How to Restart and Reset Your AirPods Max

Apple’s AirPods Max are a true example of today’s highly sophisticated engineering. They’re backed by an incredible range of technologies – all of which get out of your way as you enter a new level of audio experience. However, their effortless connectivity is also a problem, especially if you want to restart or reset your AirPods Max.

Since these headphones don’t have a Power button, Apple has created a series of actions tied to its existing buttons. We show you in this tutorial how to use them to restart and reset your AirPods Max.

Restart vs. Reset: What’s the Difference?

There’s a big difference between restarting and resetting your AirPods Max. Let’s take a very small detour to explain what to expect from each of these actions.

• Restart: restarting your AirPods Max puts them through a single power cycle, effectively restarting their functionality. This is a swift and pain-free process without any negative consequences.
• Reset: this action returns your headphones to their factory settings while also unpairing them from your iCloud account. This is a more drastic measure and will require you to pair your AirPods Max once again.

How to Restart Your AirPods Max

While this guide references restarting your AirPods Max, it’s important to note that restart and reboot can be used as interchangeable terms. If you’re experiencing audio- or connectivity-related issues, you will want to restart your AirPods Max using the following steps.

1. Press and hold the Digital Crown and Noise control button at the same time. These two buttons are on the right headphone.

2. Keep holding the two buttons for 12 seconds or until you see the status light on the bottom side of the earcup flash amber.
3. Release the buttons when you see the status light flash amber. It’s important to release the buttons immediately to prevent your AirPods from resetting.
4. Give your headphones a minute or two to restart. They will reconnect to your device automatically once you are ready to use them.

How to Reset Your AirPods Max

If restarting your headphones did not help resolve the issue you are experiencing, it’s time for a more drastic step. Learn how to reset your AirPods Max using the steps below.

1. Before entering this procedure, Apple highly recommends that you charge your headphones for at least a couple of minutes. Make sure to do that first to be on the safe side.

2. Press and hold the Digital Crown and Noise control button for around 15 seconds. You will see the status light flash amber, then turn white. Remember that the status light will be visible on the bottom of the earcup.
3. Release the buttons once you see the status light turn white, then give your headphones a couple of minutes to finalize the procedure on their own.
4. To use your AirPods Max again, you will need to re-pair them with your iPhone or other Apple device. Start by taking your AirPods Max out of their Smart Case and holding them next to the device you’d like to pair them with. You will see an animation appear on your device’s screen. Follow the onscreen instructions to finalize the pairing process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are AirPods Max water- and sweat-resistant?

AirPods Max are not waterproof or liquid resistant in any way. After wearing AirPods Max for prolonged periods of time, you may notice some condensation begin to form on the housing beneath each earcup. Apple suggests using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe off any moisture you encounter.

How heavy are AirPods Max?

AirPods Max are some of the heaviest over-the-ear headphones on the market due to their aluminum and stainless steel design. Coming in at 13.6 ounces, AirPods Max are significantly heavier than their closest competitor, the Sony WH-1000XM5, which weigh in at just 8.8 ounces.

Can I listen to lossless audio on AirPods Max?

In short, no. AirPods Max are still Bluetooth headphones, and Bluetooth connections are not lossless. You can access higher quality audio on AirPods Max via a wired connection using Apple’s Lightning to 3.5 mm audio cable. It is important to note that the higher fidelity audio that is enabled by a wired connection is still not of lossless quality.

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