PodSpotHome Find lost AirPods
Lost your AirPods? You can probably still find them.
AirPods that have battery send a Bluetooth signal. Walk the area with PodSpot and follow it as it gets stronger. Some Pro and newer cases advertise too.
Free iPhone app with in-app purchases. Needs iOS 17 or later.
On a computer? Point your iPhone camera at this code to open PodSpot in the App Store.
PodSpot is an iPhone app, so it won't install on Android.
The short answer
Take your iPhone to where you last had your AirPods and open PodSpot. It lists nearby Bluetooth devices as Near or Far. Tap a row, walk toward a stronger signal, and when the earbuds are close, play a sound from PodSpot while they are connected to your iPhone. Classic cases do not advertise; some Pro and newer cases do under the same name as the buds.
Find them with PodSpot
PodSpot works with the Bluetooth signal your AirPods (and, on some models, their charging case) send while they have battery.
- Open PodSpot on your iPhone and start a scan.
- Find your AirPods in the list. Each device is labeled Near or Far. If two rows share the same name, PodSpot shows (1) and (2) and does not say which is bud versus case.
- Tap a row to open the signal screen, then walk slowly from room to room. The signal percentage rises as you get closer.
- When the earbuds are nearby, play a sound from PodSpot while they are connected to your iPhone. It does not work on the charging case.
- When you find them, save the spot in PodSpot. Saved spots are listed under Previous Locations, so next time you know where to look first.
What PodSpot can and can't do
PodSpot is at its best for the last stretch, when you know your AirPods are close but can't see them. A rising signal percentage helps when a beep is hard to hear from inside a bag or a coat pocket.
PodSpot reads Bluetooth signals right on your iPhone, so scanning works without Wi-Fi or mobile data. Some charging cases (AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods 5) advertise their own signal that PodSpot can list under the same name as the earbuds, not a Case label. Classic AirPods cases do not send a signal PodSpot can read on their own.
PodSpot can play a sound on your AirPods while they are connected to your iPhone. Play Sound does not work on the charging case.
Places worth checking
- Between the sofa cushions, and on the floor under the sofa
- Coat and jacket pockets, including the ones in the laundry pile
- The bottom of your bag or backpack
- Car seats and the gap beside them
- Bedding, and the floor on both sides of the bed
- Your desk, under papers and behind the monitor
Questions people ask
Can I find AirPods that are dead?
No. AirPods with no battery send no Bluetooth signal, so no scanner can pick them up, PodSpot included. If you saved the spot where you last found them in PodSpot, start your search there.
Does PodSpot work without Wi-Fi or mobile data?
Scanning does. PodSpot reads Bluetooth right on your iPhone, so it needs no Wi-Fi or mobile data. It reads the Bluetooth signal your AirPods send while they are switched on. That makes it useful when you are close but can't see them. Starting a subscription does need a connection.
How close do I need to be for PodSpot to see my AirPods?
It depends on what is in the way. Walls, furniture and bodies all weaken a Bluetooth signal, so start where you last used your AirPods and walk room by room until they appear in the list.
Can PodSpot find my AirPods case?
It depends on the model. AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods 5 charging cases advertise their own Bluetooth signal that PodSpot can list. That row uses the same name as the earbuds, not a Case label, so if you see (1) and (2) PodSpot is not telling you which is the case. Classic AirPods cases do not send a signal PodSpot can read. Play Sound works on the earbuds while they are connected to your iPhone, not on the case.
Can PodSpot play a sound on my AirPods?
Yes, while your AirPods are connected to your iPhone. PodSpot plays a sound through the earbuds so they are easier to find, and if they are not connected you can follow the signal percentage instead. It does not play through the charging case, even when that case appears in the scan list.