The basic process: forget, then pair again

To connect AirPods to a new device, you need to break the connection to the old one first, then put the AirPods into pairing mode so the new device can find them. This takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you're moving to an iPhone, Mac, iPad, or Android phone.

The reason you have to do this: AirPods remember the last device they connected to and will try to reconnect to it automatically. If you just turn on Bluetooth on a new device, the AirPods will ignore it and keep looking for the old one. Forgetting the AirPods on the old device tells them to stop expecting that connection.

You don't need to unpair from the old device if you're moving to another Apple device on the same iCloud account — they can share the connection. But if you're switching to a different brand, a different person's phone, or a device not linked to your account, you'll need to go through the full forget-and-pair process.

Key Takeaways

  • Forgetting AirPods on the old device stops them from trying to reconnect to it, which is required before they'll pair with a new one.
  • Putting AirPods into pairing mode means holding the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the light flashes white, not amber.
  • On the new device, you open Bluetooth settings, wait for AirPods to appear in the list, tap them, and confirm the pairing.
  • If AirPods don't appear in the Bluetooth list after 30 seconds, they may still be connected to the old device — forget them there first and try again.

Step 1: Forget the AirPods on the old device

On iPhone or iPad: Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, tap the info icon (circle with an i), and select "Forget This Device". Confirm when prompted. Close Settings.

On Mac: Open System Settings, click Bluetooth in the sidebar, find your AirPods, click the three dots next to them, and select "Remove". Confirm.

On Android: Open Settings, go to Connected Devices or Bluetooth (the exact path varies by phone brand), find your AirPods, tap them, and select "Forget" or "Unpair". Confirm.

After you forget them, the AirPods will no longer try to reconnect to that device. You can now move to the new device.

Step 2: Put AirPods into pairing mode

Hold the small button on the back of the AirPods case for about 15 seconds. You'll see the light on the front of the case start flashing — first amber, then white. When it turns white and keeps flashing, the AirPods are in pairing mode and ready to connect to a new device.

The light flashing amber means the AirPods are still connecting or have a low battery. If the light stays amber and doesn't turn white after 20 seconds, put the AirPods back in the case, close the lid, wait 10 seconds, and try again.

Keep the case open and near the new device while you do this. You don't need to hold the button down the whole time — just press and hold until the light changes color, then let go.

Step 3: Connect on the new device

On iPhone, iPad, or Mac: Open Settings (or System Settings on Mac), tap or click Bluetooth, and wait a few seconds. Your AirPods should appear in the list with a name like "James's AirPods" or just "AirPods". Tap or click them. A popup will ask you to confirm — tap "Connect" or just wait a moment and they'll connect automatically.

On Android: Open Settings, go to Bluetooth or Connected Devices, make sure Bluetooth is turned on, and wait for your AirPods to appear in the list. Tap them to connect. Some Android phones will ask you to confirm the pairing — if so, tap "Pair" when prompted.

The AirPods will connect within a few seconds. You'll hear a chime in the AirPods when the connection is successful. The Bluetooth icon should appear in your device's status bar.

What to do if AirPods don't appear in the list

If you don't see your AirPods in the Bluetooth list after 30 seconds, they may still be trying to connect to the old device. Go back to the old device, open Bluetooth settings, and make sure the AirPods are actually forgotten — sometimes the forget command doesn't go through on the first try. Tap forget again and wait 10 seconds.

Then go back to the new device, make sure Bluetooth is on, and check the list again. If the AirPods still don't appear, put them back in the case, close the lid, wait 15 seconds, and repeat step 2 — hold the button on the back of the case until the light flashes white.

If the light won't turn white and stays amber, the battery may be too low. Put the AirPods in the case and charge them for at least 15 minutes, then try again.

Connecting to multiple devices without forgetting

If you have an iPhone, iPad, and Mac all linked to the same iCloud account, you don't need to forget the AirPods to switch between them. Just open Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use, and the AirPods will connect automatically. They'll remember all three devices and switch between them based on which one you're actively using.

This automatic switching only works within Apple's ecosystem. If you want to use the same AirPods with an Android phone, a Windows computer, or someone else's device, you'll need to forget them on the Apple devices first, then pair them with the new device using the steps above.

Pairing AirPods Pro or AirPods Max

AirPods Pro and AirPods Max use the same pairing process as standard AirPods. Hold the button on the back of the case (for Pro) or the Digital Crown on the side (for Max) for 15 seconds until the light flashes white, then follow step 3 above on your new device.

The main difference is that AirPods Pro have a smaller button that's easier to miss, and AirPods Max have a larger case. The principle is identical: forget on the old device, put into pairing mode, then connect on the new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to forget AirPods on the old device before pairing with a new one?

Yes, unless both devices are Apple products on the same iCloud account. If you're switching to a different brand, a different person's account, or a non-Apple device, you must forget them on the old device first. Otherwise the AirPods will keep trying to reconnect to the old one and won't show up in the new device's Bluetooth list.

What does the white flashing light mean?

White flashing means the AirPods are in pairing mode and ready to connect to a new device. Amber flashing means they're still connecting or the battery is low. If the light stays amber after 20 seconds, put them back in the case and try again.

Can I use the same AirPods with both an iPhone and an Android phone?

Yes, but you'll need to forget them on the iPhone before pairing with Android, and forget them on Android before going back to iPhone. AirPods work with Android via standard Bluetooth, but they won't automatically switch between Apple and non-Apple devices the way they do between iPhones and Macs.

How long does it take to pair AirPods with a new device?

The whole process takes about two minutes. Forgetting on the old device takes 30 seconds, putting them in pairing mode takes 15 seconds, and connecting on the new device takes another 30 seconds to a minute.

What if I lose the AirPods case?

You can still pair individual AirPods without the case, but you won't be able to put them into pairing mode using the button on the back of the case. If you've already forgotten them on all devices, you'll need the case to pair them again. If they're still connected to one device, you can forget them there and pair with a new device normally.