If you’re given someone’s AirPods or are buying them used, ensure the original owner is prepared to assist you. To fully utilize the AirPods, you may need to reset them with the help of the original owner. Although it’s fairly easy, it still requires their assistance.

This article explains how to factory reset AirPods Pro from a previous owner and the consequences of not doing so. The instructions apply to all recent AirPods models.

How to Factory Reset AirPods Pro From a Previous Owner

When the AirPods Pro is set up, they’re connected to the Apple Account of the person setting them up via Pairing Lock (like Activation Lock on iPhone). You can use AirPods Pro without removing Pairing Lock, but you can’t connect them to your Apple Account (more on why that’s important at the end of this article).

Therefore, if you’re keeping the AirPods Pro, you need to reset them from the previous owner to set them up yourself.

AirPods can only be removed from an Apple Account by the person who owns that Apple Account. That means that you need the help of the AirPods’ previous owner. When buying used AirPods, inquire if the seller has removed their Apple Account. If not, they can follow these steps. If they can’t or won’t, reconsider buying or consider returning the AirPods.

1. The original owner of the AirPods should log into the Find My app using the Apple ID that the Air Pods are paired to (they can also do this via iCloud.com).

   It’s best to do this in person. If that’s not possible, they should follow steps 2-6 and then you should do step 7.

2. Swipe up to show all devices connected to the Apple ID (on iPad and Mac, skip this step)

3. Tap the AirPods that need to be removed from the previous owner’s Apple ID.

4. Swipe up to reveal more information about the AirPods.

5. Tap Remove This Device.

6. In the pop-up window, tap Remove.

7. With that done, the AirPods should be removed from the previous owner’s Apple ID. You can now set up the AirPods with your Apple ID.

   If the owner wasn’t Bluetooth range of the AirPods when they performed steps 1-6, you should reset the AirPods and then set them up.

What Happens If You Don’t Reset the Owner of AirPods

If you don’t reset the owner of the used AirPods, the following problems can occur:

• Can’t Use Find My AirPods. Find My uses your Apple Account track devices. So, if the AirPods are connected to someone else’s Apple Account, you can’t use Find My to locate them if they’re lost.
• Have to Set Up AirPods on Each Device. If AirPods are paired to your Apple Account, every device using that Apple Account can recognize them. If they’re not connected to your Apple Account, you must set them up on each device whenever you want to use them.
• Won’t Know if the AirPods Are Stolen. Pairing Lock is an anti-theft measure. It’s possible that when someone can’t or won’t remove AirPods from their Apple Account, it’s because they are stolen.
• Can’t Sell the AirPods. Because of these limitations, other people won’t want to buy AirPods locked to your Apple Account.