Need a permanent method to disable Optimized Charge Limit for AirPods Pro 3

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Need a permanent method to disable Optimized Charge Limit for AirPods Pro 3

I've seen this issue come up in the community several times, and it has yet to be addressed or acknowledged by Apple support.

The AirPods Pro 3 currently re-enables Optimized Charge Limit, no matter what user preferences are set, and does so across all devices. I have Optimized Charge Limit turned off permanently, at all times, on iPadOS, iOS, and MacOS.

Within a day or two of disabling this option -- not the "Turn off until tomorrow" feature, but using what is supposed to be the permanent "Turn off" option -- Optimized Charge Limit has re-enabled itself and is limiting my battery life to 80%. What's worse, is there is no warning that it's decided to re-enable the feature -- meaning the next time I go to use my AirPods for a 7-8 hour work session, where I will not have the ability to charge the device, I am inevitably going to have to cut that time short by a couple of hours.

I understand the usefulness of this feature for many use cases and users. That is not my use case; I am not that user. I don't want Apple to assume when/where I need an 80 or 100% limit on my battery life. This is not a feature I need in any scenario. I would rather completely replace the AirPods Pro more frequently, even once a year, knowing I will have the entirety of my advertised battery life when I need it or move away from the device entirely to one with a more reliable battery saver feature that I can actually disable.

My main use case for this device is having it available all day for work calls, ANC, etc., in situations where I cannot easily recharge the device for any length of time. The battery life is one of the major reasons I made the purchase, and this issue has not plagued the APP1 or APP2.

TL;DR: With seemingly no way to disable this charge limit, I am not getting the advertised battery life.

This needs a fix immediately. Apple support infuriatingly continues to assume the feature is working as-is, and pushes you toward the typical solutions of disabling the charge limit via the menu. It is not a feature, it is a bug.

Posted on Nov 6, 2025 12:29 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 11, 2025 4:12 AM in response to Commonmind

This "feature" is very frustrating. I am a in a work environment with individuals from different companies within ear shot of my desk. I need the ability to turn on my Pro 3 noise cancellation for hours at a time. I need a full 8 hour work day out of them, regardless, and I cannot get 8 hours with 80% charge.

Thought I had turned it off only to find my airpods at 80% charge this morning. I checked my ipad (off), and my macbook (off). Checked my iphone and optimized was still turned on.

Optimized charging should only have to be set for the airpods, not on EACH device you might connect to them.

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