I found someone else's AirPods Pro (1st gen). How can I make sure they're findable for Find My?

[Ivan X]

That's basically the question. I have a set of AirPods Pro (1st gen) that belongs to someone else, and theoretically they're supposed to be eligible to be found via the Find My network, and from there put into Lost Mode, which, if I understand correctly, would notify me on my own phone with contact info. Seems like a 1 in a 100 to me, but I'd at least like to give the owner a chance.

What I can't figure out is: what's best practice here to make them the most findable? I know that when Pro 1st gens are in the case, and the case is closed, they're not findable. So, do I leave the case plugged in and lid open? Do I open the case periodically to see if anything pops up on my phone? Do I leave the AirPods out of the case? I've found surprisingly little information about what to do here, other than "give them to the police" (as if anyone is going to go to NYC police to try to recover their lost AirPods).

Any insight would be welcome.

 

[MakaniKai]

If it were me I would do as you said and keep them charged, then once in a while open the case for a minute and then close it again in hopes that it updates the Find My network. Maybe something will pop up, maybe not. I'd probably just have them at my desk and keep doing that every so often for like a week, then I guess give them to the police (or the lost-and-found of wherever you might have found them, if applicable) because idk what else you can do.

 

[MacCraig Pro]

Take them to an apple store and I am sure they could read the icloud data and return them to their owner?