Connect AirPods Gen 4 by opening Bluetooth settings and selecting them from the list
AirPods Gen 4 connect through Bluetooth, the wireless standard that lets audio devices talk to phones, tablets, and computers. The first time you pair them, you'll open your device's Bluetooth menu, put the AirPods in pairing mode, and tap their name when it appears. After that first connection, they'll recognize your device and connect automatically when you turn them on nearby.
The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you're using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android phone, or Windows computer. The main difference is where you find the Bluetooth settings — but the AirPods themselves do the same thing on every device.
Key Takeaways
- AirPods Gen 4 enter pairing mode when you open the case near an unpaired device, and you complete the connection by tapping their name in Bluetooth settings.
- On iPhones and iPads, a setup screen appears automatically the first time; on Mac, Android, and Windows, you open Bluetooth settings manually and select the AirPods from the list.
- After the first pairing, AirPods connect automatically whenever you turn them on and your device's Bluetooth is active.
- If AirPods don't appear in your Bluetooth list, hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white, then try again.
Pairing AirPods Gen 4 with an iPhone or iPad
Open the AirPods case near your iPhone or iPad with Bluetooth turned on. A setup screen appears automatically on your device showing the AirPods name and battery level. Tap "Connect" on that screen. Your device pairs with the AirPods and asks whether you want to use them with other devices signed into the same Apple account — you can say yes now or skip this and add them later.
Once connected, the AirPods appear in your device's Bluetooth settings under "My Devices" and will reconnect automatically whenever you open the case near that phone or tablet. If the automatic setup screen doesn't appear, go to Settings > Bluetooth, make sure Bluetooth is on, and tap the AirPods name when it shows up in the list.
Pairing AirPods Gen 4 with a Mac
Open the AirPods case near your Mac. Go to System Settings > Bluetooth (or System Preferences > Bluetooth on older macOS versions). The AirPods appear in the list of available devices. Click "Connect" next to their name. Your Mac pairs with them and they appear under "My Devices" in the same menu.
After the first pairing, the AirPods connect automatically when you open the case near your Mac and Bluetooth is on. You can also control which device the AirPods use by clicking the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen and selecting the AirPods from the list of connected devices.
Pairing AirPods Gen 4 with Android phones and tablets
Open the AirPods case near your Android device. Go to Settings > Bluetooth (the exact path varies by phone brand, but Bluetooth is always in Settings). Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. The AirPods appear in the list of available devices — tap their name to pair. Your device connects and the AirPods appear under "Paired devices" in the same menu.
Android does not automatically reconnect AirPods the way iPhones do. You may need to manually select them from the Bluetooth menu each time you want to use them, depending on your phone's settings. Some Android phones have a "Connect" button next to paired AirPods that you tap to reconnect; others reconnect automatically if you've used them recently.
Pairing AirPods Gen 4 with Windows computers
Open the AirPods case near your Windows computer. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. The AirPods appear in the list of available devices. Click "Pair" next to their name. Windows pairs with them and they appear under "Paired devices" in the same menu.
After pairing, the AirPods may reconnect automatically when you turn them on, but Windows does not always maintain the connection as reliably as Apple devices do. If they disconnect, go back to Bluetooth settings and click "Connect" next to the AirPods name. You can also right-click the speaker icon in the Windows taskbar and select the AirPods from the audio output menu to switch to them.
What to do if AirPods Gen 4 don't appear in your Bluetooth list
If the AirPods don't show up when you open the case, they may not be in pairing mode. Hold the small setup button on the back of the AirPods case for 15 seconds. The light inside the case flashes white, which means they're ready to pair. Then go back to your device's Bluetooth settings and look for them again.
If they still don't appear, try these steps: make sure your device's Bluetooth is turned on, move the AirPods closer to your device, and restart your device's Bluetooth by turning it off and back on. If you've paired the AirPods with another device recently, they may be trying to connect to that device instead — turn off Bluetooth on the other device and try again. If none of this works, reset the AirPods by holding the setup button for 15 seconds again, wait for the light to flash amber and white, then try pairing from the beginning.
Connecting AirPods Gen 4 to multiple devices
AirPods Gen 4 can be paired with up to eight different devices at once. After you pair them with your first device, you can pair them with a second device by opening the case near that device and following the same pairing steps. The AirPods remember all eight devices and will connect to whichever one you're using.
On iPhones and iPads, you can set up automatic switching so the AirPods move from one Apple device to another as you use them — this requires all devices to be signed into the same Apple account. On Android and Windows, you'll need to manually select the AirPods from Bluetooth settings each time you switch devices. If the AirPods are connected to one device and you want to use them with another, disconnect them from the first device's Bluetooth menu, then select them on the second device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pair AirPods Gen 4 every time I use them?
No. After the first pairing, they remember your device and connect automatically when you turn them on and Bluetooth is active. You only pair them once per device. If they disconnect during use, they reconnect automatically when you put them back in your ears or open the case near your device.
Can I use AirPods Gen 4 with both an iPhone and an Android phone?
Yes. Pair them with your iPhone first, then pair them with your Android phone using the same steps. They'll remember both devices. When you want to switch between them, go to Bluetooth settings on whichever device you want to use and select the AirPods from the list.
Why won't my AirPods Gen 4 show up in Bluetooth settings?
The most common reason is that they're not in pairing mode. Hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white. Also check that your device's Bluetooth is turned on and that you're close enough to the AirPods — Bluetooth typically works within 30 feet. If you've recently paired them with another device, turn off Bluetooth on that device first.
What's the difference between pairing and connecting?
Pairing is the first-time setup where your device learns the AirPods' identity and saves them. Connecting is what happens every time after that — your device recognizes the AirPods and links to them automatically. You pair once; you connect every time you use them.
Do AirPods Gen 4 work better with iPhones than other devices?
They work with all devices that have Bluetooth, but iPhones and iPads have some extra features like automatic setup and device switching that make the experience smoother. On Android and Windows, you get the same audio quality and basic pairing, but you may need to manually select them from Bluetooth settings more often.