Can You Buy a Replacement AirPod? Here's What to Do If You Lose an Earbud

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If you're a music lover, your AirPods probably go everywhere you do. But sooner or later, you may have the unfortunate experience of taking one out of your ear and not remembering where you put it. Losing a single AirPod (or the charging case) can feel incredibly frustrating, and you may wonder, “Can you buy a replacement AirPod?”

Fortunately, you can buy a replacement AirPod if you lose one in your set. While it may not be cheap, it isn't as expensive as buying a whole new set. Here's what to know about replacing an AirPod or trying to locate one that you've lost.

Can you buy a replacement AirPod?

Yes, you can buy a replacement AirPod in Apple stores or online. Here's how to start the process from Apple's website.

1. Go to the AirPods Replacement, Repair, & Service page and scroll down to the “Get an estimate” section.

2. Choose “Lost Item” as your service type, then select your product and model to replace.

3. Click “Get estimate,” and you'll see how much the replacement will cost. Then click “Get service” to start the order.

How much does a replacement AirPod cost?

If you're trying to determine whether to buy a replacement AirPod (or case) or invest in a brand-new set of wireless earbuds, you can consider how much the replacement for the lost item would cost.

First, you'll want to find the model number on your AirPods or case and make sure you know which generation you have. Then, you can look up the price of the replacement item. Here's the breakdown, per the AirPods Replacement page:

• Single AirPod (any generation): $69

• Single AirPod Pro (any generation): $89

• Lightning charging case for 2nd-generation AirPods or earlier: $59

• Lightning charging case for 3rd-generation AirPods: $69

• Wireless charging case for 2nd-generation AirPods or earlier: $79

• Wireless charging case for AirPods Pro: $99

• MagSafe charging case for 3rd-generation AirPods: $79

• MagSafe charging case for AirPods Pro: $99

• MagSafe/Lightning charging case for 2nd-generation AirPods: $99

• MagSafe/USB-C charging case for 2nd-generation AirPods: $99

Will AppleCare+ cover replacement AirPods?

When you buy a new Apple product, you'll have the opportunity to purchase AppleCare+, too. This will usually cover maintenance on individual Apple gadgets for a certain period.

Unfortunately, AppleCare+ for Headphones doesn't cover lost or stolen AirPods. However, it will cover 2 years of damage protection and other service benefits.

Can you use Find My to find your AirPods?

Before you scramble to buy a replacement AirPod, first try to locate it using the Find My location-sharing app. Here's how:

1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone and tap the “Devices” tab.

2. Select your AirPods, and choose the missing right or left earbud or the case.

3. You'll either see its current or last known location on a map. If it's nearby, you can tap “Play Sound,” and it'll beep loudly.

Can you still listen to one AirPod?

If your AirPod is indeed lost, it may be tempting to listen to the one earbud you still have and just forget about the other. However, this isn't a great long-term solution.

While you may be able to listen to a single AirPod if it's already paired to your device, you won't be able to resync it to your device if it becomes disconnected. This is because the AirPods require both earbuds to be in the case for pairing.

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