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ColdCrow60
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

AirPod Pro battery draining issue

I manage several sets of AirPods Pro 3s that are kept in an unpaired state so they are ready to be grabbed and paired by users on demand. We periodically ensure they are fully charged. However, I've recently noticed that when a user pairs them, the charging case will read 100% battery, but one or both of the earbuds will be severely depleted, sometimes down to ~25%.

I know this isn't an issue with the charging contacts because the earbuds immediately begin charging as soon as they are paired. Frustratingly, this behavior also occurs even if we leave the unpaired AirPods plugged in or on a Qi charger to top them up. This doesn't work well for my use case, as our users expect to have fully charged AirPods right when they grab them.


Steps to Reproduce:

  1. Fully charge the AirPods Pro 3 case and earbuds.
  2. Ensure they are completely unpaired from any device.
  3. Leave them in this ready state for a period of time (either unplugged or on a charger).
  4. Pair them to a device and immediately check the battery levels of the individual earbuds.


Question:

Is this expected behavior for unpaired AirPods to drain while in the case, and is there any way to prevent this so they stay at 100%?

Posted on Oct 15, 2026 2:23 PM

3 replies

Mac Jim ID
User level: Level 10 (105,996 points)

Oct 16, 2026 8:06 AM in response to Mac Jim ID

Ok, left them overnight and paired this morning and they are still showing 100%. If this was happening for you with a single pair of AirPods, I would assume it to be the battery failing, but since you are experiencing this with multiple sets and the model is not that old, it does not seem as likely.


The only other thing I could suggest is check if you are using the latest Firmware version which is 9A348. You can check that version and update if necessary with the steps in this Support Article.

About firmware updates for AirPods - Apple Support


Mac Jim ID
User level: Level 10 (105,996 points)

Oct 15, 2026 2:59 PM in response to ColdCrow60

Will try those steps to reproduce on my AirPods Pro 3 and report back after leaving them unpaired for several hours. Haven't noticed that in my normal use and they are always 100% when taken directly out of the case.

ColdCrow60 Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 15, 2026 4:12 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

I'm also testing disabling "Optimized Battery Charging" before unpairing and leaving to charge.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256376876