How to Connect AirPods Max to a New Device

The basic process: forget, then pair

To connect AirPods 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 headphones remember the last device they connected to, so they will keep trying to reconnect there until you break that link. This takes about two minutes total.

The steps are the same whether you are moving to an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. If you are switching to a non-Apple device, the process is slightly different — see the section below on Android and other systems.

Key Takeaways

Unpair AirPods Max from your old device by going to Bluetooth settings and selecting "Forget This Device" next to the headphones.
On your new Apple device, open Bluetooth settings, and the AirPods Max will appear in the list within a few seconds of being powered on.
If the headphones do not appear, hold the noise control button for 15 seconds until the LED flashes white, then try again.
You can pair the same AirPods Max to multiple Apple devices at once, and they will switch automatically when you start playing audio on a different device.
Android devices require manual Bluetooth pairing and do not support automatic switching between devices.

Unpairing from your current device

Before the AirPods Max will connect to a new device, you must remove them from the old one. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, find AirPods Max in the list, tap the info icon next to the name, and select "Forget This Device." On a Mac, open System Settings, click Bluetooth, find AirPods Max, click the X next to the name, and confirm.

This step is important because AirPods Max will prioritize reconnecting to the device they last paired with. If you skip it, the headphones may keep trying to connect to your old phone even when you are holding your new one. Forgetting them on the old device breaks that automatic connection.

Pairing to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Once you have unpaired the AirPods Max from your old device, power them on by pressing the power button on the right ear cup. They will automatically enter pairing mode if they have never been paired to this device before. On your new iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and wait a few seconds. AirPods Max should appear in the list of available devices.

Tap the AirPods Max name to connect. Your device will ask you to confirm the pairing and may ask which services you want to use them for — notifications, phone calls, Siri, and so on. You can change these settings later in Bluetooth preferences. The entire process takes about 30 seconds once you see the headphones in the list.

On a Mac, the process is identical: open System Settings, click Bluetooth, wait for AirPods Max to appear, and click "Connect" next to the name. The headphones will then appear in the audio output menu in the menu bar.

What to do if the AirPods Max do not appear

If you power on the AirPods Max and they do not show up in your device's Bluetooth list within 10 seconds, they may not be in pairing mode. Hold the noise control button on the right ear cup for 15 seconds. The LED on the right side will flash white, indicating pairing mode is active. Then return to your device's Bluetooth settings and look again.

If they still do not appear, make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your device's settings. On iPhone and iPad, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center and check that the Bluetooth icon is highlighted. On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and confirm it says "Bluetooth: On." If Bluetooth is off, turn it on and try again.

If the AirPods Max still will not pair after these steps, restart both the headphones and your device. Power off the AirPods Max by holding the power button for 5 seconds, wait 10 seconds, then power them back on. Restart your phone or computer as well. Then repeat the pairing steps.

Pairing to multiple Apple devices at once

Unlike some wireless headphones, AirPods Max can stay paired to multiple Apple devices simultaneously. Once you have paired them to your iPhone, you can also pair them to your iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch without unpairing from the iPhone. The headphones will automatically switch to whichever device you start playing audio on.

To add a second Apple device, straightforward open Bluetooth settings on that device and tap or click AirPods Max when it appears in the list. You do not need to unpair from the first device. From that point on, if you are listening to music on your iPhone and you start playing a video on your iPad, the audio will switch to the iPad automatically.

You can manage which devices are paired by going to Bluetooth settings on any of them and looking at the AirPods Max details. If you want to remove a device from the pairing list, select "Forget This Device" on that specific device.

Connecting to Android and other non-Apple devices

AirPods Max work with Android phones and tablets, but the pairing process is manual and they do not support automatic device switching. First, unpair the AirPods Max from any Apple device using the steps above. Then on your Android device, open Settings, go to Bluetooth, and turn Bluetooth on. Hold the noise control button on the AirPods Max for 15 seconds until the LED flashes white.

In your Android device's Bluetooth list, you should see AirPods Max appear within a few seconds. Tap the name to pair. Once connected, you can use them to listen to music, watch videos, and take calls on your Android device. However, they will not automatically switch between your Android phone and an Apple device the way they do between two Apple devices.

Some features that work on Apple devices may not be available on Android, including automatic ear detection (which pauses audio when you remove the headphones) and Siri voice control. Audio quality and connection stability are generally the same as on Apple devices.

Troubleshooting connection problems

If your AirPods Max connect but the audio cuts out or keeps disconnecting, move closer to your device. Bluetooth has a typical range of about 30 feet, but walls, metal objects, and other wireless devices can reduce that range. If you are far from your phone or computer, move within 10 feet and see if the connection stabilizes.

If the connection is still unstable, forget the AirPods Max on your device and pair them again from scratch. Sometimes the pairing information gets corrupted, and re-pairing fixes it. You can also try restarting the AirPods Max by holding the power button for 5 seconds, waiting 10 seconds, and powering them back on.

If one ear cup has no sound or very quiet sound, make sure the audio balance is not shifted in your device's accessibility settings. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings, tap Accessibility, then Audio/Visual, and check the balance slider. On Mac, open System Settings, click Accessibility, then Audio, and check the balance there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to unpair AirPods Max from my old device before pairing to a new one?

Technically no — you can pair them to a new device without unpairing from the old one. However, they will keep trying to reconnect to the old device, which can cause connection problems. Unpairing first prevents this and takes 30 seconds.

Can I use the same AirPods Max on my iPhone and my friend's iPhone?

Yes. Unpair them from your iPhone, then pair them to your friend's phone. You can switch back and forth by unpairing and re-pairing each time. If you want to keep both iPhones paired at once, you can — the headphones will connect to whichever one you use first.

Why do my AirPods Max keep connecting to my old phone instead of my new one?

They are still paired to the old phone and will prioritize it automatically. Go to your old phone's Bluetooth settings and select "Forget This Device" next to the AirPods Max. After that, they will connect to your new phone instead.

What if I lost my old device and cannot unpair the AirPods Max from it?

Reset the AirPods Max to factory settings by holding the noise control button for 15 seconds, then continuing to hold it for another 5 seconds after the LED turns white. The LED will flash orange, indicating a reset. The headphones will then be unpaired from all devices and ready to pair to a new one.

Do AirPods Max work with Windows computers?

Yes, through standard Bluetooth pairing. Hold the noise control button for 15 seconds until the LED flashes white, then open Bluetooth settings on your Windows computer, and select AirPods Max from the list. Automatic device switching does not work on Windows, so you will need to manually select them as your audio output device each time.

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.