As soon as AirPods Pro (2nd generation) launched, I ordered them. I got them into the shipping queue so fast, in fact, I skipped any option that looked like it might take extra time or add expense. That included “Personalize them for free,” which would have done neither.
Apple has been letting users monogram AirPods cases with letters and numbers since 2019. It added emojis the following year. Now you can even choose your own Memoji via the Apple Store app.
What I didn’t realize at the time is that whatever you have etched on the case shows up on your devices wherever your earbuds are indicated, like when you pair them. Now I wish I’d monogrammed mine because it’s so much easier to identify your own personal AirPods.
Go ahead and personalize that AirPods case (and other products) while you can
It’s great to sport a personal monogram on your AirPods case, but the really cool part is having the monogram show up on devices identifying your own personal AirPods.
“You didn’t get yours monogrammed so you didn’t see this,” a Cult of Mac reader told me after my review of AirPods Pro 2 came out, while we were discussing alternative ear tips. “When you first pair the AirPods and it’s showing a picture of the case on the phone, it shows it with the correct monogram. A cute Apple-like touch.”
And it’s not just AirPods. You can also have Apple engrave AirTag, Apple Pencil (2nd generation) or iPad for free, according to Apple.
How to personalize AirPods and other products
Photo: Apple
When you order new AirPods Pro 2, for example, you can click on “Personalize them for free” on Apple’s product page. Then you can select from 45 emojis, including smiley faces, animals, thumbs up and other hand gestures, and eccentric choices like a robot head and a poop emoji.
And for words, nicknames, birthdays, lucky numbers and such, you can also choose the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 1 – 50 with black or white circular backgrounds.
Your only limitation besides those choices is space. You may want to fill up the whole side of the case with poop emojis, but you can’t. You can fit three large ones, five medium-sized ones or up to 14 small ones (and for that crucial intel, you’re welcome).
So when I ordered, would it have killed me to take 10 seconds to bookend a robot head with my initials, then click Save? Nope. But I was too intent on wasting zero seconds getting those buds.
Another option: Engrave a Memoji via Apple Store app
Back in September, the AirPods Pro 2 press release hinted at another option for AirPods Pro 2 case personalization — you can create and add Memojis or Animojis.
“Customers can now personalize the charging case with their individual Memoji, including custom-posed Memoji, Animoji, and a curated list of stickers,” Apple said. “To begin engraving, create and upload a Memoji in the Apple Store app.”
So if you want your own cartoon face on your AirPods case, no problem. Just follow some simple steps:
- Download the free Apple Store app.
- Search for AirPods or AirPods Pro.
- Select Add Engraving near the top of the page.
- Tap in the text box and then click on the Memoji tab.
- Select Allow Access.
- Create a Memoji or select an existing one.
- Click Save.
- Scroll down to purchase your new personalized buds.
Pursue any of those options for free personalized engraving and you’ll avoid regrets like mine.
