connector.

It is not recommended to connect someone else's charger, which may have completely different output voltage and current characteristics.

Usually, the instructions for gadgets describe ways to restore energy levels.

Is it possible to charge AirPods 1 and 2 wirelessly

Yes, you can charge the first or second generation headphones wirelessly.

The first generation was produced in 2016, complete with a case with a Lightning cable. In 2022, Apple updated them to the 2nd generation, giving the buyer a choice of two cases: with support for wireless charging and the standard Lightning version.

At the same time, cases with wireless charging went on sale, which are perfect for the first generation. You won't have to spend money on buying new headphones. They don't sound much better.

If you're thinking about upgrading to the Pro version, I recommend reading a comparison of AirPods Pro and the second generation. The article will help you decide what is best to choose.

Charging via Lightning cable

To charge AirPods via a cable, connect the included Lightning cable to the case connector. You can use Lightning-USB-C or Lightning-USB. Connect the other end of the cable to a charger or computer port.

The charge level of the case is displayed on the indicator when the lid is open and the headphones are removed from it: green - the battery is fully charged, yellow - less than one cycle left.

If the case does not charge using the Lightning cable, read our article “Why the AirPods case does not charge.”

Problems

Problems with charging a contactless headset are indicated by the following:

• no response to reboot or key presses;
• The indicator light starts flashing when connected and soon goes off.

If the headset is not charging?

Reasons why the battery capacity may not increase, and ways to eliminate them:

1. The micro-USB port is faulty. In this case, the socket must be replaced.
2. Lack of contact due to rubber seal. This part needs to be removed.
3. The wire is deformed or broken. Disconnect and reconnect the cable.
4. The computer from which the headset is charging could be in sleep mode.

If there is no charging, resetting the settings may help:

• hold down the Volume and Power keys;
• When the LED sensor flashes, release the buttons;
• Reconnect the headset with your smartphone.

The reason why charging is not carried out may be a malfunction of the battery or controller. To replace them, you need to contact a service center.

If your AirPods case won't charge over the air

If you place your AirPods case on the charger and nothing happens, check a few things:

1. Is the case in the center of the mat or stand. This is the most common problem, as some chargers may not work if the case is not placed correctly. You can find the correct place by moving the case over the mat or supply.
2. Does it really need to be charged? At times it will feel like you need to charge the case, but it holds a charge well even after two days of inactivity.
3. Is the wireless storage device connected to the network? This known problem is that the cable is not connected to the outlet or charger case. Check the connection and place the case on the mat (stand) again.
4. Does the case have a protective cover? Remove it and place the case on the charging mat. Some cases may interfere with charging the case.

If you are having problems with wireless charging, make sure the case is centered on the charger. Also check the cable connection of the mat (stand) and remove the cover from the case if present.

In case of problems with over-the-air power, you can always use a Lightning cable.

How long does AirPods charge?

Battery life depends on the conditions and how you use the headphones. It is affected by volume settings, ambient temperature and other factors.

Apple's official documentation indicates how long the AirPods Pro charge lasts:

• Up to 5 hours of listening to music.
• Up to 3.5 hours talk time.

A fully charged case is enough for several charging cycles of the headphones - that's more than 24 hours of audio listening and up to 18 hours of calls.

AirPods 2 hold a charge a little less:

• Up to 5 hours of listening to music.
• Up to 3 hours talk time.

Apple tested headphone battery life on the iPhone Xs Max at 50% volume.