Connect AirPods by opening Bluetooth and holding the setup button
New AirPods connect through Bluetooth, the wireless standard that lets audio devices find and pair with each other. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you own an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Android phone — though Apple devices recognize AirPods faster because they share the same ecosystem.
The core steps are: put your AirPods in their case, open the case near your device, hold the setup button on the back of the case until a white light flashes, then select the AirPods in your device's Bluetooth menu. After that first pairing, your AirPods will reconnect automatically whenever you open the case near that device.
If you already own an Apple device signed into your iCloud account, new AirPods can pair to multiple devices at once — your iPhone, iPad, and Mac will all see them without repeating the setup steps. Android devices and Windows computers require separate pairing for each one.
Key Takeaways
- New AirPods pair through Bluetooth by holding the setup button on the case until the light flashes white, then selecting them in your device's Bluetooth settings.
- Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account pair automatically once you set up AirPods on one device, but Android phones and Windows computers need individual pairing.
- After the first pairing, AirPods reconnect whenever you open the case near a device you have already paired them to.
- If pairing stalls, forget the AirPods from your device's Bluetooth menu and start the setup process again from the beginning.
Pairing AirPods to an iPhone or iPad
On an iPhone or iPad, unlock your device and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. You can check this by swiping down from the top right corner (iPhone X and newer) or up from the bottom (older iPhones) to open Control Center, where you will see the Bluetooth icon. If it is greyed out, tap it to turn Bluetooth on.
Open your new AirPods case near your iPhone or iPad — within a few inches. You should see a white setup screen appear on your device asking you to connect. Tap "Connect" and follow the on-screen prompts. Your device will ask you to name the AirPods (you can keep the default name or change it), confirm your iCloud account, and choose whether to use Siri. Once you tap "Done", the pairing is complete.
If the setup screen does not appear, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, make sure it is on, then look for your AirPods in the list of available devices. Tap the AirPods name and wait for the status to change from "Connecting" to "Connected".
Pairing AirPods to a Mac
On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left, select System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), then click Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is on — you will see a toggle switch at the top of the window.
Open your AirPods case near your Mac and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the light inside flashes white. Your AirPods should appear in the Bluetooth list within a few seconds. Click "Connect" next to the AirPods name. Once the status changes to "Connected", you can close the settings window.
If you are signed into the same iCloud account on both your Mac and iPhone, and you have already paired the AirPods to your iPhone, they may pair to your Mac automatically the first time you open the case nearby. You can verify this by checking the Bluetooth menu on your Mac.
Pairing AirPods to an Android phone
Android phones do not have the same automatic pairing feature as Apple devices, so you will need to go through the full Bluetooth setup each time. Open your phone's Settings app, tap Connected Devices or Bluetooth (the exact name varies by phone brand), and make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
Open your AirPods case near your Android phone and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the light flashes white. Your phone should show the AirPods in the list of available devices within a few seconds. Tap the AirPods name to pair. Once the status shows "Connected", the pairing is done.
After the first pairing, your AirPods will not reconnect automatically on Android the way they do on iPhones. You will need to open the Bluetooth settings and manually select the AirPods each time you want to use them, or enable "Auto-connect" in your phone's Bluetooth settings if that option is available on your device.
Pairing AirPods to a Windows computer
On Windows 10 or 11, click the Windows icon in the bottom left, type "Bluetooth" into the search box, and open "Bluetooth and other devices settings". Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you will see a toggle switch near the top.
Click "Add device" or "Add Bluetooth or other device", then select "Bluetooth" from the menu that appears. Open your AirPods case near your computer and hold the setup button on the back until the light flashes white. Your AirPods should appear in the list of available devices. Click the AirPods name to pair.
Windows computers do not reconnect to AirPods automatically the way iPhones do. After the first pairing, you will need to manually turn on Bluetooth and select the AirPods from the Bluetooth menu each time you want to use them.
What to do if the AirPods do not appear or pairing fails
If your AirPods do not show up in the Bluetooth list, first check that the case has enough battery. Open the case and look at the small LED light inside — if it is red or orange, the case needs to charge. Plug the case into a USB-C or Lightning cable (depending on your AirPods model) and wait at least 15 minutes before trying again.
If the battery is not the problem, forget the AirPods from your device and start over. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, find the AirPods name, tap the information icon next to it, and select "Forget This Device". On Mac, open System Settings, click Bluetooth, find the AirPods, click the information icon, and select "Remove". On Android or Windows, find the AirPods in the Bluetooth settings, tap or right-click the name, and select "Forget" or "Remove".
Once you have forgotten the AirPods, close the case, wait 10 seconds, then open it again near your device and hold the setup button until the light flashes white. This resets the pairing process and usually resolves connection problems.
Switching AirPods between devices
If you have paired your AirPods to multiple devices, they will connect to whichever device you use them with most recently. When you open the case near your iPhone, they will connect to the iPhone. When you open the case near your Mac, they will switch to the Mac.
On Apple devices, you can also manually switch by opening Control Center, pressing and holding the audio card in the bottom right, and tapping the AirPods name. This forces them to connect to a specific device instead of waiting for them to switch automatically.
On Android and Windows, you will need to manually select the AirPods from the Bluetooth menu each time you want to switch devices, since they do not have the same automatic switching feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pair my AirPods to every device separately?
If you own Apple devices and are signed into the same iCloud account, you only need to pair once — the AirPods will show up on your other Apple devices automatically. Android phones and Windows computers require separate pairing for each device.
Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting?
Disconnections usually happen when Bluetooth is turned off, the case battery is low, or another device is trying to connect at the same time. Check that Bluetooth is on, charge the case, and if the problem continues, forget the AirPods and pair them again from scratch.
Can I use AirPods with two devices at the same time?
No — AirPods can only play audio from one device at a time. They will connect to whichever device you used them with most recently. To switch, you can manually select a different device in the Bluetooth menu or, on Apple devices, use Control Center to force a switch.
What if I lost the AirPods case?
You can still pair and use individual AirPods without the case, but they will not charge and will only work until the battery runs out. You can buy a replacement case from Apple, but it will be more expensive than buying a new pair of AirPods.
How do I know if my AirPods are in pairing mode?
The LED light on the back of the case will flash white when you hold the setup button. If the light is off or flashing amber, the case battery is low. If the light is green, the AirPods are already paired to a device.