The basic connection process

Connecting Beats by Dre headphones to your phone, computer, or tablet takes about two minutes the first time, then happens automatically when you turn them on near that device afterward. The headphones use Bluetooth, which means they broadcast a signal that your device picks up and remembers.

Start by turning on your Beats headphones. Most models have a power button on the ear cup or the side of the headband. You'll see a light flash — usually white or red — which means the headphones are in pairing mode and looking for a device to connect to. This pairing mode lasts about 15 minutes, so you have time to find your device and start the connection.

On your phone or computer, open the Bluetooth settings. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth on. On Android, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Bluetooth (the exact path varies by phone brand). On Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth. On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Bluetooth. Your device will show a list of Bluetooth devices nearby.

Look for your Beats model in that list — it will show the name like "Beats Solo 3" or "Beats Studio Pro" — and tap or click it. Your device will connect, and you'll hear a tone or see a confirmation message. That's it. The next time you turn on those headphones near the same device, they'll connect automatically without you doing anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn on your Beats headphones and look for the flashing light that shows they are in pairing mode, which lasts about 15 minutes.
  • Open Bluetooth settings on your phone, computer, or tablet, turn Bluetooth on, and select your Beats model from the list of nearby devices.
  • Once connected the first time, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on near that same device.
  • If your Beats don't appear in the list, make sure they are in pairing mode and that your device's Bluetooth is actually on, not just the settings page open.
  • You can connect the same Beats to multiple devices, but they will only play audio from one device at a time.

What to do if the headphones don't show up

If you open Bluetooth settings and your Beats don't appear in the list, the most common reason is that they are not actually in pairing mode. The flashing light is the sign that pairing mode is active. If the light is steady or off, hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until you see the light flash again, usually in white.

The second most common issue is that Bluetooth on your device is off. Check that the Bluetooth toggle in your settings is actually switched on — sometimes the settings page opens but Bluetooth is still disabled. If Bluetooth is on and your Beats still don't show up after 30 seconds, turn Bluetooth off and back on again on your device, then look at the list again.

If you've already connected these Beats to a different device, they might still be trying to connect to that other device instead. Turn off Bluetooth on the other device, or move far enough away that the Beats can't reach it. Then try pairing with your current device again.

Connecting to a second device

You can pair the same Beats headphones to multiple devices — your phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop can all be in the Beats' memory. However, the headphones will only play audio from one device at a time. When you want to switch which device is playing, you usually just start playing audio on the device you want to hear from, and the Beats will switch over automatically.

To add a second device to your Beats, put the headphones in pairing mode again by holding the power button for about 10 seconds until the light flashes. Then open Bluetooth settings on the new device and select your Beats from the list, just like the first time. The headphones will now remember both devices.

Some Beats models have a limit on how many devices they can remember — usually around 8 devices. If you've paired with many devices and want to remove an old one, you'll need to "forget" the Beats from that device's Bluetooth settings, then put the Beats back in pairing mode and pair them again with a device you want to keep.

Reconnecting after you've already paired

Once you've connected your Beats to a device, they will automatically reconnect the next time you turn them on, as long as Bluetooth is on and you're within range (usually about 30 feet). You don't need to do anything — just turn on the headphones and they'll find the device they remember.

If your Beats don't reconnect automatically, first check that Bluetooth is turned on on your device. Then turn the Beats off and back on. If they still don't connect, open your Bluetooth settings and look for your Beats in the list. If they appear, tap or click them to reconnect manually. If they don't appear, they may have lost the pairing — put them in pairing mode again and select them from the list as if it were the first time.

Occasionally, a Beats device will disconnect and refuse to reconnect even though Bluetooth is on. The fastest fix is to "forget" the Beats from your device's Bluetooth settings, then put the Beats in pairing mode and pair them again from scratch. This usually takes less than a minute and solves the problem.

Connecting Beats to a Mac or Windows computer

The process is the same on a computer as on a phone, but the settings location is different. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, go to System Settings, click Bluetooth, make sure Bluetooth is on, then wait for your Beats to appear in the list and click them. On Windows 10 or 11, click the Start menu, go to Settings, click Bluetooth & Devices, make sure Bluetooth is on, and wait for your Beats to appear in the list and click them.

After you've connected once, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on and your computer's Bluetooth is on. If you have both a phone and a computer, your Beats will remember both, but they'll only play audio from one at a time. If you're playing music on your phone and then open a video on your computer, the audio will usually switch to the computer automatically.

Some older Beats models may have trouble staying connected to a computer if the computer goes to sleep. If your Beats disconnect when your computer sleeps, try turning off the computer's sleep mode, or manually reconnect the Beats when you wake the computer up.

Resetting your Beats if nothing works

If your Beats won't pair with any device, won't stay connected, or keep disconnecting, a full reset usually fixes the problem. The reset process varies by model, but for most Beats, you hold down the power button and the volume down button at the same time for about 10 to 15 seconds until you see the light flash red and white. This erases all the devices your Beats remember and returns them to factory settings.

After a reset, your Beats will be in pairing mode automatically. Open Bluetooth settings on your device, find your Beats in the list, and connect them as if it were the first time. You'll need to pair them with each device again, but they should work normally after that.

Check the manual or the Beats website for your specific model if the button combination doesn't work, because some older or newer models use different button combinations. The manual usually comes as a PDF read on the product page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Beats keep disconnecting from my phone?

Disconnections usually happen because something is interfering with the Bluetooth signal, your phone's Bluetooth is turning off, or the pairing has become corrupted. Try moving closer to your phone, turning Bluetooth off and back on, or forgetting the Beats from your phone's Bluetooth settings and pairing them again from scratch. If the problem continues, do a full reset of the Beats.

Can I use my Beats with two devices at the same time?

No. Beats headphones can remember multiple devices, but they only play audio from one device at a time. If you're playing music on your phone and then start a video on your computer, the audio will switch to whichever device you started using most recently, or you can manually switch by opening Bluetooth settings and selecting the device you want.

How do I know if my Beats are in pairing mode?

The light on your Beats will flash, usually in white or red. If the light is steady or off, hold the power button for about 10 seconds until you see it flash. Pairing mode lasts about 15 minutes, so you have time to find your device and open Bluetooth settings.

What if I forgot which device my Beats are paired to?

Put your Beats in pairing mode by holding the power button for about 10 seconds until the light flashes. Then open Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use. Your Beats should appear in the list of available devices. Click or tap them to connect, and they'll pair with that device even if they were paired to something else before.

Do I need to charge my Beats before I can pair them?

Your Beats need enough battery to turn on and enter pairing mode, which usually requires at least 5 to 10 percent charge. If your Beats won't turn on, charge them for at least 15 minutes, then try pairing again.