AirPods connect to your Apple Watch through the Watch's own Bluetooth settings, not through your iPhone
Your Apple Watch and AirPods pair directly with each other, independent of your phone. This means you can use your AirPods with your Watch even when your iPhone is in another room or turned off. The Watch needs to be on the same Wi-Fi network or have cellular service to stream audio, but the pairing itself happens through Bluetooth and takes about two minutes.
The process differs slightly depending on whether your AirPods have been used with your iPhone before. If they have, the Watch may recognize them automatically. If not, you'll pair them manually through the Watch's settings. Either way, you'll need your AirPods charged and in pairing mode.
Key Takeaways
- AirPods pair directly to your Apple Watch through Bluetooth, not through your iPhone, so they work independently of your phone.
- Your Watch must be running watchOS 6.0 or later, and your AirPods must be fully charged before you start the pairing process.
- If your AirPods have been used with your iPhone before, your Watch may recognize them automatically when you open the Watch's Bluetooth settings.
- Once paired, you can switch between using your AirPods with your Watch and your iPhone without re-pairing them each time.
Check your Apple Watch's software version first
Open the Watch app on your iPhone and go to General, then About. Look for the watchOS version number. Your Watch needs watchOS 6.0 or later to connect to AirPods. If your version is older, you'll need to update it before pairing will work.
To update your Watch, keep it on the charger and near your iPhone with Wi-Fi turned on. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General, then Software Update. The update may take 15 to 30 minutes. Do not remove the Watch from the charger until the update finishes.
Put your AirPods in pairing mode
Charge your AirPods fully before you begin. Place both AirPods in the charging case and close the lid. Wait 15 seconds, then open the case. Press and hold the small button on the back of the case for about 10 seconds until the light inside flashes white. This means the AirPods are in pairing mode and ready to connect to any device nearby.
The pairing mode lasts about 15 minutes, so you have time to move to your Watch and complete the connection. If the light turns amber instead of white, the AirPods are already paired to another device. In that case, forget them from that device first, then repeat the pairing mode steps.
Open Bluetooth settings on your Apple Watch
On your Watch, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center. Tap the Bluetooth icon — it looks like a stylized B. You should see a list of available devices. Your AirPods should appear in this list within a few seconds if they are in pairing mode.
If your AirPods don't appear after 30 seconds, close Control Center by swiping down, wait 10 seconds, and try again. Make sure the AirPods case is still open and the light is still flashing white. If the light has turned off, press the back button again to re-enter pairing mode.
Tap your AirPods name to complete the connection
When you see your AirPods listed in the Bluetooth menu, tap on them. The Watch will attempt to connect. You should see a checkmark appear next to the AirPods name within 10 to 15 seconds, which means the pairing is complete. Close Control Center by swiping down.
Once paired, your AirPods will automatically connect to your Watch whenever they are nearby and in range. You don't need to pair them again unless you reset the AirPods or forget them from the Watch's settings. You can now use your AirPods to listen to music, podcasts, or take calls directly from your Watch.
Switch between your Watch and iPhone without re-pairing
After your AirPods are paired to both your Watch and iPhone, they will connect to whichever device you use first. If you start playing audio on your iPhone, the AirPods will connect to your iPhone. If you then start audio on your Watch, the AirPods will switch to your Watch automatically.
You can also manually switch by opening Control Center on whichever device you want to use, tapping Bluetooth, and tapping your AirPods name again. The switch takes a few seconds. You do not need to re-pair them or put them back in pairing mode.
Troubleshooting if your AirPods won't connect
If your AirPods appear in the Bluetooth list but won't connect, close Control Center and try again. If the problem continues, restart your Watch by pressing and holding the side button until you see the power-off slider, then slide to power off. Wait 10 seconds and press the side button again to turn it back on. Once it restarts, open Bluetooth settings and try connecting again.
If your AirPods still won't connect after a restart, forget them from your Watch and re-pair them. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, tap the info icon next to them, and select Forget. Then put your AirPods back in pairing mode and repeat the connection steps above. This clears any corrupted pairing data and usually resolves the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use AirPods with my Apple Watch without my iPhone nearby?
Yes. Once paired, your AirPods will connect to your Watch whenever they are in range, even if your iPhone is off or in another location. Your Watch must have Wi-Fi or cellular service to stream audio, but the Bluetooth connection between the Watch and AirPods works independently.
Do I need to pair my AirPods to my iPhone first before connecting them to my Watch?
No. You can pair AirPods directly to your Watch without ever pairing them to an iPhone. However, if you want to use the same AirPods with both devices, you'll need to pair them to your iPhone separately using the same pairing mode process.
What if my AirPods keep disconnecting from my Watch?
Check that your AirPods have enough battery — low battery can cause disconnections. Also verify your Watch has a strong Bluetooth signal and is not too far from the AirPods. If disconnections continue, restart both your Watch and your AirPods by placing them in the case for 30 seconds, then try connecting again.
Can I use multiple pairs of AirPods with the same Apple Watch?
Yes. Your Watch can pair with multiple AirPods. To switch between them, open Bluetooth settings in Control Center and tap the pair you want to use. Only one pair can be connected at a time, but you can switch between them without re-pairing.
Will my AirPods automatically connect to my Watch if they're already paired to my iPhone?
Not automatically. Your AirPods will connect to whichever device you use first. If you want them to connect to your Watch, open Bluetooth settings on your Watch and tap your AirPods name. They will then stay connected to your Watch until you manually switch them to another device.