How to Connect Dr. Dre Beats Headphones to Your Device via Bluetooth

The basic steps to connect Beats to your phone or computer

To connect Dr. Dre Beats headphones to a phone, tablet, or computer, turn on the headphones, open your device's Bluetooth settings, and select the Beats model from the list of available devices. The first time you connect, the headphones will enter pairing mode automatically — usually indicated by a flashing light on the device. Once you select the Beats from your device's Bluetooth menu, the connection completes in seconds, and the headphones will remember that device for future use.

The exact steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac, but the core process is the same across all devices. After the initial pairing, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on and your device's Bluetooth is active.

Key Takeaways

Turn on your Beats headphones and they will enter pairing mode automatically the first time, shown by a flashing light on the device.
Open Bluetooth settings on your phone or computer, find your Beats model in the available devices list, and tap to connect.
After the first pairing, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever both devices have Bluetooth turned on.
If your Beats do not appear in the Bluetooth list, hold the power button for 10 seconds to reset the pairing mode.
You can pair one set of Beats to multiple devices, but they will only connect to one device at a time.

Connecting Beats to an iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and tap Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — the toggle at the top should be green. Turn on your Beats headphones and wait for them to appear in the list under "Other Devices." Tap the Beats model name to connect. Your device will show "Connected" next to the Beats name once the pairing is complete.

If your Beats do not appear in the list within 30 seconds, hold the power button on the headphones for 10 seconds until you see the light flash rapidly. This resets the pairing mode. Then go back to your iPhone's Bluetooth settings and try again. After the first connection, your Beats will appear under "My Devices" and will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on.

Connecting Beats to an Android phone

Open Settings on your Android phone and go to Connected Devices or Bluetooth — the exact name varies by phone brand. Turn on Bluetooth if it is not already on. Turn on your Beats headphones and they should appear in the list of available devices within 30 seconds. Tap the Beats model name to pair them.

Some Android phones show a pairing code on the screen after you tap the Beats name. If this happens, confirm the code matches what appears on your headphones, then tap Pair or Connect. Once connected, your phone will remember the Beats and reconnect them automatically in the future.

Connecting Beats to a Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. Click Bluetooth in the left sidebar. Turn on your Beats headphones and they will appear in the list of available devices. Click the Connect button next to your Beats model. Your Mac will show "Connected" once the pairing is complete.

If you do not see a Connect button, click the information icon next to the Beats name and look for a Pair or Connect option there. After the first pairing, your Beats will appear under "My Devices" and will reconnect automatically whenever Bluetooth is on.

Connecting Beats to a Windows computer

Click the Windows Start button and open Settings. Go to Bluetooth & Devices or Devices, depending on your Windows version. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Turn on your Beats headphones and click "Add Device" or "Add Bluetooth Device." Select your Beats model from the list that appears.

Windows may ask you to confirm a pairing code. If so, check that the code on your screen matches what you see on the headphones and click Yes or Pair. Once connected, your Beats will appear in the list of paired devices and will reconnect automatically when you turn them on and Bluetooth is active.

What to do if your Beats will not connect or keep disconnecting

If your Beats appear in the Bluetooth list but will not connect, or if they disconnect repeatedly, try these steps in order. First, turn off both the Beats and your device completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn them back on. Then try connecting again. If that does not work, forget the Beats from your device's Bluetooth settings and pair them again from scratch.

To forget the Beats on iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to the Beats name, and select Forget This Device. On Android, go to Settings > Connected Devices, find the Beats, and tap Forget or Unpair. On Mac, click the information icon next to the Beats in System Settings and select Remove. On Windows, go to Bluetooth & Devices, find the Beats, and click Remove Device. After removing, turn on the Beats again and pair them as if it were the first time.

If your Beats still will not connect after forgetting and re-pairing, hold the power button for 15 seconds until the light flashes rapidly in a different pattern — this performs a full reset. After a full reset, the Beats will enter pairing mode again and you can pair them to your device as normal.

Pairing Beats to multiple devices

You can pair one set of Beats to as many devices as you want, but they will only play audio from one device at a time. After you pair your Beats to your iPhone, you can also pair them to your Mac, iPad, and Android phone. When you turn on the Beats, they will automatically connect to whichever device you used them with most recently.

If you want to switch to a different device, turn off Bluetooth on the current device or move out of range, then turn on Bluetooth on the device you want to use. Your Beats will connect to the new device within a few seconds. You do not need to re-pair them — the Beats remember all the devices you have paired them to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Beats keep disconnecting from my phone?

Disconnections usually happen when Bluetooth is turned off, when you move too far away from your device, or when another device is trying to connect to the same Beats. Try moving closer to your phone, make sure Bluetooth is on, and check that no other devices are attempting to pair. If the problem continues, forget the Beats from your phone's Bluetooth settings and pair them again.

Can I use my Beats with two devices at the same time?

No. Beats can be paired to multiple devices, but they will only connect to and play audio from one device at a time. To switch between devices, turn off Bluetooth on the current device or move out of range, then turn on Bluetooth on the device you want to use.

What does the flashing light on my Beats mean?

A flashing light means your Beats are in pairing mode and searching for a device to connect to. A solid light usually means they are connected. If the light is off, the battery may be dead — plug the Beats into a charger using the included USB cable.

Do I have to pair my Beats every time I use them?

No. After the first pairing, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on and your device's Bluetooth is active. You only need to pair them once per device.

My Beats are not showing up in my Bluetooth list. What should I do?

Make sure the Beats are turned on and fully charged. Hold the power button for 10 seconds until the light flashes rapidly to reset pairing mode. Then open your device's Bluetooth settings and look for the Beats model name again. If they still do not appear, try a full reset by holding the power button for 15 seconds.

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.