AirPods cannot be completely turned off with a physical power button like traditional devices. Instead, the best way to "turn off" AirPods is to put them back into their charging case and close the lid. This automatically disconnects them from devices and puts them into a low-power mode to conserve battery. If not in the case, you can also turn off Bluetooth on your connected device or manually disconnect the AirPods via Bluetooth settings to stop them from being active, which effectively powers them down in terms of connectivity. Specifically:
- AirPods Max do not have a power button; placing them in the Smart Case puts them into low power mode, and after 18 hours, into ultra-low power mode.
- For AirPods (2nd, 3rd, Pro, 4), putting them in their charging case disconnects and powers them down.
- Disconnecting via Bluetooth or turning Bluetooth off on your device also stops them from being active.
- AirPods will still consume minimal power if associated with an Apple account or device but will not actively drain like when connected.
So, the practical way to turn off AirPods is to put them in their case or disconnect them from Bluetooth, as there is no dedicated power off switch on these devices.
