How to Find Your AirPods with Precision Finding on iPhone

We’ve probably all had that moment: you know your AirPods are somewhere nearby, but you just can’t find them.

Maybe they disappeared between the cushions, ended up under your bed, or you simply forgot where you put the charging case.

Luckily, your iPhone can help.

With Precision Finding, compatible AirPods can be located using your iPhone with onscreen directions that guide you toward them. Instead of only seeing your AirPods on a map, your iPhone can help you find their exact location when you're nearby.

Here’s how to use it.

1. Open the Find My app

Open the Find My app on your iPhone.

At the bottom of the screen, tap Devices.

You'll see the Apple devices connected to your Apple Account, including your AirPods.

2. Select your AirPods

Scroll through your devices and tap your AirPods.

Find My will show their location and the available options for finding them.

If your AirPods are nearby and your model supports Precision Finding, look for the Find Nearby option.

Tap Find Nearby.

3. Start looking for your AirPods

Your iPhone will now start searching for your AirPods.

Move around slowly while holding your iPhone in front of you.

Once your iPhone gets a precise enough signal, you'll see onscreen information helping you move toward your AirPods.

This is much more useful than simply looking at a pin on a map when you already know your AirPods must be somewhere inside your house.

4. Follow the directions on your iPhone

Keep following the onscreen guidance as you move around.

Your iPhone will indicate when you're getting closer, helping you narrow down exactly where your AirPods are hiding.

So if they're underneath a blanket, behind the sofa or sitting somewhere you didn't expect, Precision Finding can make them much easier to track down.

5. Play a sound if you still can't see them

You're close, but still can't spot them?

Use Play Sound in Find My.

Your AirPods can play a sound to make them easier to locate. This is especially useful once Precision Finding has already guided you to the right area.

Just listen for the sound and follow it until you find them.

Which AirPods support Find Nearby and Precision Finding?

All AirPods models support Find My in some form, but newer models offer more advanced finding features, such as Find Nearby and Precision Finding. Here's the overview.

• Find Nearby is supported on AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with ANC, all AirPods Pro models, and AirPods Max.

• AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 provide the best Precision Finding-style experience: your iPhone can show an arrow and approximate distance to guide you toward them. You can also find the charging case's precise location.

• AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3 can show the left AirPod, right AirPod, and charging case separately on the Find My map.

• AirPods 1, AirPods 2, and standard AirPods 4 without ANC have more basic Find My functionality: location and Play Sound, but no Find Nearby.

What if you don't see Find Nearby?

Don't worry if Find Nearby isn't available for your AirPods. You may still be able to see their current or last known location on the map and use Play Sound to help find them.

The Find My features you see depend on your AirPods model, charging case, and iPhone. Also make sure your AirPods are connected to your Apple Account and that Find My is enabled.

One more useful tip

If you've actually left your AirPods somewhere rather than simply losing them around the house, check their location in Find My → Devices → AirPods.

And if you regularly forget your AirPods, you can also enable Notify When Left Behind in Find My. Your iPhone can then alert you when you leave your AirPods behind at an unfamiliar location.

A feature worth remembering

I think that Precision Finding is one of those features you might completely forget about until the moment you need it. Next time your AirPods disappear somewhere around the house, don't start pulling apart the sofa straight away.

Open Find My → Devices → AirPods → Find Nearby and let your iPhone guide you to them.

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