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Pairing

How to switch AirPods between Apple devices

by Abigail Shilets

You don’t always have to switch AirPods between Apple devices yourself. When you’re signed in to the same Apple Account on your Apple devices, supported AirPods connect to whichever device you’re listening to.

Say you’re listening to music on your Mac with AirPods and you start playing a podcast on your iPhone. Your AirPods switch to iPhone automatically, and they also switch to iPhone when you make a call. You can also manually switch AirPods to another device, or keep them from switching automatically.

Manually switch AirPods to another device

  1. Wear your AirPods near the device you want to switch to.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • iPhone or iPad: Tap the AirPods icon on the Now Playing screen, the Lock Screen, or in Control Center. Then select your AirPods.
    • Apple Watch: Press the side button to open Control Center, tap the AirPlay icon on the right (you may need to scroll down), and select your AirPods.
    • Mac: Click the Bluetooth status menu in the menu bar and select your AirPods.
    • Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD: When you see the name of your AirPods appear on your Apple TV device, press the TV Control Center button on the Siri Remote.

Switch back to your iPhone or iPad

When your AirPods switch to another device while you’re listening to audio on your iPhone or iPad, it’s easy to switch back.

Tap the Return Headphone Connection button in the “Moved to” notice at the top of the screen.

The Lock Screen on iPhone with a message at the top reading "Moved to Mac" and a button to switch the AirPods back to iPhone.

Prevent AirPods from automatically switching to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

  1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app and then tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen. Tap Connect to This [device] (if you don’t see that option, first tap Audio & Routing) and then tap When Last Connected to This [device].
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). Below Connect to This Mac, choose When Last Connected to This Mac (if you don’t see that option, first click Audio & Routing).

In some situations, you receive a notification about your AirPods on the screen of your Mac. Click the Connect button to confirm that you want your AirPods to switch to—or stay with—your Mac.

Prevent AirPods from automatically switching to other playback devices

If a phone conversation in the car needs to stay private, for example, audio can stay in your AirPods even when your iPhone connects to playback devices like cars or speakers.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap General, tap AirPlay & Continuity, and then turn on Keep Audio with Headphones.

In some situations, a banner appears at the top of your iPhone screen asking if you want to switch audio to a different device. When Keep Audio with Headphones is turned on, click the AirPlay button to manually transfer the audio to the other playback device. When Keep Audio with Headphones is turned off, click the Back button to move the audio back to AirPods.

This guide is for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, or later.

See also

Tags: Continuity, Pairing
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How to pair AirPods with an Apple device

by Kevin Hollington

Pair AirPods with your Apple devices to listen to music, movies, messages, and more. You can also use your AirPods to make and answer phone calls and FaceTime calls with compatible devices.

When pairing with an iPhone or iPad, your device needs a Wi-Fi or cellular connection, or you may not have access to Find My features. After you set up your AirPods with one Apple device (like your iPhone), they connect automatically to your other Apple devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account. You can pair them with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro.

If you aren’t sure which AirPods you have, see Which AirPods do I have?

Pair AirPods with iPhone or iPad

Your device should have the latest version of iOS or iPadOS installed before you begin. It’ll also need a Wi-Fi or cellular connection while pairing. Without that connection, you may not have access to Find My features.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth. Do one of the following:

    • AirPods or AirPods Pro: Open the case with your AirPods inside and then hold it next to the device that you want to pair until the setup animation appears.
    • AirPods Max: Take your AirPods Max out of the Smart Case, and within 60 seconds, hold them next to the device that you want to pair until the setup animation appears.

      You can also connect AirPods Max to your device using an audio cable.

  3. Follow the onscreen instructions, then tap Done.

If the setup animation doesn’t appear, you can pair AirPods with your device manually.

Pair AirPods with Mac

Your Mac needs the latest version of macOS installed first.

  1. Open the System Settings app on your Mac.
  2. Click Bluetooth in the sidebar.
  3. Make sure Bluetooth is on and then do one of the following:

    • AirPods 1, 2, or 3, or AirPods Pro 1 or 2: Open the case with your AirPods inside and hold it next to your Mac. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the AirPods case for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
    • AirPods 4 or 5, or AirPods Pro 3: Open the case with your AirPods inside, hold it next to your Mac and then double-tap the front of the AirPods case so the status light flashes white.
    • AirPods Max: Press and hold the listening mode button for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.

      You can also connect AirPods Max to your device using an audio cable.

  4. In the list of devices, select your AirPods and click Connect.

Quick tip: It’s easier to pair your AirPods if you show Bluetooth settings in the menu bar.

Pair AirPods with Apple Watch

Your Apple Watch should have the latest version of watchOS installed before you start.

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap Bluetooth, then tap your AirPods on the Bluetooth screen to connect.

No setup animation? You can still pair AirPods with your device manually.

Pair AirPods with an Apple TV device

Your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD should be running the latest version of tvOS before you begin.

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple TV device.
  2. Scroll down, select Remotes and Devices, and select Bluetooth.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • AirPods 1, 2, or 3, or AirPods Pro 1 or 2: Open your AirPods case and press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
    • AirPods 4 or 5, or AirPods Pro 3: Open the case with your AirPods inside and hold it next to your device. Then double-tap the front of the AirPods case so the status light flashes white.
    • AirPods Max: Press and hold the listening mode button for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
  4. Below Headphones, select your AirPods.

Pair AirPods with Apple Vision Pro

Check that your Apple Vision Pro has the latest version of visionOS installed before you begin.

You can pair AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C), AirPods 4, or AirPods 5 for the most immersive experience with Apple Vision Pro. Once they’re paired, they provide Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency, using a proprietary wireless audio protocol.

To deliver excellent audio quality, AirPods Max, AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 1, and AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning) wireless headphones use Apple AAC Bluetooth® Codec. Bluetooth connections aren’t lossless, though.

  1. Go to the Settings app on Apple Vision Pro.
  2. Tap Bluetooth.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • AirPods 1, 2, or 3, or AirPods Pro 1 or 2: With your AirPods in the charging case, open the lid and then press and hold the setup button on the back of the AirPods case for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
    • AirPods 4 or 5, or AirPods Pro 3: Open the case with your AirPods inside and hold it next to your device. Then double-tap the front of the AirPods case so the status light flashes white.
    • AirPods Max: Take your AirPods Max out of the Smart Case. Press and hold the listening mode button on AirPods Max for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
  4. Below Other Devices, tap your AirPods.

Note: Lossless Audio only works when connected to Apple Vision Pro. Availability varies by region.

Connect AirPods Max with an audio cable

Using a supported audio cable, you can connect AirPods Max to your device.

  • AirPods Max 1: Connect an Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable to the charging port on your AirPods Max and to the headphone jack on your device.
  • AirPods Max 1 (USB-C) or AirPods Max 2: Connect an Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Audio Cable to the charging port on your AirPods Max and to the headphone jack on your device.

    You can also connect a USB-C to USB-C cable from your AirPods Max 1 (USB-C) or AirPods Max 2 to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with a USB-C port. For full functionality, turn on Bluetooth on the connected device. (Requires iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, or later.)

Pair AirPods with a device manually

When you try to connect your AirPods to your device but the setup animation doesn’t appear, you can still pair AirPods with your device manually.

  1. Do one of the following:

    • AirPods 4 or 5, or AirPods Pro 3: Open the charging case with your AirPods inside and hold it next to your device. Then double-tap the front of the case so the status light flashes white.
    • AirPods Max: Press and hold the listening mode button on AirPods Max for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.

      If you have AirPods Max 1 (USB-C) or AirPods Max 2, you can also pair your AirPods with your device by connecting them using a USB-C to USB-C cable.

    • Other AirPods models: Open the case with your AirPods inside and hold it next to your device. Then press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
  2. Go to the Settings app on your device (on Mac, open the System Settings app).
  3. Tap or click Bluetooth and select your AirPods when they appear in the list.

This guide is for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, or later.

See also

Tags: Bluetooth, Pairing
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How to pair AirPods with a non-Apple device

by Kevin Hollington

You can use AirPods as a Bluetooth headset with a non-Apple device, like an Android phone. You can’t use Siri, but you can listen and talk.

How you pair depends on your AirPods. Older models use the setup button on the back of the AirPods case, AirPods 4 or 5 and AirPods Pro 3 use the front of the case, and AirPods Max use the listening mode button. When the status light flashes white, your AirPods appear in the list of Bluetooth devices.

To set up your AirPods with an Android phone or other non-Apple device, follow these steps:

  1. On your non-Apple device, make sure that Bluetooth is on (on an Android device, go to Settings, tap Connections, then tap Bluetooth).
  2. Do one of the following:
    • AirPods 1, 2, or 3, or AirPods Pro 1 or 2: With your AirPods in the charging case, open the lid and then press and hold the setup button on the back of the AirPods case for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
    • AirPods 4 or 5, or AirPods Pro 3: Open the case with your AirPods inside and hold it next to your device. Then double-tap the front of the AirPods case so the status light flashes white.
    • AirPods Max: Press and hold the listening mode button for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
  3. When your AirPods appear in the list of Bluetooth devices, select them.

This guide is for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, or later.

See also

Tags: Bluetooth, Pairing
Show Full Article