Yes, but your Apple Watch plays audio through its own speaker, not your AirPods
You can pair AirPods with an Apple Watch, but the connection works differently than it does with an iPhone. When you connect AirPods to your watch, the watch itself becomes the audio source — it will play music, podcasts, calls, and notifications through the AirPods. However, your watch will not automatically use the AirPods when you're also wearing your iPhone nearby. The watch prioritizes your iPhone's connection to the AirPods, so if both devices are powered on and in range, your iPhone will claim the AirPods first.
This matters because most people expect their AirPods to switch seamlessly between devices. They don't. You have to manually disconnect the AirPods from your iPhone before the Apple Watch can use them, or use your iPhone's Bluetooth settings to forget the AirPods entirely and re-pair them with the watch alone.
Key Takeaways
- AirPods pair directly with Apple Watch and will play audio through the watch's speaker, but your iPhone takes priority if both devices are nearby and powered on.
- To use AirPods with your watch, you must first unpair them from your iPhone or disconnect them in Bluetooth settings.
- The pairing process on Apple Watch is the same as on any other device: open Settings, go to Bluetooth, and select your AirPods from the list.
- Once paired, AirPods will reconnect to your watch automatically when the watch is on and your iPhone is not in use.
How to pair AirPods with your Apple Watch for the first time
Before you start, make sure your AirPods are charged and in their case. Open the case near your Apple Watch — within a few inches — so the watch can detect them. On your Apple Watch, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center, then tap the Settings icon (the gear).
In Settings, scroll down and tap Bluetooth. Your watch will begin scanning for nearby devices. When your AirPods appear in the list, tap them. A pairing confirmation will appear on your watch screen. Tap Pair to complete the connection. Your AirPods will now be paired with your watch and will automatically reconnect whenever both devices are powered on and in range.
Disconnecting AirPods from your iPhone first
If your AirPods are already paired with your iPhone, your watch will not be able to use them while your iPhone is nearby and powered on. To use the AirPods with your watch instead, you need to break the iPhone connection first.
On your iPhone, open Settings and tap Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list and tap the information icon (the small "i" in a circle) next to them. Tap Forget This Device, then confirm. Now your AirPods are no longer paired with your iPhone, and you can pair them with your Apple Watch using the steps above. If you want to use the AirPods with your iPhone again later, you will need to re-pair them through the same Bluetooth menu.
What happens when both your iPhone and Apple Watch are nearby
If you have already paired your AirPods with both devices, your iPhone will take priority. When you put your AirPods in and both devices are powered on within Bluetooth range, the AirPods will connect to your iPhone first. This is Apple's default behavior and cannot be changed in settings.
If you want to use the AirPods with your watch while your iPhone is also nearby, you must manually disconnect them from your iPhone. Open your iPhone's Control Center (swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones, or swipe up from the bottom on older models), tap the audio card at the top, and select a different audio output — such as your iPhone's speaker or a different set of headphones. This will disconnect the AirPods from your iPhone without unpairing them, and they should reconnect to your watch within a few seconds.
Using AirPods with Apple Watch without an iPhone
If you have an Apple Watch with cellular service, you can use AirPods with your watch even when your iPhone is not with you. The watch will connect to the internet through its cellular connection, and the AirPods will play audio from the watch. This works for music stored on the watch, podcasts, calls, and streaming services like Apple Music.
If your Apple Watch does not have cellular service, it can still use AirPods, but only for audio that is stored on the watch itself or synced from your iPhone beforehand. The watch cannot stream music or podcasts without an iPhone or cellular connection nearby.
Troubleshooting AirPods that won't pair with your Apple Watch
If your AirPods do not appear in the Bluetooth list on your watch, first check that they are charged. Open the case and look for a light inside — white or amber means they have power. If the light is off, place them in the case and plug the case in to charge for at least 15 minutes.
Next, make sure your AirPods are in pairing mode. Close the case, wait five seconds, then open it again. Hold the small button on the back of the case for about 10 seconds until the light inside flashes white. This puts the AirPods into pairing mode and makes them visible to your watch. Return to your watch's Bluetooth settings and try again.
If the AirPods still do not appear, restart your Apple Watch. Press and hold the side button until you see the power menu, then slide to power off. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. Once the watch restarts, open Bluetooth settings and try pairing again.
Checking battery and connection status on your watch
Once your AirPods are paired with your Apple Watch, you can see their battery level in the watch's Control Center. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and look for the battery percentage next to the Bluetooth icon. If the percentage is not visible, your AirPods may not be connected — tap the Bluetooth icon to see a list of paired devices and their status.
You can also check AirPods battery on your watch by opening the Batteries app, which shows the charge level of all connected devices. If you do not see a Batteries app on your watch, you can add it by opening the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, going to App Library, scrolling down, and tapping Edit next to Batteries, then tapping the plus sign to add it to your watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my AirPods automatically switch from my iPhone to my Apple Watch?
No. Your iPhone takes priority if both devices are powered on and nearby. You must manually disconnect the AirPods from your iPhone in Control Center or Bluetooth settings before they will connect to your watch. Apple does not offer automatic switching between iPhone and Apple Watch for AirPods.
Can I use AirPods with my Apple Watch if I don't have an iPhone?
Yes, if your watch has cellular service. Without cellular, the watch can only play audio that is stored on it or synced from an iPhone beforehand. You cannot stream music or podcasts on a non-cellular watch without an iPhone nearby.
Do I need to unpair my AirPods from my iPhone to use them with my watch?
You do not need to unpair them permanently, but you must disconnect them from your iPhone before they will work with your watch. You can disconnect them in your iPhone's Control Center without unpairing, then re-pair them with your watch. To use them with your iPhone again, disconnect them from your watch and reconnect them to your iPhone.
Why do my AirPods keep connecting to my iPhone instead of my Apple Watch?
Your iPhone is set as the primary device for your AirPods. To use them with your watch, open your iPhone's Control Center, tap the audio card, and select a different output. This disconnects the AirPods from your iPhone without unpairing them, and they should reconnect to your watch within seconds.
Can I pair different AirPods to my iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time?
Yes. You can pair one set of AirPods to your iPhone and a different set to your Apple Watch, and both will work independently. Each device will connect to its own AirPods when you put them in, as long as they are paired and in range.