What to do when your AirPods won't pair the normal way

If your AirPods won't pair using the button on the case, you have several working alternatives. The pairing button fails most often because the case battery is dead, the button itself is stuck or broken, or the AirPods are already paired to a different device and locked to it. Before you assume the hardware is broken, try forcing your device to forget the AirPods entirely, then use your phone or computer's Bluetooth settings to pair them fresh — this works even if the case button is completely unresponsive.

The method you use depends on what device you're pairing to and whether your AirPods have ever worked before. A brand-new pair behaves differently from a pair that worked yesterday. The steps also differ slightly between AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and standard AirPods, though the underlying principle is the same: your phone or computer can initiate pairing without touching the case button at all.

Key Takeaways

  • A dead case battery is the most common reason the pairing button stops working — charge the case for at least 15 minutes before trying anything else.
  • You can pair AirPods through your device's Bluetooth settings without using the case button, even if the button is broken or stuck.
  • If your AirPods are already paired to another device, you must unpair them there first or they will not show up on your new device.
  • For brand-new AirPods, hold the case open near your device and wait for the pairing prompt — you do not need to press the button if the case is charged.
  • If Bluetooth pairing fails, restart both the AirPods and your device, then try again.

Charge the case first — this solves most button problems

Before you try any pairing method, plug the AirPods case into power for at least 15 minutes. A dead or nearly dead case battery prevents the pairing button from working, and it also prevents the AirPods themselves from turning on. You will see a small LED light on the front of the case when it is charging — on most AirPods, this light is amber while charging and green when fully charged.

If the LED does not light up at all after 30 minutes of charging, try a different USB cable and power adapter. The case uses a Lightning connector (on older AirPods) or USB-C (on newer models), and a faulty cable is more common than a faulty case. Once the case shows a green light, wait another 10 minutes before attempting to pair.

Pair through your iPhone or iPad's Bluetooth settings

Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Hold your AirPods case open (you do not need to press the button) near your device. After a few seconds, your AirPods should appear in the list of available devices — they will show a name like "AirPods" or "AirPods Pro". Tap the name to pair.

If your AirPods do not appear in the list after 30 seconds, close the case, wait 10 seconds, then open it again and hold it near your phone. If they still do not show up, your AirPods may already be paired to a different device. Check your other Apple devices (Mac, iPad, Apple Watch) and unpair them there first. Go to Settings, Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, tap the info icon next to them, and select "Forget This Device".

Pair through a Mac's Bluetooth settings

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select System Settings, then click Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is on. Hold your AirPods case open near your Mac and wait for your AirPods to appear in the list. Click them to pair.

On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, go to System Preferences instead of System Settings, but the steps are otherwise identical. If your AirPods appear but pairing fails, restart your Mac and try again. If they do not appear at all, unpair them from any other Apple devices first, as described in the iPhone section above.

Pair with Android or non-Apple devices

AirPods work with Android phones and tablets, though some features like automatic switching between devices will not work. Open your Android device's Settings, go to Bluetooth, and turn Bluetooth on. Hold your AirPods case open near the device. After a few seconds, your AirPods should appear in the list of available devices. Tap them to pair.

If pairing fails on Android, restart your phone and try again. Some Android devices require you to manually enter a PIN to complete pairing — if a prompt appears, try entering 0000. If your AirPods still will not pair, they may be locked to an Apple device. Unpair them from that device first using the steps in the iPhone section above, then try the Android pairing again.

Reset your AirPods if pairing still fails

If your AirPods will not pair after trying the steps above, reset them to factory settings. Place both AirPods in the case and close the lid. Wait 30 seconds, then open the case. Press and hold the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the LED light flashes amber, then white. This erases all pairing information and returns the AirPods to factory settings.

If the button on the back of the case is also broken or stuck, you may not be able to reset the AirPods yourself. In that case, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store. They can reset the AirPods using their own tools, or replace the case if it is defective.

Restart your device if pairing hangs or fails partway through

Sometimes pairing starts but gets stuck — your AirPods appear in the list but tapping them does nothing, or the pairing process begins and then stops. Restart your phone or computer completely, then try pairing again. This clears temporary Bluetooth glitches that prevent pairing from completing.

After restarting, make sure Bluetooth is turned back on, hold your AirPods case open, and tap your AirPods in the Bluetooth list again. If pairing succeeds this time, you are done. If it fails again, unpair the AirPods from any other devices you own, reset the AirPods to factory settings, and try pairing one more time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pair AirPods if the case button is physically broken?

Yes. You can pair through your device's Bluetooth settings without touching the case button at all. However, you will not be able to reset the AirPods yourself if something goes wrong later, since the reset requires holding the back button for 15 seconds. If you need to reset them, contact Apple Support.

Why do my AirPods not show up in Bluetooth settings even though the case is charged?

They are likely already paired to another device and locked to it. Check your other phones, tablets, and computers, and unpair the AirPods there first. Once you unpair them everywhere, they should appear in your new device's Bluetooth list within 30 seconds of opening the case.

Do I have to press the pairing button for brand-new AirPods?

No. For brand-new AirPods, straightforward hold the case open near your device with Bluetooth on. A pairing prompt should appear automatically. You only need to press the button if the automatic prompt does not appear after 30 seconds, or if the AirPods have been paired to another device before.

What if my AirPods pair but then disconnect when ready?

Restart both your AirPods and your device. Put the AirPods back in the case for 30 seconds, then take them out again. Restart your phone or computer. Then try pairing again. If disconnection keeps happening, the AirPods may have a hardware problem — contact Apple Support.

Can I pair AirPods to two devices at the same time?

AirPods can be paired to multiple devices, but they only connect to one at a time. Once paired to both your phone and your Mac, they will automatically switch to whichever device is playing audio. You cannot use them on both devices simultaneously.