Thanks to the in-ear design, AirPods Pro can get dirty faster than AirPods. But cleaning them is easy enough if you know what to avoid and the best tools to use. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to clean your AirPods Pro and charging case.
The steps below apply to both AirPods and AirPods Pro, but we'll go deeper to some features that are unique to the latter thanks to the removable ear tips and earbud design.
How to clean dirty AirPods Pro and charging case
DO NOT clean AirPods Pro
- Do not start AirPods Pro or charging case underwater
- Do not use sharp or abrasive tools, materials, or cleaning products.
- Do not allow water or objects to enter the charging case or charging contacts.
Best materials and tools for cleaning AirPods Pro?
- Useful items include: cotton swab, toothpick, microfiber cloths , Blu Tack, isopropyl alcohol and Clorox wipes.
Cleaning your AirPods Pro
- Wipe your AirPods Pro with a clean microfiber cloth
- Lightly dampen the cloth with fresh water if necessary
- Apple says you can use a Clorox disinfectant wipe or 70% isopropyl/ethyl alcohol, similar to AirPods/AirPods Pro
- Be sure to let them dry completely before putting them back in the charging case or in your ears.
- Remove excess cotton from the end for a more precise tool.
- Use carefully toothpick to break up and remove hard-to-reach areas – be careful not to poke into or through grilles, microphones or other important components.
- Blue Tack is another great way to remove dirt and debris from black speaker grilles.
Clean your AirPods Pro ear tips
- Use a dry, clean microfiber cloth or cotton swab to clean the outside surface.
- To thoroughly clean the earbuds, pull firmly on the silicone ear tips to remove them.
- Rinse them with fresh water (Apple advises against using soap or other cleaning products).
- Dry with a clean cloth.
- To clean the speaker you can use Blue Tack. grilles when you have the ear tips removed.
- Push them into place until you hear a click (make sure the oval is aligned).
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- AirPods Pro: how to use the ear tip fit test and change tips
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AirPods Pro Charging Case
- Use a dry, clean cloth to Wipe down the AirPods Pro charging case.
- If necessary, lightly dampen the cloth with isopropyl alcohol or use a Clorox wipe.
- Do not allow liquids or other objects to get into the charging port. /contacts
- Blue Tack is again a great way to remove dirt and debris from the outside and inside of your charging case.
The charging case has debris?
If debris or debris has accumulated on the charging contacts in the charging case:
- You may want to try using a hand-held fan before trying canned air.
- To avoid damage, it's best not to stick anything to the charging contacts, but you can carefully try using a toothpick or Q-tip if you want.
- Head to your local Apple Store or AASP if you need more help.
Thanks for reading our guide to cleaning AirPods Pro! The full Apple support document can be found here.
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