What AirFly does and why you might need it

AirFly is a small wireless adapter that lets you use AirPods, AirTags, and other Apple devices with things that only have Bluetooth 4.0 or older — like airplane seatback screens, gym equipment, or car stereos made before 2015. It sits between your non-Apple device and your AirPods, translating the older Bluetooth signal into something your AirPods understand.

The device itself is made by Twelve South, a third-party manufacturer. Apple does not make it, but it works with Apple's ecosystem. You buy it separately — it costs around $30 to $50 depending on the model — and it runs on a small rechargeable battery that lasts about 24 hours of active use.

AirFly comes in two main versions: the standard AirFly, which connects one pair of AirPods to one older Bluetooth device, and the AirFly Pro, which can pair with up to two devices at once and also works as a regular Bluetooth receiver for non-Apple headphones. Both use the same basic connection process.

Key Takeaways

  • AirFly pairs with your AirPods first, then connects to the older Bluetooth device — the order matters because the older device usually cannot initiate the pairing.
  • You hold the button on AirFly for three seconds to put it in pairing mode, then select it from your AirPods' Bluetooth settings on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Once AirFly is paired with your AirPods, you then put the older device into pairing mode and hold the AirFly button again to connect them.
  • AirFly remembers both connections after the first pairing, so future use only requires turning it on — no re-pairing needed unless you reset it.
  • If AirFly does not appear in your Bluetooth list, charge it fully, restart it by holding the button for ten seconds, and try again.

Pairing AirFly with your AirPods first

Before AirFly can talk to an older device, it has to know your AirPods. Open the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone or iPad — go to Settings, then Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is on. Then hold the button on the back of AirFly for three seconds until the light blinks white. This puts AirFly into pairing mode.

Within a few seconds, "AirFly" should appear in your Bluetooth list on your phone. Tap it to pair. Your AirPods will automatically connect to AirFly at the same time — you do not have to do anything else on the AirPods side. Once the light on AirFly turns solid white, the pairing is complete.

This first pairing only needs to happen once. After this, your AirPods and AirFly will recognize each other automatically whenever you turn AirFly on.

Connecting AirFly to an older Bluetooth device

Now that AirFly knows your AirPods, it needs to introduce itself to the older device. Turn on the device you want to connect to — the airplane seatback screen, the car stereo, the gym equipment, whatever it is. Look for a Bluetooth pairing button or menu option on that device. The location varies wildly: some devices have a physical button, others hide it in a settings menu, and some require you to hold a button for several seconds.

Once the older device is in pairing mode (usually indicated by a blinking light or an on-screen message), hold the AirFly button again for three seconds. The light will blink white again. The older device should detect AirFly within a few seconds and ask you to confirm the pairing. Select "yes" or "pair" on that device.

When the connection is complete, the light on AirFly will turn solid white again. Your AirPods are now connected to the older device through AirFly. Audio will play through your AirPods, and the older device thinks it is talking to a regular Bluetooth headset.

What to do if the older device does not see AirFly

Some older devices are picky about what they will pair with. If the device does not detect AirFly even though AirFly is in pairing mode, try these steps in order: First, make sure the older device's Bluetooth is actually on — some devices turn it off automatically after a few minutes of inactivity. Second, move AirFly closer to the device; older Bluetooth chips have shorter range. Third, restart AirFly by holding the button for ten seconds until the light goes out, wait five seconds, then try pairing again.

If the device still will not see AirFly, check the device's manual or settings to see if it has a whitelist — a list of devices it will pair with. Some older car stereos and airplane systems only accept pairing from devices on a pre-approved list. In that case, AirFly cannot connect to that particular device, and you would need to use wired headphones or the device's built-in speaker instead.

Switching AirFly between different devices

Once AirFly has paired with your AirPods and with an older device, it remembers both connections. The next time you use it, just turn AirFly on — it will automatically reconnect to your AirPods and to the last device it was paired with.

If you want to switch to a different older device, turn on the new device, put it in pairing mode, and hold the AirFly button for three seconds. AirFly will forget the old device and pair with the new one. Your AirPods stay paired with AirFly the whole time; you only re-pair the older device.

The AirFly Pro model can stay paired with two older devices at once and switch between them without re-pairing. The standard AirFly can only remember one older device at a time, so you have to re-pair each time you switch.

Charging and battery life

AirFly charges via USB-C (on newer models) or micro-USB (on older ones). A full charge takes about two hours and lasts roughly 24 hours of active listening. The light on AirFly will blink red when the battery is low — usually when you have about an hour of use left.

Charge AirFly regularly, especially before travel. If the battery dies while you are using it, AirFly will straightforward disconnect from both your AirPods and the older device. Plug it in, wait for it to charge, and turn it back on to reconnect.

Resetting AirFly if something goes wrong

If AirFly stops responding, will not pair with anything, or keeps disconnecting, a reset usually fixes it. Hold the button for ten seconds until the light goes out completely. Wait five seconds, then turn it back on by pressing the button once. This erases all saved pairings, so you will have to pair it with your AirPods and the older device again from scratch.

Before you reset, make sure AirFly is charged. A reset on a nearly dead battery sometimes fails partway through and leaves AirFly in an unusable state. If that happens, charge it fully and try the reset again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use AirFly with non-Apple headphones?

The standard AirFly only works with AirPods. The AirFly Pro can work with any Bluetooth headphones — it acts as a receiver that translates the older device's signal into modern Bluetooth. If you have non-Apple headphones, the Pro is the right choice.

Will AirFly work on an airplane?

Yes, that is one of its main uses. Airplane seatback screens use older Bluetooth, and AirFly lets you use your AirPods instead of the wired headphones the airline provides. Turn on airplane mode on your phone first, then pair AirFly with the seatback screen. Your AirPods will connect to AirFly even though your phone is in airplane mode.

What if my older device does not have Bluetooth at all?

AirFly only works with devices that have Bluetooth. If a device has only a 3.5mm headphone jack or USB audio, you need a wired adapter instead. AirFly cannot add Bluetooth to a device that does not have it.

Do I have to use my iPhone to pair AirFly, or can I use my iPad or Mac?

You can use any Apple device with Bluetooth and the ability to access Bluetooth settings — iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. The pairing process is the same on all of them. Once AirFly is paired with your AirPods on one device, it will recognize your AirPods from any of your Apple devices.

Why does AirFly disconnect when I walk away from the older device?

Older Bluetooth chips have much shorter range than modern ones — usually 20 to 30 feet in open space, less through walls. If you move too far from the older device, the connection drops. Move closer and it should reconnect automatically within a few seconds.