You cannot charge AirPods earbuds directly without their charging case because the case contains the battery and charging circuitry that powers the AirPods. The AirPods themselves lack any built-in way to be charged independently

. Here are the key points:

• AirPods charge only when placed inside their charging case, which must itself be charged either via a Lightning cable or wirelessly if it supports wireless charging

• Without the case, there is no official or safe method to charge the AirPods earbuds directly. Attempts to charge them without the case risk damaging the earbuds or causing safety issues

• If you have lost or do not have the original charging case, your best option is to purchase a replacement case from Apple or a reputable third party. Some users have tried using a friend's case or a compatible fake case, but this is not guaranteed and may not always work reliably

• The charging case is essential not only for charging but also for pairing and setup of the AirPods with devices

In summary, to charge AirPods without their original charger, you can use any compatible Lightning cable (such as an iPhone charger cable) or a Qi wireless charging pad if your case supports it. But to charge the AirPods themselves, you must have the charging case; there is no way to charge the AirPods earbuds alone without it