The basic process: forget, then reconnect

To connect your AirPod Max to a new device, you need to unpair them from the old one first, then put them in pairing mode on the new device. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're switching to another Apple device or to an Android phone, but both take about two minutes.

Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) all use the same pairing method and will recognize your AirPod Max automatically once you start the process. Android devices require you to manually search for the headphones in Bluetooth settings. Either way, your AirPod Max will remember the connection after the first time, so you won't have to repeat these steps every time you switch between devices you've already paired.

Key Takeaways

  • You must forget the AirPod Max from your old device before pairing them to a new one, or they will stay connected to the original device.
  • To put AirPod Max in pairing mode, hold the button on the bottom of the right ear cup for about three seconds until the LED flashes amber.
  • On Apple devices, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap your AirPod Max when it appears in the list; on Android, go to Settings > Bluetooth and search for the headphones manually.
  • Once paired, your AirPod Max will automatically switch between Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account, but you must manually select them on Android.

Unpairing from your current device

Before your AirPod Max will pair with a new device, you need to remove them from the old one. This prevents the headphones from trying to reconnect to the original device every time you turn them on.

On iPhone or iPad: Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, find your AirPod Max in the list, tap the info icon (the small circle with an "i"), and select "Forget This Device". Confirm when prompted.

On Mac: Open System Settings, click Bluetooth in the sidebar, find your AirPod Max, click the three dots next to it, and select "Remove". The headphones will no longer appear in your Bluetooth menu.

On Android: Open Settings, go to Bluetooth, find your AirPod Max in the paired devices list, tap it, and select "Unpair" or "Forget". The exact wording depends on your phone's manufacturer.

Putting AirPod Max into pairing mode

Once you've forgotten the headphones from the old device, you need to make them discoverable to the new one. This is called pairing mode, and it lasts for about 15 minutes before timing out.

Locate the button on the bottom of the right ear cup — it's a small, slightly raised circle. Press and hold it for about three seconds. You'll feel a haptic tap (a small vibration), and the LED light on the right ear cup will flash amber. This amber flashing means the headphones are ready to pair with a new device.

If the light flashes white instead, the headphones are already paired to another device. Go back and make sure you've forgotten them from that device first. If the light doesn't flash at all, your AirPod Max may need to charge — connect them to power for at least 15 minutes and try again.

Pairing with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Once your AirPod Max are flashing amber, the pairing process on Apple devices is automatic. You don't need to do anything special — the headphones will appear in your Bluetooth menu as soon as you open it.

On iPhone or iPad: Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and wait a few seconds. Your AirPod Max will appear in the list with a label like "AirPod Max". Tap it once. A pairing screen will appear asking you to confirm — tap "Connect" or "Pair". Within a few seconds, the LED will turn off and you'll hear a chime in the headphones. You're now connected.

On Mac: Open System Settings, click Bluetooth in the sidebar, and your AirPod Max will appear in the list. Click it to pair. You may see a popup asking for confirmation — click "Connect". Once paired, the headphones will appear in your menu bar at the top of the screen, and you can switch audio output to them from there.

If your AirPod Max don't appear in the Bluetooth menu after 30 seconds, make sure the headphones are still in pairing mode (the LED should still be flashing amber). If it's not, hold the button again for three seconds. If they still don't appear, restart your device and try again.

Pairing with an Android phone

Android devices don't automatically detect AirPod Max the way Apple devices do, so you'll need to search for them manually in your Bluetooth settings.

Open Settings on your Android phone and look for Bluetooth or Connected Devices (the exact name varies by manufacturer). Tap "Pair new device" or "Add device". Your phone will begin scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices. Your AirPod Max should appear in the list within 10 seconds — it will show as "AirPod Max" or sometimes just "AirPods". Tap it to pair.

Your phone may ask for a PIN code. AirPod Max don't use a PIN, so if a code is requested, leave the field blank or tap "Skip". The headphones should connect within a few seconds. You'll hear a chime in the headphones when pairing is complete.

If your AirPod Max don't appear in the scan results, make sure they're still in pairing mode (LED flashing amber). If they've timed out, hold the button on the right ear cup again for three seconds. Also check that Bluetooth is turned on for your phone — some Android devices turn it off automatically after a period of inactivity.

Switching between devices after pairing

Once you've paired your AirPod Max to multiple devices, switching between them works differently depending on the device type.

Between Apple devices: If you're signed into the same iCloud account on multiple Apple devices, your AirPod Max will automatically switch to whichever device you're actively using. For example, if you're listening to music on your iPhone and then start playing a video on your iPad, the audio will switch to the iPad without you doing anything. This is called automatic switching and happens within a few seconds.

To Android or between Android and Apple: You must manually select your AirPod Max in the Bluetooth menu each time you want to use them on a different device. Open Bluetooth settings, find your AirPod Max in the list of paired devices, and tap it to connect. The previous device will disconnect automatically.

If your AirPod Max stay connected to one device and won't switch, open Bluetooth settings on that device and disconnect them manually. Then switch to the device you want to use and reconnect from its Bluetooth menu.

Troubleshooting connection problems

If your AirPod Max won't pair or keep disconnecting, the most common fix is to restart both the headphones and the device you're pairing to. To restart your AirPod Max, hold the button on the right ear cup for about 15 seconds — you'll feel multiple haptic taps and the LED will flash red, then turn off. Wait 10 seconds, then press the button again to turn them back on. The LED will flash white as they boot up.

If pairing still fails after a restart, forget the headphones from the device completely (using the steps in the "Unpairing from your current device" section), restart your device, and try pairing again from scratch. This clears any corrupted pairing data that might be preventing the connection.

If your AirPod Max connect but the audio is very quiet or cuts out frequently, check that they're not still trying to connect to another device. Open Bluetooth settings on all your devices and make sure the headphones are only paired to the one you're currently using. Multiple simultaneous connections can cause audio dropouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to forget my AirPod Max from the old device before pairing to a new one?

Yes. If you don't forget them first, the headphones will stay connected to the original device and won't pair to the new one. The pairing process won't even start until you've removed them from the old device's Bluetooth menu.

Will my AirPod Max automatically switch between my iPhone and iPad?

Only if you're signed into the same iCloud account on both devices. If you use different Apple IDs, you'll need to manually select the headphones in Bluetooth settings on each device. Automatic switching does not work between Apple and Android devices.

What does it mean if the LED is flashing white instead of amber?

White flashing means your AirPod Max are already paired to another device and trying to reconnect to it. You must forget them from that device first before the LED will turn amber and allow pairing to a new device.

Can I pair my AirPod Max to multiple devices at the same time?

You can pair them to as many devices as you want, but they can only be actively connected to one device at a time. When you connect them to a new device, they automatically disconnect from the previous one.

Why won't my AirPod Max appear in my Android phone's Bluetooth scan?

Make sure the headphones are in pairing mode (LED flashing amber) and that you've forgotten them from any Apple device they were previously paired to. Also check that your Android phone's Bluetooth is turned on and that you're in the correct Bluetooth menu — some phones have separate menus for "Available devices" and "Paired devices".