The basic steps to pair Beats with your phone

Turn on your Beats headphones and hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until you see a flashing light — usually white or red. This puts them in pairing mode, which means they are broadcasting a signal that your phone can detect. On your phone, go to Settings, then Bluetooth, and turn Bluetooth on. Your Beats should appear in the list of available devices within a few seconds. Tap the name of your Beats, and your phone will connect to them. The light on your headphones will stop flashing and turn solid, which means the pairing is complete.

The first time you pair takes about 30 seconds. After that, your phone remembers your Beats. The next time you turn on your headphones, your phone will connect to them automatically — you do not have to go back into Settings. If your phone does not find your Beats, make sure they are charged, that Bluetooth is on, and that no other device is currently connected to them.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold the power button on your Beats for 10 seconds until the light flashes, then go to your phone's Bluetooth settings and tap the Beats name.
  • After the first pairing, your phone will connect automatically whenever you turn on your Beats.
  • If your Beats do not appear in the Bluetooth list, check that they are charged and that Bluetooth is turned on on your phone.
  • You can pair your Beats with multiple phones, but they will only connect to one device at a time.

What to do if your Beats do not show up in Bluetooth settings

If you hold the power button and do not see a flashing light, your Beats may be out of battery. Plug them in and wait at least 15 minutes before trying again. If the light flashes but your phone still does not show them in the Bluetooth list, restart your phone's Bluetooth: go to Settings, turn Bluetooth off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then try pairing again.

If your Beats have been paired with another phone or device recently, they may still be trying to connect to that device instead of entering pairing mode. Hold the power button for 15 seconds instead of 10 — this forces them to forget the old connection and start fresh. After you do this, they will be in pairing mode and ready for your phone to find them.

Pairing Beats with Android versus iPhone

The steps are almost identical on both Android and iPhone. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and look for your Beats in the list. On Android, the path is Settings, then Bluetooth or Connected Devices, depending on your phone model. The pairing process itself — holding the power button until the light flashes, then tapping the device name — works the same way on both.

One difference: iPhones show a popup asking you to confirm the pairing, while many Android phones do not. If you see a popup on your iPhone, tap "Pair" to finish. After that, the connection works the same on both types of phones.

How to connect Beats to a second phone or device

Your Beats can be paired with multiple phones, but they will only play audio from one at a time. To add a second phone, put your Beats in pairing mode again by holding the power button for 10 seconds until the light flashes. Go to that phone's Bluetooth settings and tap your Beats name. Your Beats now remember both phones.

When you turn on your Beats, they will try to connect to whichever phone they were last used with. If you want to switch to the other phone, go to that phone's Bluetooth settings and tap your Beats name. The connection will switch over in a few seconds. You do not have to unpair them from the first phone — they stay paired with both until you manually remove them.

Removing a pairing or forgetting your Beats

If you want to unpair your Beats from a phone, go to that phone's Bluetooth settings, find your Beats in the list, and tap the information icon or "Forget This Device." This removes the pairing from that phone only — your Beats will still be paired with any other devices they were connected to. The next time you want to use them with that phone, you will have to pair them again by holding the power button for 10 seconds.

Forgetting a device is useful if you are selling your Beats, giving them to someone else, or if they are not connecting properly and you want to start fresh. After you forget them, your Beats will no longer automatically connect to that phone.

Why your Beats keep disconnecting

If your Beats connect but then drop the connection, the most common cause is that they are too far from your phone — Bluetooth typically works within 30 feet, but walls and other obstacles can reduce that range. Move closer to your phone and see if the connection stays stable. If it does, you know distance is the problem.

Another common cause is that your phone's Bluetooth is interfering with other wireless devices nearby, or that your Beats battery is low. Check the battery level on your Beats (most show a light or a voice notification) and charge them if needed. If the problem continues, try forgetting your Beats from your phone's Bluetooth settings and pairing them again from scratch. This often fixes connection problems that happen after weeks or months of use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be in pairing mode every time I use my Beats?

No. Pairing mode is only for the first time, or when you are adding a new device. After that, your phone remembers your Beats and connects automatically when you turn them on. You only need to enter pairing mode again if you forget the device or pair them with a different phone.

Can I use my Beats with my phone and my laptop at the same time?

Your Beats can be paired with both, but they will only play audio from one device at a time. If you are listening to music on your phone and then open a video on your laptop, the audio will switch to the laptop. To switch back, go to your phone's Bluetooth settings and tap your Beats name again.

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

Turn on your Beats and see which device they connect to automatically — that is the phone they were last used with. If you want to pair them with a different phone instead, hold the power button for 15 seconds to clear the old connection, then pair them with the new phone using the standard steps.

Why does my phone show my Beats in Bluetooth settings but they are not playing sound?

Check that your Beats are actually selected as the audio output device. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right to open Control Center, tap the audio card, and make sure your Beats are selected. On Android, go to Settings, Sound, and check that your Beats are set as the output device. If they are selected but still not playing, try forgetting and re-pairing them.