How to Connect AirPods Pro to Your iPhone

The basic connection process

To connect AirPods Pro to your iPhone, open the case near your unlocked phone, and a setup screen appears automatically. Tap Connect on that screen, then confirm your Apple ID and which devices you want to use the AirPods with. The whole process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether this is your first time pairing or you are reconnecting after a reset.

The automatic setup screen only appears if your AirPods Pro have never been paired to any device before, or if you have just reset them to factory settings. If you are adding AirPods Pro to an iPhone that already has other Apple devices signed into the same Apple ID, the AirPods will automatically appear on those devices too — your Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch will all see them without extra steps.

If the setup screen does not appear when you open the case, your AirPods Pro may already be paired to a different device. You will need to unpair them first, which is covered in the section below.

Key Takeaways

Open the AirPods Pro case next to your unlocked iPhone and tap Connect on the screen that appears automatically.
If no setup screen appears, your AirPods Pro are already paired to another device and must be reset before they will pair to your iPhone.
Once connected, your AirPods Pro will automatically appear on any other Apple device signed into the same Apple ID.
To switch between devices, swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen to open Control Center and tap the audio icon to select your AirPods.

Resetting AirPods Pro if they won't pair

If the setup screen does not appear when you open the case, your AirPods Pro are already connected to another device. You must reset them before your iPhone will recognize them as new. Place both AirPods in the case, close the lid, and wait 15 seconds. Then open the case, hold down the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light inside flashes amber, then white. Release the button — the AirPods are now reset.

After reset, close the case, wait a few seconds, then open it again next to your unlocked iPhone. The setup screen should now appear. If it still does not, make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your iPhone settings. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and check that the toggle is blue (on). Then try opening the case again.

Resetting erases all pairing history, so your AirPods Pro will no longer connect to any previous devices. If you want to use them with multiple devices, you will need to pair them to each one separately after the reset.

Switching between devices after pairing

Once your AirPods Pro are paired to your iPhone and your other Apple devices, they will automatically switch to whichever device is actively playing audio. If you are listening to music on your Mac and then start a call on your iPhone, the AirPods will switch to the iPhone call automatically.

To manually switch devices without playing audio, swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen to open Control Center. Tap the audio icon (the speaker symbol in the top right of the audio controls), then tap your AirPods Pro in the list of available devices. This forces them to connect to your iPhone even if another device is currently playing something.

If your AirPods Pro are connected to a Mac or iPad and you want to use them with your iPhone instead, you can also hold down the audio icon in Control Center for a longer menu that shows all nearby devices. This is faster than the standard tap method.

Checking battery and adjusting settings

Once connected, your iPhone shows the battery level of your AirPods Pro in the battery widget on your lock screen or home screen. Swipe left on your home screen to see the widgets, or add the Batteries widget if it is not already there. The widget shows the charge of both the left and right AirPod separately, plus the case.

To adjust AirPods Pro settings, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon (the small i in a circle) next to your AirPods Pro name, and you can change the name, turn on or off automatic ear detection, adjust the microphone, and set up the force sensor controls. These settings sync across all your Apple devices, so changing them on your iPhone changes them everywhere.

If your AirPods Pro are not showing in Bluetooth settings even though they are connected, they may have lost connection. Open the case near your iPhone and wait 10 seconds for them to reconnect. If they still do not appear, restart your iPhone by holding down the power button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on.

Troubleshooting when connection fails

If your iPhone does not recognize your AirPods Pro at all, first check that Bluetooth is on. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and make sure the toggle is blue. If Bluetooth is already on, turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This resets the Bluetooth connection without affecting your pairing.

If that does not work, restart your iPhone. Hold the power button on the side of your phone until the power-off slider appears, swipe it to the right, wait 30 seconds, then press the power button again to turn the phone back on. Once your iPhone restarts, open the AirPods Pro case near it and they should reconnect automatically.

If your AirPods Pro still will not connect after restart, they may be paired to another device that is nearby and interfering. Turn off Bluetooth on any other Apple devices in the room, then try connecting to your iPhone again. If connection still fails, reset the AirPods Pro using the method described earlier and pair them fresh to your iPhone.

Using AirPods Pro with multiple iPhones

If you have more than one iPhone and want to use the same AirPods Pro with both, you will need to pair them to each iPhone separately. The automatic pairing across devices only works for devices signed into the same Apple ID. If your iPhones are signed into different Apple IDs, you must reset the AirPods Pro and pair them to the second iPhone as if they were new.

To pair to a second iPhone, first unpair them from the first iPhone. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your AirPods Pro, scroll down, and tap Forget This Device. Then take your AirPods Pro to the second iPhone, open the case, and the setup screen will appear. Tap Connect and complete the pairing.

Once paired to the second iPhone, you can switch between the two by opening Control Center on whichever phone you want to use and selecting your AirPods Pro from the audio menu. They will not automatically switch between iPhones the way they do between an iPhone and a Mac on the same account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the setup screen not appear when I open the case?

The setup screen only appears if your AirPods Pro have never been paired before or have been reset to factory settings. If they are already connected to another device, you must reset them first by holding the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white. Then open the case again near your iPhone.

Can I use the same AirPods Pro with my iPhone and my friend's iPhone?

Yes, but you will need to unpair them from your iPhone first. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your AirPods Pro, and select Forget This Device. Then your friend can open the case near their iPhone and pair them as new. To switch back to your iPhone, repeat the process.

Do I need to pair my AirPods Pro to my iPhone every time I use them?

No. Once paired, your AirPods Pro will automatically reconnect to your iPhone whenever you open the case near it and Bluetooth is on. You only pair once. If they do not reconnect automatically, open the case near your iPhone and wait 10 seconds.

What if my AirPods Pro are connected but I cannot hear anything?

Check that your iPhone volume is not muted. Look for the mute switch on the left side of your iPhone — if it is in the down position, slide it up to unmute. Also check that the volume is turned up by pressing the volume up button. If you still hear nothing, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the information icon next to your AirPods Pro to make sure they are set as your audio output device.

Can my AirPods Pro connect to my iPhone and my Mac at the same time?

They can be paired to both, but they can only play audio from one device at a time. They will automatically switch to whichever device starts playing audio first. To manually switch, open Control Center on your iPhone or Mac and select your AirPods Pro from the audio menu.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.