If you need replacement ear cushions for your AirPods Max either due to damage to the existing cushion or to have another color option, there's good news -- as of January, Apple is selling replacements.

How to Buy New Ear Cushions

Ear cushions can be purchased from Apple's online site for $69, and that price point includes both the left and right replacement cushions.

airpods max ear cushions
Apple sells ear cushions in all of the available ‌AirPods Max‌ colors so you can get the same color you had before or experiment with new color combinations.

airpods max ear cushions in box

How to Swap Out AirPods Max Ear Cushions

Ear cushions attach to the ‌AirPods Max‌ ear cups magnetically, so it's incredibly easy to swap them out once you have a set of replacement cushions available.

  1. Take the ‌AirPods Max‌ out of the case.
  2. Unbox the new ear cushions from Apple. airpods max ear cushions unboxed
  3. Grasp the right ear cushion in your hand and pull upwards with a firm but gentle motion to remove the existing cushion. airpods max pulling cushion
  4. Repeat for the left side.airpods max removing cushion
  5. Take the right replacement cushion and position it over the right ear cup, which is denoted with an "R" on the side of the cup. airpods max ear cushions off
  6. Gently set the ear cushion in place, where it will snap down thanks to the magnets.
  7. Repeat for the left side.

That's all there is to it. Removing the ‌AirPods Max‌ ear cushions and replacing them couldn't be simpler. Prior to the ‌AirPods Max‌ launch, there were rumors that Apple was aiming for the headphones to be customizable, so in the future, we could see additional ear cup color options made available for personalization purposes.

Related Roundup: AirPods Max
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Top Rated Comments

-DMN- Avatar
63 months ago
Self-explanatory, no?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
graemem Avatar
63 months ago
Erm..... sorry to point out but the last photo is wrong...

left on the right, right on the left....

Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roland.g Avatar
63 months ago
I'm not sure I could have done this without the tutorial....:rolleyes:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
synergize Avatar
63 months ago
Anyone like a video on how to put your shoes on?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclo Avatar
63 months ago

It must be a super slow news day.
It really is.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclo Avatar
63 months ago

Erm..... sorry to point out but the last photo is wrong...

left on the right, right on the left....
Yes, Dan put them on wrong in the video. But you're right, maybe I should take it out to prevent confusion.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
iphone 17 cyber

iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records

Tuesday December 2, 2025 9:44 am PST by
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC. Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple. Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
chatgpt logo

Sam Altman Declares 'Code Red' for ChatGPT, Delays OpenAI Advertising Plans

Tuesday December 2, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
OpenAI is deprioritizing work on advertising as it focuses on improving the quality of ChatGPT, reports The Information. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared a "code red" on Monday, and told employees that the company needs to improve ChatGPT so it doesn't fall behind competitors like Google and Anthropic. Altman said that OpenAI needs to work on personalization for each user, image generation,...
Sad Siri Feature

Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Retiring After Siri Delays

Monday December 1, 2025 2:16 pm PST by
Apple AI chief John Giannandrea is stepping down from his position and retiring in spring 2026, Apple announced today. Giannandrea will serve as an advisor between now and 2026, with former Microsoft AI researcher Amar Subramanya set to take over as vice president of AI. Subramanya will report to Apple engineering chief Craig Federighi, and will lead Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and ...