AirPods connect to Peloton through Bluetooth, just like any other wireless headphones
Your Peloton bike or tread has built-in Bluetooth that pairs with AirPods the same way your phone does. The connection takes about two minutes the first time, then reconnects automatically when you turn on your AirPods near the machine. You do not need an app, a cable, or any special setup — Peloton's touchscreen has a Bluetooth menu where you select your AirPods and confirm the pairing.
The main thing to know upfront: once AirPods are paired with your Peloton, they will try to connect to your Peloton first when you turn them on near the bike or tread. If you want to use them with your phone instead, you have to manually switch them back in your phone's Bluetooth settings. This is normal Bluetooth behavior, not a Peloton issue.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Bluetooth menu on your Peloton's touchscreen, put your AirPods in pairing mode by holding the button on the back of the case for three seconds, and tap your AirPods' name when it appears on screen.
- After the first pairing, your AirPods will reconnect to your Peloton automatically when you turn them on near the machine.
- AirPods will prioritize connecting to whichever device you turned them on near most recently, so manually switch them back to your phone in Bluetooth settings if you want to use them elsewhere.
- Volume is controlled from your Peloton's touchscreen, not from the AirPods themselves — the physical buttons on AirPods do not adjust Peloton audio.
Step-by-step pairing on your Peloton
Start with your Peloton already powered on and the touchscreen unlocked. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings menu, then tap Settings. Look for Bluetooth in the menu — it is usually near the top. Tap it to open the Bluetooth settings page.
On that page, you will see a list of available devices. Before your AirPods show up there, you need to put them in pairing mode. Open your AirPods case and hold the small button on the back of the case for about three seconds until the light inside the case starts flashing white. This tells your AirPods to accept a connection from any nearby device.
Go back to your Peloton's Bluetooth menu. Your AirPods should now appear in the list of available devices — they will show up with their name, usually something like "James's AirPods" or just "AirPods Pro". Tap that name. The Peloton will confirm the pairing, and you should see a checkmark next to your AirPods' name, meaning they are now connected.
Close the settings menu and start a class. Audio should come through your AirPods. If you do not hear anything, check that your AirPods are actually in your ears and that the volume on the Peloton touchscreen is turned up — the physical buttons on the AirPods themselves do not control Peloton volume.
What to do if your AirPods do not show up in the Bluetooth menu
If your AirPods are not appearing in the Peloton's Bluetooth list, the most common reason is that they are already paired with another device and that device is nearby and turned on. AirPods can only connect to one device at a time, so if your phone is in the room with Bluetooth on, your AirPods may be trying to connect to it instead. Turn off Bluetooth on your phone, then try the pairing process again on your Peloton.
If that does not work, forget the AirPods from your phone entirely. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, tap the i icon next to them, and select Forget This Device. Then go back to your Peloton and try pairing again. This clears out any connection conflicts.
As a last resort, reset your AirPods by holding the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber, then white. This erases all previous pairings. After that, put them in pairing mode again (three-second hold) and pair them with your Peloton from scratch.
Reconnecting AirPods to your Peloton after the first time
Once your AirPods are paired, you do not have to go through the full setup again. straightforward turn on your AirPods near your Peloton — they will automatically connect to it within a few seconds. You will see a notification on the Peloton's screen confirming the connection, or you can check the Bluetooth settings menu to see the checkmark next to your AirPods' name.
If your AirPods connect to your phone instead of your Peloton, it means your phone's Bluetooth was on and closer to the AirPods when you turned them on. To fix this, open your phone's Bluetooth settings, find your AirPods, and tap the i icon, then Disconnect. Your AirPods will then connect to your Peloton. You can also just turn off Bluetooth on your phone before your workout to avoid this entirely.
Controlling volume and audio during your workout
All volume adjustments for Peloton audio happen on the Peloton's touchscreen, not on the AirPods themselves. Use the volume buttons or slider on the screen to turn the instructor's voice and music up or down. The physical buttons on your AirPods (the stem or the touch area, depending on your model) control volume for your phone and other devices, but they do not affect what comes through your Peloton.
If you want to pause the class audio without stopping the class itself, you can use the play/pause button on your AirPods — that will pause the Peloton's audio. To resume, press it again. This is useful if you need to hear something else for a moment without dismounting.
Switching AirPods back to your phone after a workout
After your class ends, your AirPods will stay connected to your Peloton until you manually switch them. If you want to use them with your phone, open your phone's Bluetooth settings, find your AirPods in the list, and tap them. Your AirPods will disconnect from the Peloton and reconnect to your phone. The next time you turn on your AirPods near your Peloton, they will try to connect to the Peloton again.
To make your phone the default device, you can turn off Bluetooth on your Peloton entirely when you are done working out. Then your AirPods will always connect to your phone first. Just remember to turn Bluetooth back on on your Peloton before your next class.
Troubleshooting audio problems during class
If your AirPods are connected but you hear no sound, first check that the volume on the Peloton's touchscreen is actually turned up — it is straightforward to miss if you are focused on the class. Swipe down from the top of the screen and look at the volume slider. If it is at zero, drag it to the right.
If the volume is up but you still hear nothing, try disconnecting and reconnecting your AirPods. Go to Bluetooth settings on your Peloton, tap your AirPods' name to disconnect them, then tap it again to reconnect. Wait a few seconds for the connection to re-establish, then try the class audio again.
If one AirPod is quieter than the other or you hear audio in only one ear, check your AirPods' audio balance settings on your phone. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual and look for the balance slider. Make sure it is centered. This is a phone setting, not a Peloton setting, but it affects all audio through your AirPods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use AirPods with Peloton Digital on my phone instead of the bike?
Yes. Open the Peloton app on your phone, put your AirPods in pairing mode, and go to your phone's Bluetooth settings to pair them. Then start a class in the app and audio will come through your AirPods. The process is the same as pairing AirPods with any other app on your phone.
Will my AirPods work with both the Peloton bike and my phone at the same time?
No. AirPods can only connect to one device at a time. You have to manually switch them between your Peloton and your phone using Bluetooth settings. Some newer AirPods models have automatic switching, but you still have to set that up in your phone's Bluetooth settings first.
What if I have multiple AirPods in my household?
Each pair of AirPods pairs separately with your Peloton. If two people want to use AirPods during classes, you will need to pair each person's AirPods individually in the Bluetooth menu. The Peloton will remember both pairings, and each person can connect their own AirPods when they work out.
Do I need to unpair my AirPods from my Peloton if I sell it?
It is a good idea to forget your AirPods from the Peloton before you sell or give it away. Go to Bluetooth settings, find your AirPods, and select the option to forget or unpair them. This removes your pairing information from the machine.