I lost my left AirPod with active noise cancellation today. It was fully charged, but Find My showed its location somewhere I didn't think I had been, and the location seemed to appear while I was driving. I have AppleCare+ and had heard that losing an individual AirPod probably isn't covered. Is there anything else I should try before buying a replacement?
4 Answers
AirPods don’t have the same theft-and-loss coverage option that some iPhones do. AppleCare+ may help with accidental damage, but simply losing one usually means paying for a replacement. For the future, a bright case or a small visible tether for the charging case can make them easier to keep track of.
Find My can sometimes show the last known location rather than the AirPod’s current position, especially if it disconnected while you were moving. Retrace your route and check places where you stopped, nearby grass, the car, and under seats. If it reconnects, use the sound feature to help locate it.
If it’s genuinely lost, AppleCare+ generally doesn’t cover replacing a missing AirPod. Apple sells individual replacement earbuds, so you can replace just the left one instead of buying a whole new set.
I’ve had Find My point to a spot that was several feet off, and the missing earbud ended up hidden in grass near where I had walked. The map isn’t always exact, so search the surrounding area instead of checking only the pin.

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