Look for the case as its own item
- Open the finding app your earbuds use and look for the charging case listed as its own item.
- If it's there, check its spot on the map, then play a sound once you're close.
- Cases with their own tracking include AirPods 4 (ANC), AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Buds 2a.
- A Galaxy Buds case lost on its own can't be located separately, and older Pixel Buds cases can't be rung.
- If the map says Offline or No location found, head for the last known location instead of waiting on a sound.
Having the earbuds in your pocket and no case is its own puzzle, because the app may only know about the earbuds. We'd check for a separate case entry before going anywhere, since a pin for the earbuds or their last connection won't lead you to an empty case.
That one check splits the job in two. With its own entry, the case can show its location and ring. Without one, the earbuds' entry shows where the earbuds are or were last connected.
Which charging cases can be found on their own
Case tracking comes down to the exact model, not just the brand. Every AirPods model works with Find My, but extra finding features vary by model, and the separate case pin and case sound belong to the four AirPods models in the table.
| Your earbuds | What the case can do on its own |
|---|---|
| AirPods 4 (ANC), AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 | Shows on the map separately and can play a sound |
| Pixel Buds Pro 2, Pixel Buds 2a | Can be located and rung in Find Hub |
| Pixel Buds Pro, Pixel Buds A-Series, Pixel Buds (2020) | Earbuds only, and the case can't be rung |
| Galaxy Buds | A case lost on its own can't be checked separately |
AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 cases go one step further. With a UWB-capable iPhone you can find the case's precise location, which helps once you're in the right room.
What had to be on before the case went missing
Even a supported case only shows up if the earbuds were set up for finding. Run down the items for your brand before you decide the app has let you down.
- AirPods are paired with an iPhone or iPad signed in to your Apple Account.
- Find My was turned on on a paired device, such as your iPhone or Mac, before the loss.
- If AirPods 3, AirPods 4 (ANC), AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max are shared between Apple Accounts, you're the person who turned on the Find My network.
- Pixel Buds are paired with a device on Android 9 or newer, with location turned on.
- Pixel Buds were added to the Find Hub app.
- You're the owner of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 or Pixel Buds 2a. Pairs bought from a reseller or secondhand need ownership taken over first.
Timing matters on AirPods. Find My has to be on before they're lost, and the Find My network has to be on beforehand too if you want to locate them while they're offline.
The Find My network might not be available in some countries and regions because of local laws, and the Find My steps below are for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 or later. If you're not sure which AirPods you own, check your model and the full finding steps (opens in a new tab).
Finding a supported case in Find My
- Open Find My on your iPhone or iPad, tap Devices, then select your AirPods. Their current or last known location appears on the map.
- On a supported model, look for the charging case's own location alongside each earbud.
- If the case isn't near you, tap Get Directions and the spot opens in Maps.
- Once you're close, tap Play Sound for the case and listen for a series of beeps.
- Depending on your AirPods and iPhone models, you might also see Find Nearby. Tap it, wait for your AirPods to connect to your iPhone, then follow the prompts.
No separate case on the map means you're looking at the earbuds, or the last time and place they were connected, so skip ahead to the offline section.
Away from your phone, sign in at iCloud.com/find, select All Devices and pick your AirPods to see the map. Save the case sound for the Find My app, because iCloud.com can't play a sound on the charging case.
Finding a supported case in Find Hub on Android
On Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Buds 2a, the Find Hub app can locate the charging case as well as the earbuds. Pixel Buds finding help (opens in a new tab) covers what has to be set up for them to show.
- Open Find Hub, where your earbuds and charging case appear.
- If your earbuds are out of the case, choose the case as the item you want to find.
- Tap Play sound and listen for a loud chime.
- If you'd rather look first, check the case's location on the map.
If you don't get a choice between an earbud and the case, check whether your earbuds are still inside it, since that choice appears when they're outside the case.
When the map says Offline or shows an old spot
Find My can show either a current location or the last known one, so check which you're looking at before you set off.
If the Find My network is off, or your AirPods don't support it, the map shows the last time and place they were connected. Being out of range or needing a charge can also bring up the last known location, Offline or No location found.
In that state you might still get directions to the last known location, but you can't play a sound or use Find Nearby. Use that spot as the place to start looking.
Sound has one wrinkle. If your AirPods aren't connected to your device and the Find My network is off, a sound you request plays the next time they connect to Wi-Fi or a cellular network, not right away.
Keep the phone you paired them with on you while you look. If the AirPods come back online, you get a notification on it, which is your cue to open Find My again and check the new location.
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