AirPods and the Apple Unified Log. Part 8. Detecting AirPods returned to the Charging Case

This post is the eight in a serie that examines which AirPods related artefacts are recorded in the Apple Unified Log. This post focuses on returning the AirPods into the Charging Case

Opening Charging case

When the Charging Case is openen it is recorded as powersource.

2026-06-29 16:19:16.653870+0200 0x3cc6a    Default     0x0                  1539   0    audioaccessoryd: (CoreUtils) [com.apple.AudioAccessory:AADevicePowerSources] Power source unpublish for battery: Case

Right AirPod in Charging Case

The first recorded log is from Server.AACP. This records that the primary bud is in the case while the secondary is recorded as out of case.

2026-06-29 16:19:17.562796+0200 0x3ce62    Default     0x0                  97     0    bluetoothd: [com.apple.bluetooth:Server.AACP] received in-ear state update from device B8:81:FA:11:FF:AB primary bud state = in case, secondary bud state = out of ear

This is followed by the same observation by CUBluetoothClient.

2026-06-29 16:19:17.574295+0200 0x69d      Default     0x0                  74     0    sharingd: (CoreUtils) [com.apple.CoreUtils:CUBluetoothClient] [Sharing-CA] Placement changed: CUBluetoothDevice B8:81:FA:11:FF:AB, ID 'f4cf7039-6e99-f1d6-df03-77a730fb317b', 'AirPods Pro', Mfg 'Apple Inc', Md A1602, PID 0x200E, VrI 0xD415, DT 20, FV '6F21', CnS 0x180019, PriP InCase, 2ndP OutOfEar, MagicPaired, AACP, Color 0 (White), DF 0xAB < ShareAudio AACP SoftwareVolume Tipi InEarDetect >, P OutOfEar -> InCase, S OutOfEar -> OutOfEar

Left AirPod in Charging Case

For the left AirPod the same log sequence as for the right Airpod is recorded.

2026-06-29 16:19:17.672559+0200 0x3cc4c    Default     0x0                  97     0    bluetoothd: [com.apple.bluetooth:Server.AACP] received in-ear state update from device B8:81:FA:11:FF:AB primary bud state = in case, secondary bud state = in case

2026-06-29 16:19:17.680145+0200 0x69d      Default     0x0                  74     0    sharingd: (CoreUtils) [com.apple.CoreUtils:CUBluetoothClient] [Sharing-CA] Placement changed: CUBluetoothDevice B8:81:FA:11:FF:AB, ID 'f4cf7039-6e99-f1d6-df03-77a730fb317b', 'AirPods Pro', Mfg 'Apple Inc', Md A1602, PID 0x200E, VrI 0xD415, DT 20, FV '6F21', CnS 0x180019, PriP InCase, 2ndP InCase, MagicPaired, AACP, Color 0 (White), DF 0xAB < ShareAudio AACP SoftwareVolume Tipi InEarDetect >, P InCase -> InCase, S OutOfEar -> InCase

Both AirPods in Charging Case

When both Airpods where place in the Charging Case, SRDiscoveredDevice recorded the setting nearbyInCase [...] no -> yes

2026-06-29 16:19:18.791014+0200 0x3cef7    Default     0x0                  1539   0    audioaccessoryd: (CoreUtils) [com.apple.bluetooth:SRDiscoveredDevice] Setting nearbyInCase B8:81:FA:11:FF:AB no -> yes

Overview of the articles

• Part 1. Introduction and methodology
• Part 2. Opening the Charging Case
• Part 3. Detecting AirPods removed and inserted into the ear
• Part 4. Closing the Charging Case
• Part 5. Media play event
• Part 6. Media pause events
• Part 7. Detecting AirPods removed from the ears
• Part 8. Detecting AirPods returned to the Charging Case
• Part 9. Closing the Charging Case
• Part 10. Conclusion