The basic pairing process
To connect earbuds to your iPhone, you put the earbuds into pairing mode, then tell your iPhone to find them. The earbuds and phone then exchange a code that lets them talk to each other wirelessly. This happens once — after that, they recognize each other automatically when you turn the earbuds on.
Most earbuds enter pairing mode by holding down a button on the earbud itself for three to five seconds. You'll usually see a light that flashes a different color — often white or blue — to signal they're ready. Check the instruction sheet that came with your earbuds, because the button location and hold time vary by brand.
Once the earbuds are in pairing mode, open Settings on your iPhone, tap Bluetooth, and turn it on if it isn't already. Your earbuds should appear in the list of available devices within a few seconds. Tap the name of your earbuds, and your iPhone will pair with them. You'll see "Connected" appear next to the earbud name when it's done.
Key Takeaways
- Put your earbuds into pairing mode by holding the button for three to five seconds — the light will flash to show they're ready.
- Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and turn it on so your iPhone can see the earbuds.
- Tap your earbuds' name in the Bluetooth list, and your iPhone will pair with them automatically.
- After the first pairing, your earbuds will reconnect on their own whenever you turn them on near your iPhone.
- If pairing fails, restart both the earbuds and your iPhone, then try again.
What to do if your earbuds don't appear in the Bluetooth list
If you've held the button and the light is flashing, but your earbuds still don't show up on your iPhone, the most common reason is that Bluetooth is off. Go back to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and make sure the toggle is switched on — it should be green. Wait a few seconds, then look at the list again.
If Bluetooth is on and the earbuds still don't appear, try restarting them. Most earbuds restart by holding the button for ten to fifteen seconds — longer than the pairing hold. The light will usually go off and then come back on. Once they restart, put them back into pairing mode and try again on your iPhone.
If that doesn't work, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off your iPhone. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo. Once your iPhone is back on, turn Bluetooth on again and try pairing the earbuds.
Reconnecting earbuds after they've been paired once
After you've paired your earbuds with your iPhone the first time, you don't have to go through the pairing process again. Just turn on your earbuds and they'll connect automatically — usually within a few seconds. Your iPhone remembers them.
If your earbuds don't reconnect automatically, make sure Bluetooth is on in your iPhone's Settings. Then turn the earbuds off and back on. If they still don't connect, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and look for your earbuds in the list. Tap them, and they'll connect right away.
If your earbuds connect to a different device instead — like a laptop or tablet — they won't connect to your iPhone at the same time. Turn off Bluetooth on the other device, or tell the earbuds to forget that device and reconnect to your iPhone. Check your earbuds' instruction sheet for how to do this, as it varies by brand.
Removing earbuds so they stop connecting to your iPhone
If you want your earbuds to stop connecting to your iPhone, you can unpair them. Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, find your earbuds in the list, and tap the information icon (a small circle with an "i" inside). Tap "Forget This Device," then confirm. Your iPhone will no longer connect to those earbuds automatically.
You'll need to pair them again if you want to use them with your iPhone in the future. The process is the same as the first time: put the earbuds into pairing mode, go to Settings > Bluetooth, and tap the earbud name.
Checking the battery level of your earbuds
When your earbuds are connected to your iPhone, you can see their battery level in a few places. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom if you have an older iPhone), and look for the battery icon. It will show the charge level of your earbuds and the charging case if they have one.
You can also check the battery in Settings. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your earbuds in the list, and tap the information icon. The battery percentage will appear there. If your earbuds are running low, charge them in their case — most cases take one to two hours to fully charge the earbuds.
Switching earbuds between devices
If you have multiple Apple devices — an iPhone, iPad, and Mac, for example — your earbuds can connect to all of them, but usually only one at a time. When you turn on your earbuds near your iPhone, they'll connect to it. If you then turn on your iPad, the earbuds might stay connected to your iPhone instead.
To switch them to your iPad, open Settings on the iPad, go to Bluetooth, and tap your earbuds. They'll disconnect from your iPhone and connect to your iPad. If you want them to switch automatically based on which device you're using, make sure you're signed into the same iCloud account on all your devices — this is called Handoff, and it works with some earbuds but not all.
If your earbuds don't support Handoff, you'll have to switch them manually each time. The fastest way is to use Control Center on whichever device you want to use: swipe down from the top-right corner, tap and hold the audio card, and select your earbuds from the list.
Troubleshooting sound problems after pairing
If your earbuds are connected but you're not hearing sound, first check the volume. Press one of the volume buttons on your iPhone to bring up the volume slider, and make sure it's not all the way down. Some earbuds also have their own volume control — check if there's a button on the earbud itself and try adjusting that.
If the volume is up but you still hear nothing, check that the sound is coming from your earbuds and not your iPhone speaker. Open Control Center, tap and hold the audio card, and look at the "Audio" section at the bottom. Make sure your earbuds are selected — if your iPhone speaker is selected instead, tap your earbuds to switch.
If sound is still not working, disconnect the earbuds and reconnect them. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your earbuds, tap "Forget This Device," then pair them again from the beginning. This fixes most sound problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my earbuds keep disconnecting from my iPhone?
Earbuds usually disconnect if Bluetooth is turned off, if they're too far from your iPhone (more than 30 feet), or if the battery is very low. Move closer to your iPhone, make sure Bluetooth is on, and charge your earbuds. If they keep disconnecting even when close and fully charged, unpair them and pair again.
Can I use the same earbuds with my iPhone and Android phone?
Yes. Most earbuds work with any phone that has Bluetooth. You'll pair them once with your iPhone and once with your Android phone, and they'll remember both devices. To switch between them, turn off Bluetooth on one phone and turn it on on the other.
What if I lost one earbud and got a replacement?
If you have a replacement earbud from the manufacturer, put both earbuds in their case and charge them fully. Then restart the pairing process as if you were pairing them for the first time. Your iPhone will pair with both the old and new earbud together.
Do I need to unpair my earbuds before I sell or give away my iPhone?
Yes. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your earbuds, and tap "Forget This Device." This removes the pairing so the new owner won't have access to your earbuds if they're nearby.
Why does my iPhone keep trying to connect to old earbuds I don't use anymore?
Your iPhone remembers all the earbuds it's ever paired with. If you want to stop this, go to Settings > Bluetooth, find the old earbuds in the list, tap the information icon, and tap "Forget This Device." They won't appear in your Bluetooth list anymore.