The engravings are virtual from the get-go when you’re in the process of making a purchase. Presumably once the purchase is made, the virtual version of the engraving is then tied to the Serial Number once the order is settled and that tie remains from there on out.
I have only seen videos, but I know certain iPhone cases ( made by Apple ) show up on your screen. Like if you had a brown phone case put on, your iPhone would go brown for a second a bit like the new NameDrop were it goes blurry
Edit: here it is https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/s/3xu8PdgUXg. It’s not exactly how I remember it tho
Yeah, it’s with MagSafe accessories. I had a clear MagSafe case for the longest time, and I thought my screen just turned grey whenever I put a case on regardless of color, but it was a pleasant surprise when I got a red case and the little flash of red color on my screen.
It does. I got a clay silicone case for my 15PM and the screen has a little animation in clay and it makes a sound when you put it on. Took me a second or two to realize what it was doing :)
Yes that’s because inside those cases there’s a small NFC antenna that transmits to the phone the color of the case (along with the model, if I’m not mistaken you can’t get the animation if you put a different gen case on your phone). You could technically cut it out and put it in a third party case to get the animation if you wanted to.
My green case does this, but this also happens with Nintendo Switch and the color of the joycons when you attach them to the screen and has for as long as I can remember.
Reasons why they’re so good at trapping people in their ecosystem. It’s subtle and doesn’t matter for functionality, but it makes it feel more polished and personal.
Most likely look up on server when device is first paired and cache locally on iPhone.
SN is unique to device, so there really wouldn’t be a good way handle two devices with the same engraving. It’s also not a maintainable solution in case engraving options expand/change.
Two devices with the same engraving don’t necessarily need to have the entirely identical serial numbers, it might be just a part of the serial number that is responsible for the engraving, or even some other algorithm extracting the engraving from the serial number. But I don’t think that they would implement that in serial number.
It might not be entirely based on the serial number. What could be happening is that the serial number contains a prefix that indicates that it is engraved, and if the iPhone sees that prefix, it will read the engraving data off of the AirPods case.
Why do you think that IPhone looks up the engraving using SN from the server or somewhere else? I think it is much simpler, my guess is that airpods send the engraving data using the BLE packets where they also send charge and other info.
Yeah and considering the AirPods can do firmware updates, there’s probably some small amount of storage on the AirPods themselves that hold the engraving text data.
Pull serials seems like a database to manage which would probably be cost too much to maintain with not a lot of return.
Of course there is a database online, apple surely keep all the orders and their details. But why would you complicate the system this much, making it dependent on the internet, when you can hardcode the info on the airpods themselves, just as their name is stored locally?
Because it’s better to have one source of truth.
Also, as Bluetooth device you want the information being shared back and forth to be as simple as possible.
What format would you share the engraving information from the AirPods to the phone? What if you change the engraving options, which requires the format to change? Now you’re requiring iOS to be backwards compatible.
It’s much better to handle all of this on the server side.
You always need an update when the engraving options change, because you need a new animation to show the change. And the iPhone already has to do things with backwards compatibility since these things can have updates.
It is way easier to store the max 20 characters on the device than on a server. The engraving cannot change anymore, and you want the information to be there right at the moment that you open the case for the first time. So why not on the device itself? There is a lot of information going back and forth when you open the case near an iPhone.
> Pull serials seems like a database to manage which would probably be cost too much to maintain with not a lot of return.
Actually, no. It probably doesn't get that much throughput (maybe a request per pair), and storing a few hundred million rows for this purpose is not that expensive or hard to maintain. Also, they probably already have a database for storing S/N information anyway.
Having a whole infrastructure for storing this information directly on the airpods system memory might be more expensive.
The real answer is that it's based on the serial number.
One requires a fully automated software process (basing it on the serial number) and the other requires them to take each Airpods case and individually program it.
There's no mystery here. It's based on the serial number.
No, it’s not a guess. An iOS software update that came out years after AirPod cases were able to be engraved enabled the feature for even past AirPods. So it either had to be magical Apple elves flying around the world updating everyone’s AirPod cases, or an iOS software update based on serial numbers. Which would be obvious to anyone with even a very elementary knowledge of software/hardware design.
Have you considered maybe they had this feature in hardware all along and haven’t activated the ability for iOS to read it until this latest update? Apple does weird shit like that all the time
That’s cool, have a gold star for your greater than elementary understanding: ⭐️
In fact have 2: ⭐️⭐️
Well i guess that’s technically 3. Take em all. 🙏
I’m still confused how is that possible to make little details like that engraving, and at the same time, my AirTag location „can’t be find” on my MacBook, but can, on my iPhone..
I’ve had this problem and fixed it by removing the AirTags, restarting both my MacBook and iPhone, logged in and out of find my on both the laptop and iPhone, then reading them once I logged back in.
I don’t believe so, you can deactivate findMy but that’s not going to do much for your problem. You also want to make sure you erase the airtag directly on the find my app.
You should be able to find approximate geographic location for an AirTag unless it bug out. For precise location iPhone has the ultrawide band chip, mac doesn’t
I believe, they tie your design to the Serial number of the AirPod Case and enter the design you wanted like text, etc, and so the server fetches the design and shows you what it looks like. I don’t think it is something too complex
Since you think it’s being connected to the server, does that mean that the iPhone needs to be connected to some type of internet connection to show it?
Maybe or maybe it may be that it may be held inside of the AirPod like maybe programmed so that it shows whenever it is connected it will know what the engraved design is
There's a button at the back. Open the case, keep airpods in the magsafe, press the button at the back for some 15 seconds. Colour will change to amber and then white blinking. This is when it resets and you pair again
Serial number is tied to your engraving and purchase details etc. although it is a bit scary how Apple knows what color of silicon case you have when you attach it.
I love this feature. However, I ordered an engraved set for myself and my partner at the same time and we see each others engraving on the virtual image. It can be a bit confusing at times and just cute at other times
Custom engraving on airpods show up on thr phone. Like I got Tardis written as you can see on the image. If you don't have an engrsging then the image is juat blank airpod magsafe picture...
Y'all are really blowing your load over this? If my air pods were engraved (they look bad engraved imo) I'd rather them not show on my phone but that's just me
Technically every possible combination of the engraving already exists in the software of iOS. The AirPods once purchased will have the engraving data stored server side. Now when your iPhone claims these AirPods as yours, then it will download that data and store it inside your iPhone. But the AirPods themselves do not store the data of the engraving most likely. You can test this by asking a stranger to turn on Airplane mode on their iPhone and see if the engraving pops up when you bring the AirPods near their phone. Most likely, it won’t, even after you pair it. Pairing AirPods likely requires an internet connection to do it properly.
If anyone needs an technical answer
Ofcourse I am just assuming based on my development experience,
I mean it’s obvious it’s tied to your serial number but how do they manage to show it?
I believe they are some kind of proprietary svgs of sort if you may,
They can have letters emojis or memojies
Each of which is a represented by a code,
And Memojis are in the same way too.
Now apple only has to store which code is associated with what serial number of airpods.
Instead of it being an image file like png or jpg overlayed on top of the case image.
They probably give engraving info into the case’s tiny flash memory. Like, it DOES know they’re Pros, and probably which one of the three. So extra text for what’s on the engraving should fit there.
Is there a way to disable this?
Long story short: I got an airpod from my cousin who has an extra one to spare, but it got her engraving on it, I could cover it with a black case physically, but it popping up virtually every time is kinda weird ish. Not that it is unusable though, just a little weird
I know, right! Opening magsafe, putting on airpods and playing music takes you to another world. So, it is my Tardis! haha. And I am hating on Amazon for removing all seasons of Doctor Who from my region. Cannot wait to watch it, rewatch it and keep watching it haha
The engravings are virtual from the get-go when you’re in the process of making a purchase. Presumably once the purchase is made, the virtual version of the engraving is then tied to the Serial Number once the order is settled and that tie remains from there on out.
This tiny attention to detail amazes me to no end. Such a great feel good factor everytime i see it on the phone haha.
I have only seen videos, but I know certain iPhone cases ( made by Apple ) show up on your screen. Like if you had a brown phone case put on, your iPhone would go brown for a second a bit like the new NameDrop were it goes blurry Edit: here it is https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/s/3xu8PdgUXg. It’s not exactly how I remember it tho
This is so cool!
It even knows when you attach an Apple-made wallet or case to it.
I can confirm this does work, I have a Product Red Magsafe Case for my 14 Pro Max, and it goes red when I put it on.
MagSafe chargers are the same way. You get a [special graphic](https://imgur.com/a/1pXNZ6r) and animation that shows your battery level.
Not really how I remember it either.. lmao
Yeah, it’s with MagSafe accessories. I had a clear MagSafe case for the longest time, and I thought my screen just turned grey whenever I put a case on regardless of color, but it was a pleasant surprise when I got a red case and the little flash of red color on my screen.
It does. I got a clay silicone case for my 15PM and the screen has a little animation in clay and it makes a sound when you put it on. Took me a second or two to realize what it was doing :)
Yes that’s because inside those cases there’s a small NFC antenna that transmits to the phone the color of the case (along with the model, if I’m not mistaken you can’t get the animation if you put a different gen case on your phone). You could technically cut it out and put it in a third party case to get the animation if you wanted to.
My green case does this, but this also happens with Nintendo Switch and the color of the joycons when you attach them to the screen and has for as long as I can remember.
That’s true, but they have a physical electric connection so isn’t as expected / impressive
Reasons why they’re so good at trapping people in their ecosystem. It’s subtle and doesn’t matter for functionality, but it makes it feel more polished and personal.
Hahaha yep.
Not sure if same applies to AirPods, but on iPhones the serial number will start with P if it has been engraved.
I wonder if they look up the engraving on a server, or if they somehow decipher the combinations from the serial itself.
Most likely look up on server when device is first paired and cache locally on iPhone. SN is unique to device, so there really wouldn’t be a good way handle two devices with the same engraving. It’s also not a maintainable solution in case engraving options expand/change.
Two devices with the same engraving don’t necessarily need to have the entirely identical serial numbers, it might be just a part of the serial number that is responsible for the engraving, or even some other algorithm extracting the engraving from the serial number. But I don’t think that they would implement that in serial number.
It might not be entirely based on the serial number. What could be happening is that the serial number contains a prefix that indicates that it is engraved, and if the iPhone sees that prefix, it will read the engraving data off of the AirPods case.
Why do you think that IPhone looks up the engraving using SN from the server or somewhere else? I think it is much simpler, my guess is that airpods send the engraving data using the BLE packets where they also send charge and other info.
Yeah and considering the AirPods can do firmware updates, there’s probably some small amount of storage on the AirPods themselves that hold the engraving text data. Pull serials seems like a database to manage which would probably be cost too much to maintain with not a lot of return.
Sorry but that’s just wrong… There is already a database to manage because you can see this information on other sources, like the web.
Of course there is a database online, apple surely keep all the orders and their details. But why would you complicate the system this much, making it dependent on the internet, when you can hardcode the info on the airpods themselves, just as their name is stored locally?
Because it’s better to have one source of truth. Also, as Bluetooth device you want the information being shared back and forth to be as simple as possible. What format would you share the engraving information from the AirPods to the phone? What if you change the engraving options, which requires the format to change? Now you’re requiring iOS to be backwards compatible. It’s much better to handle all of this on the server side.
You always need an update when the engraving options change, because you need a new animation to show the change. And the iPhone already has to do things with backwards compatibility since these things can have updates. It is way easier to store the max 20 characters on the device than on a server. The engraving cannot change anymore, and you want the information to be there right at the moment that you open the case for the first time. So why not on the device itself? There is a lot of information going back and forth when you open the case near an iPhone.
link?
I was thinking it was [here](https://checkcoverage.apple.com/) but I can't confirm because I don't have anything engraved.
Where is this database?
I was thinking it was [here](https://checkcoverage.apple.com/) but I can't confirm because I don't have anything engraved
> Pull serials seems like a database to manage which would probably be cost too much to maintain with not a lot of return. Actually, no. It probably doesn't get that much throughput (maybe a request per pair), and storing a few hundred million rows for this purpose is not that expensive or hard to maintain. Also, they probably already have a database for storing S/N information anyway. Having a whole infrastructure for storing this information directly on the airpods system memory might be more expensive.
Wish we could ask a Apple engineer for the real answer haha Watch it be something in between for some reason lol
I know a few, I can ask around.
That’d be awesome thank you
Please do! Solve the mystery! I am so awed by this that I really need to know lol
The real answer is that it's based on the serial number. One requires a fully automated software process (basing it on the serial number) and the other requires them to take each Airpods case and individually program it. There's no mystery here. It's based on the serial number.
How do you know? Genuine question
Well for one, this feature became available in an iOS update.
I thought you were gonna say you worked on the team that made that feature for airpods So you’re just guessing like i am?
No, it’s not a guess. An iOS software update that came out years after AirPod cases were able to be engraved enabled the feature for even past AirPods. So it either had to be magical Apple elves flying around the world updating everyone’s AirPod cases, or an iOS software update based on serial numbers. Which would be obvious to anyone with even a very elementary knowledge of software/hardware design.
Have you considered maybe they had this feature in hardware all along and haven’t activated the ability for iOS to read it until this latest update? Apple does weird shit like that all the time
Nope. Because I have a greater than elementary understanding of software/hardware.
That’s cool, have a gold star for your greater than elementary understanding: ⭐️ In fact have 2: ⭐️⭐️ Well i guess that’s technically 3. Take em all. 🙏
That’s sick 🔥
Indeed! Lights up my face every single time
How do you get this screen to come up?
Don't you just hold open the airpods case close to the iPhone and it shows up after a couple seconds?
Hold the case close to your unlocked phone and open the magsafe case. It shows up after a few seconds.
I’m not able to see my engraving
Same I can’t see mine too
Try resetting. I read that some people are able to solve it by resetting their airpods.
All done bro nothing fixed it yet. Even the new update didn’t fix it.
It never worked on mine
Try resetting. I read that some people are able to solve it by resetting their airpods.
Did you have anything offensive engraved?
Just my first name and phone number
It might be a later addition. I doubt Apple had this functionality since the beginning.
I have AirPods Pro 2nd gen and am on ios17
Try resetting. I read that some people are able to solve it by resetting their airpods.
This worked, thanks!
awesome!
Are you located in the US?
Yup
Man mine ain’t showing up
Try resetting. I read that some people are able to solve it by resetting their airpods.
Done that but it did not worked. Still showing no engraving
It only works if you have the 2nd gen Pros Edit: Possibly the gen 3 as well? Not sure though
Lol mine are named Dalek.
Hahahahahaha #DoctorWhoForever!
I’m still confused how is that possible to make little details like that engraving, and at the same time, my AirTag location „can’t be find” on my MacBook, but can, on my iPhone..
Hahaha that's Apple!
I’ve had this problem and fixed it by removing the AirTags, restarting both my MacBook and iPhone, logged in and out of find my on both the laptop and iPhone, then reading them once I logged back in.
Is there any way to logged out only from "find my", without logging out from whole icloud?
I don’t believe so, you can deactivate findMy but that’s not going to do much for your problem. You also want to make sure you erase the airtag directly on the find my app.
You should be able to find approximate geographic location for an AirTag unless it bug out. For precise location iPhone has the ultrawide band chip, mac doesn’t
Yea, I know how it works, it's MacOS bug. The airtag is with me, near my iphone and macbook, and only my iphone shows the location
Mine have stopped showing like this completely since iOS 17 😞
damn! Try resetting. I read that some people are able to solve it by resetting their airpods.
Yeah tried resetting but still won’t pop up. Thanks though.
I believe, they tie your design to the Serial number of the AirPod Case and enter the design you wanted like text, etc, and so the server fetches the design and shows you what it looks like. I don’t think it is something too complex
I am sure its not complex but the fact that they do this, to me, is a very good touch in personalisation.
Since you think it’s being connected to the server, does that mean that the iPhone needs to be connected to some type of internet connection to show it?
Maybe or maybe it may be that it may be held inside of the AirPod like maybe programmed so that it shows whenever it is connected it will know what the engraved design is
Or maybe it may rely on nearby iPhones, I believe that is how AirTag works is thanks to the nearby iPhones.
My one just says tard 😞
Mine are engraved with an emoji but don’t show up 😔
Oh. That's strange. Try resetting airpods. It should show up.
Mine too has an emoji but still doesn’t show up after many resets even tho it’s og I tested everything
It’s model dependent
[удалено]
I also have Pro 2 Gen 2. Only weird thing about mine is they’re bought with friends and family EPP.
How do you reset AirPods?
There's a button at the back. Open the case, keep airpods in the magsafe, press the button at the back for some 15 seconds. Colour will change to amber and then white blinking. This is when it resets and you pair again
Use the same file that they used to engrave and put it on the graphic used to used to animate your airpod case
My engravings don’t show up
I think some people do face this and I have read on the net that resetting airpods solve this issue.
Serial number is tied to your engraving and purchase details etc. although it is a bit scary how Apple knows what color of silicon case you have when you attach it.
This seems to be the consensus!
The engravings are tied to the serial number
This seems to be the consensus!
I love this feature. However, I ordered an engraved set for myself and my partner at the same time and we see each others engraving on the virtual image. It can be a bit confusing at times and just cute at other times
Ooh. This means maybe serial numbers aren't the way Apple is doing it. Its something else.
That’s cool af. I’m gonna have to get an engraving on my next pair
Apple magic at its finest
Indeed!
I don’t understand the question. Same as typing anything on a computer and it shows up on the screen…?
Custom engraving on airpods show up on thr phone. Like I got Tardis written as you can see on the image. If you don't have an engrsging then the image is juat blank airpod magsafe picture...
What part is confusing.. Its virtually there and physically put on when ordered?..
Y'all are really blowing your load over this? If my air pods were engraved (they look bad engraved imo) I'd rather them not show on my phone but that's just me
Karma farming much
There’s this thing called a jpeg
What’s this magic jpeg?
Just trying to flex huh? To answer your question: basically the same as everything Else that is displayed on a screen. Just pixels
How’s that a flex? Anyone can get an engraving
What else is the purpose of this Post ?
Maybe, I don't know, asking how Apple managed to do this?
the purpose is the question in the title of the post lol? how would this be a flex, the engraving is literally free
Dude, the engraving is free.
Inferiority complex?
Lol
Based on SN prolly
didn’t even know AirPods did this that’s so sick lmfao
Yeah, same. I’m doing this with my next pair!
Technically every possible combination of the engraving already exists in the software of iOS. The AirPods once purchased will have the engraving data stored server side. Now when your iPhone claims these AirPods as yours, then it will download that data and store it inside your iPhone. But the AirPods themselves do not store the data of the engraving most likely. You can test this by asking a stranger to turn on Airplane mode on their iPhone and see if the engraving pops up when you bring the AirPods near their phone. Most likely, it won’t, even after you pair it. Pairing AirPods likely requires an internet connection to do it properly.
If anyone needs an technical answer Ofcourse I am just assuming based on my development experience, I mean it’s obvious it’s tied to your serial number but how do they manage to show it? I believe they are some kind of proprietary svgs of sort if you may, They can have letters emojis or memojies Each of which is a represented by a code, And Memojis are in the same way too. Now apple only has to store which code is associated with what serial number of airpods. Instead of it being an image file like png or jpg overlayed on top of the case image.
Is that just an American thing? Mine don’t do that and I got them engraved when I ordered them.
Na. I am in India. I think some people do face this and I have read on the net that resetting airpods solve this issue.
I’ve got “act poor, stay rich” on mine but I guess I’m not rich enough to see this on my virtual set of AirPods
I think some people do face this and I have read on the net that resetting airpods solve this issue.
It is cool when it works but it never worked for me no matter how many resets i did (even tried resetting the dang phone and no luck)
damn. :(
Iykyk
They do the software to they can do whatever they want with it
They probably give engraving info into the case’s tiny flash memory. Like, it DOES know they’re Pros, and probably which one of the three. So extra text for what’s on the engraving should fit there.
Possibly. This makes sense.
Pure innovation 👁️🫦👁️
Is there a way to disable this? Long story short: I got an airpod from my cousin who has an extra one to spare, but it got her engraving on it, I could cover it with a black case physically, but it popping up virtually every time is kinda weird ish. Not that it is unusable though, just a little weird
None of my engraved items show their engravings digitally. Kinda sad about it.
That's sad, indeed. Although i have seen many face this and sometimes reseting airpods has seemed to work.
Ah ok. I’ll give it a shot. Fingers crossed. Thank you :)
Time and Relative Dimension in Space reference? I like it! Cant wait for the special 60th in a few weeks #doctorwho
I know, right! Opening magsafe, putting on airpods and playing music takes you to another world. So, it is my Tardis! haha. And I am hating on Amazon for removing all seasons of Doctor Who from my region. Cannot wait to watch it, rewatch it and keep watching it haha
Oh so not UK? You might be able to get some on Disney+
India. Sigh.
Oh yikes. Use a VPN and access BBC iPlayer?
Yep. that's the plan. I shall get to it! haha