5 Simple Tips To Keep AirPods From Falling Out

Here are simple yet innovative solutions for when ​​your AirPods won’t stay put.

The AirPods’ design isn’t just iconic; it is also functional. In fact, Apple worked with Stanford to 3D-scan hundreds of ears to create a design that would fit the majority of the population.

Despite this, many people complain that their AirPods keep falling out of their ears. And this happens for all models: AirPods (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gen) and AirPods Pro (1 & 2).

Fortunately, simple problems require simple solutions. From wearing them right to DIY hacks, here are the top five tips on how to keep your AirPods from falling out. Let’s dive in!

1. Make Sure You’re Wearing Them Right

This first tip may sound a little too obvious, but there is a proper way to put your AirPods in your ears, which many people aren’t aware of. Needless to say, it doesn’t hurt to make sure that your AirPods and AirPods Pro are correctly worn at all times.

When worn improperly, earbuds are more likely to get dislodged. This is because the AirPods and AirPods Pro differ slightly in design.

As you may already know, the AirPods 1, AirPods 2, and AirPods 3 are roughly the same size and shape as Apple’s wired earphones and sit more shallowly in the ears. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro features silicone tips that sit much deeper in the users’ ears.

This difference puts the two AirPod models in separate technical categories. The AirPods Gen 1, 2, and 3 belong to the “earbuds” family, while the AirPods Pro are referred to as “in-ear monitors” or IEMs.

Here’s how to wear each type correctly:

• How to wear the AirPods Gen 1, 2, and 3 properly
• How to wear AirPods Pro properly

How to wear the AirPods Gen 1, 2, and 3 properly

Follow this step-by-step guide for wearing the AirPods 1, 2, and 3 properly:

1. Wipe the speakers with a damp cloth. Clean off any oil, dirt, or residue from the ear tips of your AirPods, as they can cause your AirPods to slip easily. By ensuring the surface of the ear tips is “squeaky clean,” you’ll be sure to experience better grip when wearing them.
   Don’t wipe your AirPods with a soaking wet cloth as this could lead to water damage.

   

   For a more detailed discussion, check out our ultimate guide to cleaning AirPods.

2. Press the AirPods in gently. Once they’re all clean, press the AirPods into your ears, ensuring the stem is vertically aligned with your head or parallel to your face. This alignment is crucial for the next step of the process.
   Refrain from pushing the AirPods too deep to the point of discomfort. Doing so may lead to injuries and infections in your ear canal.
3. Rotate and wedge in the AirPods to secure the fit. Lastly, rotate the AirPods until you reach the point where the earbuds feel tight and secured. You’ll feel this “locked” position happen when the stems of your AirPods are almost parallel to your jawline.
   Once you’ve achieved this, see how they look in the mirror or take a picture to remember what the proper fit looks like. This will make the position much easier to replicate in the future.

How to wear the AirPods Pro properly

Compared to the standard AirPods, the AirPods Pro need a little more attention, mainly since they use silicone ear tips. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you wear them properly:

1. Flip the silicone tips and check their size. Checking the size of the silicone tip you’re using is a vital step in this process, as not having the right-sized ear tips will render the next steps in this guide useless. Refer to Apple’s sizing guide to find out the best size for you.

   

   The AirPods Pro come outfitted with medium ear tips right out of the box, but additional large and small ear tips are also included.
2. Align the sizing letter with the black vent. This step is so obscure that it’s almost a hack. For the best fit, make sure to align the sizing letter and the black vent. You should hear a click when you’ve turned them properly.

   

3. Press in, rotate, and wedge. Much like its predecessor, correctly inserting your AirPods Pro into your ears requires the whole press-rotate-wedge motion. Press in the AirPods to a comfortable fit, then rotate the earbuds until you feel them wedge into your ear.
4. Run an Ear Tip Fit Test. This handy feature from Apple helps you achieve a better seal with your earbuds. While wearing your AirPods, connect them to your iPhone and select Settings > Bluetooth. Click the information button beside the device and press “Ear Tip Fit Test.”

   

   If the “Ear Tip Fit Test” option isn’t available on your device, your iOS is likely lower than version 13.2 and will need an upgrade.

2. Try Wearing the AirPods Upside Down

Here’s a unique tip on making AirPods fit better from a MacRumors user named Awimoway. According to him, wearing the AirPods upside down is something you should try out if the previous tricks did not work for you.

Admittedly, I’ve tried wearing wired earbuds upside down while jogging. This is a known trick used by runners that has seemingly faded with time because of wireless earbuds. Well, you can still do it! And while it may look strange, there’s no harm in trying it out to achieve a better fit that’ll prevent your AirPods from falling out.

3. Switch to Memory Foam Tips(for AirPods Pro)

Although Apple developed the AirPods Pro’s silicone tips with the good intention of improving overall fit, they still ended up recreating the same type of problems experienced by AirPod users. A solution to this is to try a different kind of ear tip made from another material.

After silicone tips, the best material to go for is memory foam. Unlike Apple’s silicone tips, memory foam seamlessly molds itself to the shape of the ear, providing a better seal in the ear canal.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to change your AirPods Pro’s ear tips to memory foam:

1. Remove the silicone tips. You can do this by gently pulling on them until they pop off the earbuds.
2. Choose the right memory foam ear tip. The rule of thumb is that your silicone tip and memory foam tip should be the same size. Try to go for brands like Foam Masters that actually follow Apple’s sizing. These brands are made specifically for AirPods, so there should be no issues with the fit.
3. Squeeze and push the new tips in until they’re locked in. Squeeze and push the memory foam tips the same way you would when putting on silicone tips. Once the ear tip is securely placed on the earbuds, you should hear a click.
4. Squeeze and plug the AirPods into your ears. While the process of attaching silicone and memory foam ear tips to the earbuds is the same, the method of wearing them is slightly different. When putting on AirPods equipped with memory foam ear tips, you’ll need to squeeze the tip first before doing the push-rotate-wedge action.
   It will take approximately 4 seconds before the memory foam ear tips fully expand and take the shape of your ears to seal the canal properly.

4. Apply a Waterproof Tape

Applying waterproof tape is another popular solution from MacRumors, this time from a user named NewZealandMatt. Waterproof tape retains its stickiness even with moisture present, so using this material can help give your AirPods a better grip that’ll keep them from falling out.

Here are the tools you will need for this method:

• Nexcare Absolute Waterproof Tape
• Hole Punch

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to adding waterproof tape to your AirPods.

1. Punch out a couple of small dots from the waterproof tape. Punch as many dots as you wish so you’ll have extra ones you can use if your initial placements do not work. Also, since you may need to change the tapes from time to time, it doesn’t hurt to have a collection of waterproof tape dots ready.

   

2. Place the tape below and above the black sensor dot. This may require a bit of trial and error as we all have differently shaped ears. You can even try experimenting with different shapes to achieve a better fit for your ears. In the end, it depends on what makes you comfortable. Once you’re good, it should look something like this:

   

5. Use Third-Party Accessories

If all else fails, you could look into third-party accessories to improve the fit of your AirPods. Some of these accessories are specifically made to address common issues regarding making AirPods fit better or keeping them from falling out.

Here are some of our favorite third-party accessories for AirPods:

• DamonLight AirPods Covers
• Ahastyle Silicone AirPods Ear Hooks
• GOGOSODU AirPods Strap

DamonLight AirPods Covers

The DamonLight AirPods Covers are silicone ear tip covers that provide additional grip to the earbud part of the AirPods. They come in two variants – one for the standard AirPods and one for the AirPods Pro.

These silicone covers are thin enough to fit inside AirPods and AirPods Pro charging cases. So, you won’t need to keep taking them off every time you want to put them away.

Ahastyle Silicone AirPods Ear Hooks

The Ahastyle Silicone AirPods Ear Hooks are AirPod covers much like the DamonLight option mentioned above. What makes the two different is that the AhaStyle covers come with a hook and a silicone tip extension for the regular AirPods. The AirPods Pro version of these covers, on the other hand, only includes a hook.

Hooks are often found in earphones or earbuds designed for sports use. So, if you’re thinking of using your AirPods for contact sports, such as basketball, these are worth considering.

GOGOSODU AirPods Strap

Finally, we have the AirPods strap from GOGOSODU. This product doesn’t directly address in-ear fit. Still, it does offer an extra layer of security for your AirPods in case the earbuds decide to pop out of your ears.

In a way, this AirPods strap acts as insurance for those involved in a lot of outdoor activities and are worried about losing their AirPods.

FAQs on AirPods Falling Out

Why do AirPods fall out easily?

In all fairness to Apple, the AirPods aren’t that hopeless in the ‘fit’ department. Their perennial creation has always been known for a snug fit good enough to rival sports-type earbuds. After all, there’s a reason why AirPods are preferred by most folks, from casual joggers to professional athletes.

So, how is it possible that AirPods falling out is still a common problem? Well, there are a few reasons for that. Let’s go over them one by one below.

• Wrong fit: Naturally, if your AirPods’ earbuds are too big or too small for your ears, it’ll be challenging to get them to stay put. The driving factor behind this is that each person has a highly unique ear shape and size. This makes the one-size-fits-all approach the biggest reason your AirPods don’t properly fit in your ears.
• Silicone tips on AirPods Pro: Many thought the replaceable silicone ear tips were the right solution for the fit problems. But, the silicone tips birthed a couple of new problems: they were slippery and prone to dirt accumulation. Some users have even reported the AirPods feeling less snug, especially when running/moving long distances.
• Getting physically hit: Though quite obvious, another reason why our AirPods fall out of our ears is due to external forces. For instance, you could knock your AirPods out while shedding your workout clothes or fixing your hair. These days, it’s also pretty common to accidentally hit your AirPods when taking off your face mask.

Can you return AirPods if they don’t fit your ears?

Yes, you can return your AirPods if you find that they don’t fit snugly on your ears, granted you meet certain requirements:

• You should return them within 14 days from the time you received them.
• They should not have been tampered with, and should be in good physical condition.
• You should return them with the box, receipt, and all other items they came with (warranty cards and cords).
• You should’ve bought them in an official Apple Store, whether online or offline.

The good news is that 14 days is enough time to fit and test your AirPods!

You can either return your AirPods online via the Order Listing Page, or visit a nearby Apple Store – preferably where you purchased your AirPods.

Conclusion

The AirPods are indeed a revolutionary device in their own right, but the unfortunate fit issues can take away from their appeal for some people. The good news is that the above fixes can efficiently address this.

Hopefully, with these solutions at hand, you no longer have to worry about your AirPods falling out when running, exercising, or playing sports.

Did you find these tips helpful? We’d love to hear about what activities you do while wearing your AirPods, and how you manage to keep them where they’re supposed to be. So, if you have your favorite DIY or professional solutions, please share them in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you!