The basic connection process depends on your device type

Beats headphones connect via Bluetooth, which means they pair wirelessly with your phone, computer, or tablet. The first time you connect, you'll go through a pairing step that tells your device and your Beats to recognize each other. After that, they usually reconnect automatically when you turn them on.

The steps are nearly identical across all Beats models — Solo, Studio, Fit Pro, and others — though some older wired Beats models plug in with a cable instead. This guide covers the wireless Bluetooth process, which is what most people use today.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn on your Beats and hold the power button for 10 seconds until the LED light flashes, which puts them into pairing mode.
  • On your phone or computer, go to Bluetooth settings, find your Beats in the list, and tap or click to pair them.
  • Once paired, your Beats will reconnect automatically the next time you turn them on, as long as Bluetooth is on.
  • If your Beats won't connect, forget the device in your Bluetooth settings and repeat the pairing process from the start.
  • Beats with an Apple device may show a setup card on screen that walks you through pairing in one tap if you have an Apple account.

Pairing Beats with an iPhone or iPad

Turn on your Beats and press and hold the power button until you see the LED light flash white and red. This usually takes about 10 seconds. The flashing light means your Beats are in pairing mode and ready to connect.

On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Your Beats should appear in the list of available devices — they'll show the model name, like "Beats Solo Pro" or "Beats Fit Pro". Tap the name to pair.

If you have an Apple account and your Beats are new, you may see a setup card appear on your screen instead. Tap "Connect" on that card, and your Beats will pair in one step. After pairing, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on and Bluetooth is active on your phone.

Pairing Beats with an Android phone

Turn on your Beats and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the LED flashes white and red. Release the button and leave your Beats in pairing mode.

On your Android phone, open Settings, go to Connected Devices or Bluetooth (the exact name varies by phone brand), and turn Bluetooth on. Your Beats should appear in the list of available devices. Tap the name to pair. Your phone may ask you to confirm the pairing — tap "Pair" or "Connect" if prompted.

Once paired, your Beats will reconnect automatically the next time you turn them on, as long as Bluetooth is on. If you have multiple Android devices, your Beats will remember all of them and connect to whichever one you used most recently.

Pairing Beats with a Mac or Windows computer

Turn on your Beats and hold the power button until the LED flashes white and red. Your Beats are now in pairing mode.

On a Mac, click the Apple menu, go to System Settings, click Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is on. Your Beats should appear in the list. Click the name to pair. On a Windows computer, open Settings, go to Devices, click Bluetooth & other devices, and turn Bluetooth on. Your Beats will appear in the list — click to pair.

After pairing, your Beats will reconnect automatically when you turn them on and Bluetooth is active. If you use your Beats with both a phone and a computer, they'll remember both devices and connect to whichever one you used last.

What to do if your Beats won't connect

If your Beats appear in the Bluetooth list but won't pair, or if they paired before but won't reconnect now, the fastest fix is to forget the device and pair again from scratch. On your phone or computer, find your Beats in the Bluetooth settings, tap or click the information icon or "Forget This Device", and confirm. Then repeat the pairing steps above.

Make sure your Beats have enough battery — a low battery can prevent pairing. Charge them for at least 15 minutes, then try again. Also check that Bluetooth is turned on on both your Beats and your device. If your Beats have a physical button, make sure you're holding the correct button for pairing — some models have separate buttons for power and pairing.

If you've tried forgetting and re-pairing and your Beats still won't connect, restart both your Beats and your device. Turn off your Beats completely, wait 10 seconds, turn them back on, and repeat the pairing process. Restarting clears temporary glitches that sometimes block Bluetooth from working.

Connecting to multiple devices at once

Most Beats can pair with multiple devices — a phone, a tablet, and a computer, for example — but they can only play audio from one device at a time. Once you've paired your Beats with each device, they'll remember all of them. When you turn on your Beats, they'll connect to whichever device you used them with most recently.

If you want to switch to a different device, open the Bluetooth settings on that device and tap or click your Beats to connect. Your Beats will disconnect from the first device and connect to the second one. You don't need to pair again — they already know each other.

Some Beats models, like the Beats Fit Pro, support multipoint connection, which means they can stay connected to two devices at the same time and switch between them automatically when you take a call or start playing audio on a different device. Check your Beats model's manual to see if yours supports this feature.

Using your Beats with older devices or non-Bluetooth audio

If you have an older device without Bluetooth, or if you want to use your Beats with a device that doesn't support wireless connection, some Beats models come with a 3.5mm audio cable or a USB-C cable. Plug the cable into the audio jack or charging port on your Beats and into your device. Your Beats will switch to wired mode automatically.

Wired connection doesn't require pairing and works when ready. However, you won't be able to use the microphone or controls on your Beats while they're in wired mode on most devices — you'll need to use the controls on the device itself. Check your Beats manual to see which cables are included with your model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Beats keep disconnecting?

Beats usually disconnect if Bluetooth is turned off on your device, if your Beats run out of battery, or if you move too far away from your device — Bluetooth typically works within 30 feet. Try moving closer, charging your Beats, and making sure Bluetooth is on. If disconnections keep happening, forget your Beats in Bluetooth settings and pair them again.

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

Your Beats can pair with multiple phones, but they'll only play audio from one at a time. They'll connect to whichever phone you used them with most recently. To switch, open Bluetooth settings on the other phone and tap your Beats to connect. Some newer Beats models support multipoint connection, which lets them stay connected to two devices and switch automatically.

What if I forgot which device my Beats are paired with?

Forget your Beats on all your devices by going to Bluetooth settings, finding your Beats, and selecting "Forget" or "Unpair". Then turn on your Beats, put them in pairing mode by holding the power button for 10 seconds, and pair them with the device you want to use. They'll only remember that one device until you pair with others.

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

No. Once you've paired your Beats with a device, they'll reconnect automatically the next time you turn them on, as long as Bluetooth is on. You only need to pair once per device. Pairing is the one-time setup; reconnecting happens automatically after that.

Why does my Beats setup card not appear on my iPhone?

The automatic setup card only appears if your Beats are brand new and you're signed into an Apple account on your iPhone. If you've already paired your Beats with another device, or if you're not signed in, you'll need to pair manually through Bluetooth settings instead. The manual process works just as well.