AirPods Max Severe Battery Drain

[Qwerty Key]

Mine are draining faster while sitting in smart case (75% drain in 12 hours). While lying on the table (20% in 4 hours). While listening to music/video/phone calls (6% in 2+ hours). Looks like Apple wants me to just keep using them ?

Did factory rest etc. but same issue. Got a replacement pickup scheduled for Friday. Apple is sending a new one(But delivery only in Feb !!!).

 

[VL_424]

Mine were 56% this morning, only dropped a few % over night, so it’d appear the factory reset resolved it short term at least.

Same here. I’ll continue to monitor over the new few days as well.

 

[francoc02o]

Guys, I had the same Issue.

I got them a week ago, in the release day, and they were working perfectly. At least until Friday. That I charged them fully, and by Saturday night, they were dead again, and I barely used them, which I found weird.
I noticed that over nigh (Saturday night and Sunday night) they were draining around 40-50% (depending how many hours I sleep haha) of battery. And they were inside its smart case the whole time.

Yesterday (Monday) started doing my test: at 8am I unplugged them, they were at 100% battery. I kept them in their smart case. At 10am they were 92% of battery. At 11:37am they were 87%. All without using them, and inside the smart case.


SOLUTION

I factory reseted by pressing the crown and the noise control button at the same time for 15 sec, till the flash light blinked amber and then turned white. Then connected to my iPhone again.

Today I did my test again: I unplugged them at 8am, they were 100% battery. and I kept them in the case. 4 hours later at 12pm, they were still 100%. 4 hours later at 4pm, they were still at 100% battery. Now, at the moment im writing this, 2:30 later, at 6:30pm, they are at 100% of battery.
So I conclude that this solver the problem, because after more than 10 hours in its case, the battery remained intact.

CAUSE

So far I think the issue is that its processor got stuck and never stopped working, even though they were inside the case, because the rate batterydrain/hour was almost the same as when playing music (average 4%).

But we got to find out what is causing tis processor to get stock. Maybe we find a patter in our behavior using the headphone.

So far, I did play music from all my devices (iPhone 12 Pro, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K) when I was trying my headphones. I was especially trying the switching among devices feature, so I was constantly trying the automatic switching.
I read in this threat that a lot of you were also playing among several devices. So my theory is that the switching feature or the streaming from certain device is causing its processor to get stuck.

I also read that they just release an update for the AirPods max firmware yesterday ( 3C16 ), so it my have coincided with the solution as well.

Please let me know your comments.

 

[FreAk6767]

Here's some quick monitoring, and as you can see, much better since the factory reset:

20/12: 22:10 - 64%
21/12: 10:00 - 2%
Charge to 89%
21/12: 18:37 - 89%
21/12: 19:32 - 89%
21/12: 21:21 - 85%
21/12: 22:43 - 81%

Factory Reset + Full charge
22/12: 08:09 - 100%
22/12: 11:44 - 100%
22/12: 14:28 - 100%
22/12: 16:13 - 100%
22/12: 20:34 - 99%
22/12: 23:01 - 98%
23/12: 00:05 - 93% (use 1h)
23/12: 08:20 - 89%
23/12: 11:55 - 88%

 

[yegon]

Very good. Mine have been similar.

Is there a possibility that the firmware update was pushed out at the weekend and the update process drained the battery? I find this hard to believe though, surely an update would only happen while attached to the mains to avoid bricking.

 

[SHKLMRE]

Resetting my AirPods has helped!! Thanks for everyone who shared the info

I haven’t charged them in 1.5 days and after over 3-4 hours of use yesterday, I started today with 78% battery. This feels like the battery life Apple is advertising and it’s been great not having to worry about the battery drain. I was able to put on my AirPods this morning without them being dead ?

 

[dyfine]

I was on my original/fresh install and had the crazy drain issue. Did the reset and it was solved. I’m on 3C16

 

[FreAk6767]

I'm pretty sure the firmware has something to do with this, the timing is perfect

 

[francoc02o]

I’m glad it’s getting solved.
I’d like to know if someone without resetting but with the update 3C16 is still having the problem, so we can isolate the trigger that solved it.

Also, apple hasn’t recognized the problem yet, and what it’s original cause. Cause I don’t this to happen again and find myself out with no battery one day.

 

[francoc02o]

im surprised we are the only ones with this problem.
I had a second pair of AirPods max, yet sealed, that im going to return or sell, but im tempted to open them and see if they have the same original problem.

 

[alee]

I’m glad it’s getting solved.
I’d like to know if someone without resetting but with the update 3C16 is still having the problem, so we can isolate the trigger that solved it.

Also, apple hasn’t recognized the problem yet, and what it’s original cause. Cause I don’t this to happen again and find myself out with no battery one day.

It's highly unlikely devices received after today will be on anything other than 3C16, and any devices that weren't on 3C16 will have gotten it already, probably updated without people noticing. Apple does not release details of their headphone firmware, or allow you to manually update them.

No point second guessing or overthinking it. If it seems ok now, just move on. If it happens again, it's not like you can't get 4.5 hrs of playback time with a 15 min charge in a pinch, and then deal with making a warranty claim when you get home.

 

[yegon]

Mine were 1% when taken out of the case this morning. About 80% when last used 2pm yesterday.

Will be requesting a replacement. If it reoccurs with replacement, I’m done with them, refund and I’m out.

I love them, but it’s a dealbreaker if it frequently reoccurs. My AirPods Pro have had a recurring problem that they haven’t fixed and won’t replace (related to losing settings), I’m not leaving myself lumbered with a £550 liability.

 

[Shadowbech]

Not sure what's going on. It was fully charged last night, used it a bit, it was at 95% after use, put it in the case, 6 hours later it's down to 50% hmm.

 

[yegon]

Happened to me twice now, only when using case.

I’m going to leave it out of the case permanently for a bit, see what happens. They never leave the house anyway.

Maybe it’s behaving weird going in and out of power saving mode related to the case?

 

[Shadowbech]

I know that the AirPods max has a new firmware update, that is 3C16. I wonder if this this update is the issue? Not sure. Didn't had this issue on the previous firmware.

 

[francoc02o]

I know that the AirPods max has a new firmware update, that is 3C16. I wonder if this this update is the issue? Not sure. Didn't had this issue on the previous firmware.

Can you confirm if you are already in 3C16 and still having the issue?

After that . Try factory resetting your headphones. That solved the problem for everyone so far.

 

[yegon]

Can you confirm if you are already in 3C16 and still having the issue?

After that . Try factory resetting your headphones. That solved the problem for everyone so far.

I tick both boxes.

Mine are 3C16 now, drain happened last weekend, I factory reset them, happened again last night.

 

[francoc02o]

Mine were 1% when taken out of the case this morning. About 80% when last used 2pm yesterday.

Will be requesting a replacement. If it reoccurs with replacement, I’m done with them, refund and I’m out.

I love them, but it’s a dealbreaker if it frequently reoccurs. My AirPods Pro have had a recurring problem that they haven’t fixed and won’t replace (related to losing settings), I’m not leaving myself lumbered with a £550 liability.

please check of you already have the 3C16 firmaware. If not, listen at least 30 second some music from your iPhone, then plug them, and let the heapphones inside the case for 30min, without opening the case. That should update them (apple support steps).

If you already have the new firmware,
Factory reset your headphones by pressing and holding the crown and the button at the same time for 15 sec, until the led blink amber and then white. Then reconnect to your iPhone

that solved the problem for everyone.

My hypothesis is that the battery drain is caused by its processor or sensor, which it gets frozen (not sptoping working/loading). And this might be caused by:

1) having the previous firmware to 3C16
2) the updating process gets freeze in an infinity loop.
3) switching through your headphones through several devices ( this is the least likely, but I’m goin to run some tests).

 

[Shadowbech]

Can you confirm if you are already in 3C16 and still having the issue?

After that . Try factory resetting your headphones. That solved the problem for everyone so far.

Yea it was 3C16 yesterday and I did factory reset this morning. so far so good for now as it's fully charged inside the case.

 

[yegon]

please check of you already have the 3C16 firmaware. If not, listen at least 30 second some music from your iPhone, then plug them, and let the heapphones inside the case for 30min, without opening the case. That should update them (apple support steps).

If you already have the new firmware,
Factory reset your headphones by pressing and holding the crown and the button at the same time for 15 sec, until the led blink amber and then white. Then reconnect to your iPhone

that solved the problem for everyone.

My hypothesis is that the battery drain is caused by its processor or sensor, which it get frozen (not spooning working/loading). And this might be caused by:

1) having the previous firmware to 3C16
2) the updating process gets freeze in an infinity loop.
3) switching through your headphones through several devices ( this is the least likely, but I’m goin to run some tests).

Thanks, but I've done all of this unfortunately, I've contributed quite a bit to this thread already this past week. Don't mean to sound snarky saying that.

Switching normally between iPhone and two iPads, nothing extraordinary.

 

[francoc02o]

I tick both boxes.

Mine are 3C16 now, drain happened last weekend, I factory reset them, happened again last night.

Then the cause must be something not related to the firmware, but a certain bug that is triggered by a pattern of use. Can you confirm with how many and which devices do you use to stream audio from?

Also, please monitor your batterydrain/hour now. If it’s 3% or more when it’s on its case, it mean you are having the problem. Then factory reset them (until you get the white led light) and then monitor again the battery drain. That should solve the problem.
But we still need to figure out what is triggering it, so we can report it.

 

[francoc02o]

Thanks, but I've done all of this unfortunately, I've contributed quite a bit to this thread already this past week. Don't mean to sound snarky saying that.

Switching normally between iPhone and two iPads, nothing extraordinary.

Interesting. Cause I was switching among iPad Pro. Apple TV. And after that I had the problem.
After factory resetting I haven’t switched to see if the problem happens again, but that could be the trigger. I’ll run some tests

 

[yegon]

Thanks for the help.

The only thing in common both times was that they were in the case and I hadn’t used them for possibly 18 hours or more. Don’t know if that 18 hours is significant, as that is when they go in to ultra low power mode in the case isn’t it? As opposed to 72 hours out of the case.

Most days I’ve used them within 12 hours of using them.

 

[francoc02o]

Thanks for the help.

The only thing in common both times was that they were in the case and I hadn’t used them for possibly 18 hours or more. Don’t know if that 18 hours is significant, as that is when they go in to ultra low power mode in the case isn’t it? As opposed to 72 hours out of the case.

Most days I’ve used them within 12 hours of using them.

You are welcome.

I dont think is related to it. I was monitoring the drain every hour when I had the problem. And right after using them and putting them inside the case. They were drawing in at an average rate of 4-5%/hour, which is normal when listening music and the processor is working.

now after factory restored it, I last charged it on Monday night, unplugged them at 8am in Tuesday with 100% battery. I’ve used it just 2 hours to test the battery drain while playing music. And so far the battery is 64% now Friday (after 75 hours ).
But I’ve only used it with my iPhone 12 pro

 

[yegon]

Left them out of case at 1230 today, 99%, left them at home while I went out.

Came back just now, 2030, they’re still at 99%. Hmm.

For now, I’m not putting them anywhere near the case lol!