The basic connection process
Beats Studio headphones connect to your phone, computer, or tablet through Bluetooth, the same wireless standard you learned about in the pairing guide. The process takes about two minutes the first time, then your device remembers the headphones and reconnects automatically when both are turned on.
Start by turning on your Beats Studio headphones. Look for the power button on the left ear cup — press and hold it for about three seconds until you see the LED light flash red and blue. This flashing pattern means the headphones are in pairing mode and searching for a device to connect to.
On your phone, tablet, or computer, open the Bluetooth settings. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth. On Android, go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth. On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. On Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth.
Key Takeaways
- Beats Studio headphones enter pairing mode when you hold the power button for three seconds until the LED flashes red and blue.
- Your device will list "Beats Studio" in the Bluetooth menu once the headphones are in pairing mode, and you tap the name to complete the connection.
- After the first connection, your headphones and device remember each other and reconnect automatically when both are powered on.
- If your headphones do not appear in the Bluetooth list, try holding the power button for ten seconds to fully reset the pairing mode.
- Beats Studio headphones can connect to only one device at a time, so you must disconnect from one device before pairing with another.
Finding your headphones in the Bluetooth menu
Once your Beats Studio are in pairing mode, they will appear in your device's Bluetooth list within a few seconds. The name will show as "Beats Studio" — not a serial number or generic label. Tap or click on that name to start the connection.
Your device will then send a pairing request to the headphones. You do not need to confirm anything on the headphones themselves — the connection happens automatically once you select them from the list. The LED on the left ear cup will stop flashing and turn solid blue, which means the pairing is complete.
This entire process from turning on the headphones to hearing audio through them usually takes less than two minutes. If the headphones do not appear in your Bluetooth list after thirty seconds, try holding the power button for ten seconds to reset them and start over.
Reconnecting to devices you have already paired
After your first connection, your Beats Studio will remember your phone, computer, or tablet. The next time you turn on the headphones, they will automatically search for the last device they were connected to. If that device has Bluetooth turned on, the connection happens without any action from you.
You will know the connection is active when the LED on the left ear cup turns solid blue. At that point, audio from your device will play through the headphones. This automatic reconnection works as long as both devices are within about thirty feet of each other and Bluetooth is enabled on your device.
If you want to connect to a different device, turn off Bluetooth on the current device first, then turn on Bluetooth on the new device. The headphones will search for a device to connect to and will find the one you just activated. This prevents the headphones from trying to reconnect to your phone when you want to use them with your computer instead.
Connecting to multiple devices and switching between them
Beats Studio headphones can pair with multiple devices — your phone, tablet, and computer can all have the headphones in their Bluetooth memory. However, the headphones can only play audio from one device at a time. When you want to switch which device is using the headphones, you need to disconnect from one before connecting to the other.
The easiest way to switch is to turn off Bluetooth on the device you were just using, then turn on Bluetooth on the device you want to use next. The headphones will automatically connect to the new device within a few seconds. If both devices have Bluetooth on at the same time, the headphones will stay connected to whichever one they paired with most recently.
If you find yourself switching between devices frequently, you can also manually disconnect by going into your Bluetooth settings and selecting "Forget" or "Unpair" next to the Beats Studio listing. The next time you want to use those headphones with that device, you will need to go through the pairing process again, but it will be faster the second time because your device already knows the headphones' Bluetooth address.
Troubleshooting when the headphones will not appear
If your Beats Studio do not show up in your device's Bluetooth list, the most common cause is that they are not actually in pairing mode. The LED should be flashing red and blue — if it is solid blue, the headphones are already connected to another device. If the LED is off, the battery may be dead.
Try this sequence: turn off the headphones completely by holding the power button for five seconds until the LED goes dark. Wait ten seconds, then hold the power button again for three seconds. Watch for the red and blue flashing pattern. If you still do not see it after thirty seconds, the headphones may need to charge for at least fifteen minutes before they have enough battery to enter pairing mode.
If the LED is flashing but the headphones still do not appear in your Bluetooth list, try restarting your device's Bluetooth. On most phones and tablets, turn Bluetooth off in settings, wait five seconds, then turn it back on. On computers, you may need to restart Bluetooth from the system settings or restart the computer itself. Then try putting the headphones in pairing mode again.
What to do if the headphones keep disconnecting
"Disconnecting" means the Bluetooth connection drops while you are using the headphones, even though both devices are still powered on and in range. This is different from the headphones turning off or the battery dying. If this happens, the problem is usually interference or a weak Bluetooth signal.
Move your device and headphones closer together — Bluetooth works best within about ten to fifteen feet. If you are in an office or apartment with many other Bluetooth devices nearby, try moving to a different room. Microwaves, Wi-Fi routers, and cordless phones can also interfere with Bluetooth signals, so moving away from those devices may help.
If disconnections keep happening in the same location, try "forgetting" the headphones from your device's Bluetooth settings and pairing them again from scratch. Sometimes the pairing information gets corrupted, and starting over fixes the problem. After you forget them, put the headphones back in pairing mode and select them again from your Bluetooth list.
Checking battery level and charging
Beats Studio headphones have a built-in battery that powers the Bluetooth connection. When the battery is low, the LED will flash red instead of staying solid blue. You can also check the battery level on your device — most phones and tablets show the headphone battery percentage in the Bluetooth settings or in the Control Center.
To charge the headphones, connect the USB-C cable that came with them to the charging port on the left ear cup. The LED will turn red while charging and turn solid blue when fully charged, which usually takes about two hours. You can use the headphones while they are charging, but the connection may be less stable if the battery is very low.
If your headphones will not hold a charge or will not turn on even after charging for several hours, the battery may be damaged. In that case, you will need to contact Beats support or visit an Apple Store, since the battery is not user-replaceable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Beats Studio keep connecting to my old phone instead of my new one?
The headphones connect to whichever device they paired with most recently. If both devices have Bluetooth on, they will try to reconnect to the old phone. Turn off Bluetooth on the old phone, or go into its Bluetooth settings and select "Forget" next to Beats Studio. Then turn on Bluetooth on your new phone and put the headphones in pairing mode again.
Can I use Beats Studio with multiple devices at the same time?
No. The headphones can only play audio from one device at a time, even if they are paired with multiple devices. To switch, turn off Bluetooth on the current device or manually disconnect in the Bluetooth settings, then the headphones will connect to the other device.
What does it mean if the LED is flashing red?
A flashing red LED means the battery is low and the headphones need to charge soon. A flashing red and blue pattern means the headphones are in pairing mode and ready to connect to a new device. If the LED is solid red, the headphones may be in a low-battery state or experiencing an error.
Do I have to pair my Beats Studio every time I use them?
No. After the first pairing, your device remembers the headphones. When you turn on the headphones and your device has Bluetooth enabled, they reconnect automatically. You only need to pair again if you forget the headphones from your device's Bluetooth settings or if you are connecting to a completely new device.
Why is the sound cutting out even though the headphones are connected?
Cutting out usually means the Bluetooth signal is weak or being interrupted. Move closer to your device, away from Wi-Fi routers or microwaves, and make sure nothing is blocking the signal between the headphones and your device. If it keeps happening, try forgetting the headphones and pairing them again from scratch.