The fastest way to connect your Beats Solo 3
Turn on your Beats Solo 3 by sliding the power switch on the left ear cup toward the Beats logo. Hold the headphones near your phone, tablet, or computer. Your device will show a pairing screen within a few seconds — tap "Connect" or "Pair" and you are done. The whole process takes about 30 seconds the first time.
After that first pairing, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on and your device is nearby. You do not have to pair them again unless you want to connect them to a different device or you reset the headphones.
Key Takeaways
- Beats Solo 3 use Bluetooth, so your device must have Bluetooth turned on before you start pairing.
- The pairing screen appears automatically on most phones and tablets within seconds of turning on the headphones.
- If the pairing screen does not appear, open your device's Bluetooth settings and look for "Beats Solo3" in the available devices list.
- You can pair your Beats to multiple devices, but they will only connect to one at a time.
- If your Beats do not reconnect automatically, check that Bluetooth is on and the headphones are charged.
Pairing with an iPhone or iPad
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older models) to open Control Center, and tap the Bluetooth icon so it lights up blue. If Bluetooth is already on, you will see the icon highlighted.
Turn on your Beats Solo 3 and hold them close to your iPhone or iPad. A pairing card will pop up on your screen showing the Beats name and battery level. Tap "Connect" on that card. Your device will pair with the headphones and show "Connected" on the card within a few seconds.
If the pairing card does not appear, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and wait for "Beats Solo3" to show up in the list of available devices. Tap it to pair manually. This usually means your Beats were previously paired with a different device and need to be "forgotten" first — see the troubleshooting section below.
Pairing with an Android phone or tablet
Open Settings and tap "Bluetooth" or "Connected devices". Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you will see a toggle switch at the top. Turn on your Beats Solo 3 and hold them near your Android device. Wait for "Beats Solo3" to appear in the list of available devices, then tap it.
Your Android device will ask you to confirm the pairing. Tap "Pair" or "Connect" when prompted. The headphones will show as "Connected" in your Bluetooth settings once the pairing is complete. This usually takes 10 to 15 seconds.
Some Android devices show a pairing code on the screen. You do not need to enter anything on your Beats — just confirm the pairing on your phone and the headphones will connect automatically.
Pairing with a Mac or Windows computer
On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the top right corner of your menu bar. If you do not see it, go to System Preferences, click Bluetooth, and check the box next to "Show Bluetooth in menu bar". Turn on your Beats Solo 3 and wait for "Beats Solo3" to appear in the Bluetooth menu. Click it to pair.
On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings, click "Devices", then "Bluetooth and other devices". Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Turn on your Beats and wait for "Beats Solo3" to appear in the list. Click it and then click "Pair" when Windows asks you to confirm.
Your computer will remember your Beats after the first pairing. The next time you turn on the headphones near your computer, they will reconnect automatically if Bluetooth is on.
What to do if pairing is not working
If "Beats Solo3" does not appear in your device's Bluetooth list after 30 seconds, try turning the headphones off and on again. Slide the power switch all the way off, wait 5 seconds, then slide it back on toward the Beats logo. Hold the headphones near your device and check the Bluetooth list again.
If the headphones still do not show up, they may be paired with another device. Press and hold the power button on your Beats for 10 seconds until you see the LED light flash red and white. This resets the pairing and clears any previous connections. Now turn them on normally and try pairing again with your current device.
Make sure your device's Bluetooth is actually on — many people turn on Bluetooth in Control Center or Settings but it turns off again after a few minutes. Check your Bluetooth menu to confirm the toggle is still switched on. Also check that your Beats have enough battery — if the battery is very low, pairing may not work. Charge them for at least 15 minutes and try again.
Switching your Beats to a different device
Your Beats Solo 3 can be paired to multiple devices at once, but they will only play audio from one device at a time. To switch which device they are connected to, turn off Bluetooth on the device they are currently using, then turn on Bluetooth on the device you want to use. Your Beats will automatically connect to the new device within a few seconds.
If your Beats do not switch automatically, open the Bluetooth settings on your new device and tap "Beats Solo3" in the list. They will connect when ready. You can switch between devices this way as many times as you want without re-pairing.
Checking your connection and battery level
Once your Beats are connected, you will see a Bluetooth icon on your device's screen showing that a connection is active. On iPhones and iPads, this icon appears in the top right corner. On Android devices, it appears in the status bar at the top. On computers, it appears in the Bluetooth menu.
To check your Beats' battery level, look at the LED light on the left ear cup. A solid blue light means the battery is good. A blinking blue light means the battery is low and you should charge soon. If the light is red, the battery is very low. Charge your Beats by plugging the USB cable into the port on the left ear cup.
You can also see the battery percentage on your device. On iPhones and iPads, swipe down from the top right to open Control Center and look for the Beats battery indicator. On Android, go to Settings and look for your connected devices — the battery level usually appears next to the Beats name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Beats keep disconnecting from my phone?
Disconnections usually happen when Bluetooth is turned off accidentally or when your phone is too far from the headphones. Keep your phone within 30 feet of your Beats and make sure Bluetooth stays on. If disconnections keep happening even when Bluetooth is on and your phone is nearby, try resetting the Beats by holding the power button for 10 seconds until the light flashes red and white, then pair them again.
Can I use my Beats Solo 3 with two devices at the same time?
No, your Beats can only play audio from one device at a time. However, they can be paired to multiple devices, so you can switch between them quickly by turning Bluetooth off on one device and on on another. The headphones will automatically connect to whichever device has Bluetooth turned on.
What if my Beats were previously paired with someone else's phone?
Reset the Beats by holding the power button for 10 seconds until the LED flashes red and white. This erases all previous pairings. Turn them on normally and pair them with your device as if they were brand new. You will not be able to pair them to the old device unless you reset them again.
Do I need to pair my Beats every time I turn them on?
No. After the first pairing, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on and your device is nearby with Bluetooth on. You only need to pair them manually if you are connecting to a new device or if you have reset the headphones.
Why is the pairing screen not showing up on my device?
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your device's settings, not just in Control Center. Some devices require you to go into the full Bluetooth settings menu to see pairing screens. Also check that your Beats are fully charged — very low battery can prevent pairing screens from appearing. If you still do not see the pairing screen after 30 seconds, reset your Beats and try again.