How to Reset AirPods Before Selling

Before you start: what makes AirPods sellable

Two things decide whether we can buy your AirPods at all, so it's worth checking them before you go through the reset:

• They must work.Both earbuds and the case need to power on, charge, and play audio. A dead side or a case that won't charge means the set isn't sellable.
• The charging case is required.We buy AirPods as a complete set. Earbuds without their case can't be sold to us, even if both buds are present and fine.

Battery health is the single biggest price factor, because the batteries can't be replaced. Older AirPods that drain quickly are worth less, but as long as they work and you have the case, you can sell your AirPods for cash.

Step 1: Back up nothing, but note your settings

There's no personal data stored on AirPods, so there's nothing to back up. The only thing worth doing first is nothing more than making sure they're charged enough to test, pop both earbuds in the case and give it a short charge so the buyer (and our inspection) can confirm they power on.

Step 2: Remove AirPods from Find My

This is the step most people miss. AirPods are linked to your Apple ID through Find My, and you need to unlink them:

1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad
2. Tap the Devices tab
3. Select your AirPods from the list
4. Scroll down and tap Remove This Device
5. Confirm by tapping Remove

If your AirPods are currently connected, you may be asked to keep the lid open or bring them close first. Once removed, they're no longer tied to your account.

Step 3: Forget the AirPods in Bluetooth

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth
2. Find your AirPods in the list and tap the info (i) icon
3. Tap Forget This Device and confirm

This removes the pairing from your phone so the earbuds stop trying to reconnect to you.

Step 4: Factory reset the AirPods

Now reset the earbuds themselves so they're in a clean, ready-to-pair state:

1. Put both earbuds in the case and keep the lid open
2. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds
3. Watch the status light: it flashes amber, then white
4. Release the button, the AirPods are now reset

When the next owner opens the case near their device, the AirPods will show the fresh pairing animation, exactly like new.

Step 5: Clean them and gather the parts

For the best buyback tier, hand over:

• Both earbuds and the charging case (all required)
• The charging cable, if you still have it
• Original box and any spare ear tips (for AirPods Pro), optional but nice

A quick wipe of the earbuds and case with a dry cloth makes a good impression and speeds up the inspection.

Ready to sell

Once your AirPods are removed from Find My and reset, they're ready for buyback. WhatsApp us the model (AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max), roughly how old they are, and confirm you have the working case, and we'll send back a fair, market-based estimate. Inspections are quick, with instant payout via DuitNow or bank transfer.