Fix AirPods Max Battery Drain Issue [4 Effective Ways]

Written By Farhan Bin Matin

You paid a premium price for AirPods Max for high quality, usability, and aesthetic appeal. However, within a few days, you find that there is severe battery draining even if the AirPods Max is inside its Smart Case.

You are not alone. Many Apple forums and Reddit users reported the same quick battery depletion issue.

In this article, I will show you quick fixes for the AirPods Max battery drain Issue that worked for many users.fix-airpods-max-battery-drain-issue

Without further ado, let’s move on.

Why Is AirPods Max Battery So Easily Drained?

According to Apple, “You can use AirPods Max for up to 20 hours with Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio turned on. In addition, it turns off Bluetooth and Find My and maximizes battery life after a certain time: 72 hours outside the Smart Case and 18 hours in the Smart Case.”

But in my case, I suddenly started suffering from this bad battery drain. I put the headset on the Smart Case with around 70% charge at night, and in the morning, I got a notification of a 5% charge. It felt like using a cheap Android back in 2015.

I saw some users claim their AirPods Max battery drained from 100% to 1% in SmartCase overnight. But what can be the reason? I dug a bit and found some causes.

Here are the reasons for AirPods Max quick battery drainage:

  • AirPods Max is not going into low power mode properly.
  • The headphone is connected to multiple devices.
  • Firmware Issue.
  • Condensation Issue that leads to battery problems.

Now, it’s also essential to know how to stop the Airpod Max from draining the battery. So, keep reading.

How to Stop AirPods Max Overnight Battery Drain

There’s something very wrong with the AirPods Max battery if the wireless headphones are not put in use. So be sure to disconnect the device after using it. Besides that, firmware issues can also cause excessive drainage of the battery, and in that case, you must ensure you have the latest firmware.

Here are the methods to fix AirPods Max battery draining:

1. Check Firmware Version

Primarily, firmware bugs can cause severe battery drain for AirPods Max. Previously, the 3C16 or 4E71 firmware version caused battery issues for the AirPods Max. However, Apple dropped new updates and fixed the battery drainage problem through the firmware for many.check-firmware-version

So, be sure to update AirPods firmware to prevent such battery issues. Currently, the latest version of this headset is 6A300.

However, all AirPods have the auto-update feature enabled by default, so you possibly have the latest version. In that case, keep reading to learn the following method.

2. Restart the Headphone

Weak network speed? Restart the router and modem. Games lagging on the console? Restart it. Smartphone feeling slowed down? Reboot it.

Most of the time, a simple restart refreshes the internal software and settings for electrical devices and fixes several temporary problems.

Similarly, for quick battery discharging problems, you can restart the AirPods Max and check whether there’s a difference. After all, it will take only a few minutes.

Here’s the process to reboot AirPods Max:

  • Ensure the over-ear headphone has enough battery charge. If not, charge it.
  • Press and hold the Digital Crown and Noise Control button simultaneously until the status light flashes.digital-crown-noise-control-button-airpods-max
  • Release both buttons immediately after the light flashes amber.amber-status-light-airpods-max

Now, verify if the battery still drains. If the issue persists, follow the next methods.

3. Turn Off Bluetooth After Using AirPods Max

Since AirPods Max lacks a power-off switch to turn off the device manually, you should disable the Bluetooth(BT) option from the paired device. It will ensure the headset disconnects and puts it into a low power mode to save it from battery drain.

It takes 5 minutes to enter low power mode when leaving the headset stationary. However, it will take three days to turn off BT and Find My option automatically. It can be a hassle to turn off BT for every device. But, it is one of the top solutions that works for many.

To turn off iPhone or iPad Bluetooth:

  • Open Settings on your iPhone.iphone-settings
  • Select Bluetooth.bluetooth-option-iphone
  • Toggle off the option.turn-off-bluetooth-in-iphone

Similarly, you can turn off the option for your Apple Watch by going to Settings > selecting Bluetooth and turning it off.turn-off-bluetooth-apple-watch

By disabling the Bluetooth, you ensure AirPods Max isn’t used and will go to low power mode.

4. Factory Reset AirPods Max

If the above-mentioned methods don’t work for you, a reset can help to prevent the battery drain. Resetting AirPods Max will unpair from the paired devices and the iCloud account. It can be annoying, but it is an effective way to stop battery drainage as it becomes brand new.

Before resetting the headset, verify it has enough charge, or the AirPods won’t reset due to insufficient battery.

Follow the steps below to reset AirPods Max:

  • Press and hold the Digital Crown and Noise Control buttons simultaneously for about 15 seconds.
  • Release the buttons when the status light flashes to white from amber.

You reset the headset successfully. Now, as the over-ear is disconnected from every device, you must connect the AirPods Max to PS4, Xbox, or any other device you want to reuse the headset.

Due to the metal build, it tends to accumulate moisture inside ear cups. These water drops can go into the headphone driver and cause issues with the battery and cause draining issues. So, don’t forget to clean your headset after using it, or you can end up in a situation to fix the AirPods Max condensation issue.

Final Thought

Battery draining is a critical issue, and if you encounter this on a premium product, it can be concerning. However, firmware update or restarting AirPods Max can fix its battery draining issue.

Let us know what worked for you in the comment section.

Have a nice day!

About The Author
Farhan is a tech researcher and enthusiast. He’s been into tech and gaming since he got a PS2 in his childhood.Currently, he’s almost done with his undergrad.Besides testing and researching geeky stuff, Farhan has an utmost passion for photography.

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