Whether you’ve accidentally lost or damaged your AirPods or your charging case, an authorized Apple Service Provider or Apple itself can replace or service your product. A replacement will allow you to continue enjoying a seamless listening experience without spending a ton on a completely new pair of AirPods.
If you have AppleCare+, you’ll have to pay a $29 fee for replacement AirPod buds. However, if your AirPods aren’t covered by warranty or AppleCare, it’ll cost $69 for a replacement AirPod, $59 for a standard charging case, and $69 for a wireless case. AppleCare+ doesn’t cover lost or stolen AirPods.
Regardless of whether your AirPods are covered by warranty, Apple still offers an after-service guarantee. The company guarantees any repair or service done to your AirPods for 90 days or until the Apple warranty ends (whichever is longer). Let’s look at how much you’ll need to spend to replace your AirPods and how you can track them to avoid this issue in the first place.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace AirPods?
The answer to this question depends on whether you have AppleCare+ and whether your AirPods are covered by warranty or not. The total amount you’ll have to pay also depends on the speciic component you need to get replaced.
There’s also a chance that you might not have to pay anything for the replacement — as long as the issue is covered by AppleCare+, consumer law, or Apple’s one-year limited warranty. However, if your AirPods aren’t covered by any of these three things, you’ll have to pay out-of-warranty fees for their repair or replacement.
What Is AppleCare+ and Does It Cover AirPods?
AppleCare+ for Headphones increases Apple’s one-year warranty to two years and starts from the date you purchase AppleCare+. It provides coverage of up to two accidental damage incidents per year, but you’ll have to pay a $29 service fee per incident, plus any applicable tax.
If you have AppleCare+, you can also return your damaged Charging Case or AirPods to Apple, and they’ll replace the items.
Replacement Costs for Damaged AirPods
If your charging case or AirPods are damaged, you can take them to an Apple Store and get them replaced by paying an out-of-warranty fee. On the other hand, if you have AppleCare+ for Headphones, then you’ll only have to pay the service fee for the replacement.
The AppleCare+ fee for AirPods Max is $29 per incident, while the out-of-warranty fee depends on the component that requires repairs. It’s better to consult an Apple service representative for a more accurate estimate.
The AppleCare+ fee for AirPods Pro is $29 per incident, while the out-of-warranty fee is $89 for a charging case or AirPod. Lastly, for AirPods, AppleCare+ charges $29 per incident, while the out-of-warranty fee goes up to $69 per AirPod.
If your AirPods are not covered by warranty, then replacing a standard charging case will cost $59, and a wireless one will cost $69. Keep in mind that along with the out-of-warranty fees, you’ll also have to pay any applicable tax and an additional $6.95 shipping fee.
Replacement Costs for Lost AirPods
Unfortunately, AppleCare+ doesn’t cover stolen or lost AirPods. So, if you’ve lost your charging case or AirPods, then you’ll have to pay a lost fee or purchase completely new ones. Apple charges a lost fee of $89 for each AirPod Pro and $99 for a charging case.
Similarly, the lost fee for each AirPod is $69, $59 for the charging case, and $79 for the wireless case. However, you’ll also need to pay any applicable tax and an additional $6.95 shipping fee.
AirPod Battery Service
If your AirPods’ battery issues are covered by AppleCare+, consumer law, or Apple’s limited warranty, then the company will service your earphones for free. Keep in mind that this doesn’t include batteries that have been drained from regular use over time.
In those instances, you can have your battery serviced by paying an out-of-warranty fee. However, there’s one exception to this rule. If you have AppleCare+ for Headphones and your AirPods’ battery retains less than 80% of its initial capacity, then Apple will service your earphone’s battery at no extra cost.
How to Replace Your AirPods
If you’ve lost your AirPods or charging case, then there are a few replacement options you can opt for:
Go Directly to an Apple Store
You can replace your AirPods by making a Genius Bar reservation at an Apple Store. Replacements are also available at all Apple Authorized Service providers.
However, make sure you have your AirPods and their serial number on hand before going for a replacement. You’ll find the serial number on the original sales receipt, original AirPods box, or the charging case.
You can also call Apple Support and mail your AirPods in for service. But just make sure you know your AirPods’ serial number before you talk to an Apple Support advisor. After mailing, it will take around a week for you to receive the replacement charging case or AirPods.
Also, keep in mind that if you don’t have AppleCare+ for Headphones, then replacing your charging case or AirPods will cost you a pretty penny.
Buy Third- and First-Party Replacements at Retailers
In most cases, you’ll have to directly go to an Apple Store for an individual AirPod replacement. However, it’s important to note that most of these listings offer refurbished models that might have already been used by someone else.
Fortunately, there are several other options for replacing your AirPods and the charging case, both from Apple and other third parties. For example, the AirPods Wireless Charging Case (on Amazon) is available on Amazon for under $65.
While the AirPods Pro charging case isn’t available at most retailers, there are a few well-reviewed third-party cases for AirPods Pro available online, like this one (on Amazon).
The replacements for AirPods Pro ear tips are much easier to find online, with several popular options on Amazon, like this set (on Amazon) that comes with six total pairs, or this black foam one (on Amazon) that offers a different feel and look from original Apple tips.
Can You Track AirPods?
Before you start splurging on a new set of replacement AirPods or a charging case, it’s always best to try tracking down the buds you’ve lost. Fortunately, AirPods are designed with tracking functionality that enables you to track them from your phone.
Here’s how you can track your AirPods with your Find My app:
- Launch the Find My application on your iPad, Mac, or iPhone.
- Select ‘Devices‘ at your screen’s bottom. This will show you a list of all your paired devices and their latest tracked location along with the time they were last pinged.
You can also use these steps to track other third-party earbuds that are compatible with the Find My app.