How to Connect Bluetooth to Dre Beats Headphones

The basic pairing process for Dre Beats

To connect Bluetooth Dre Beats to your phone, tablet, or computer, turn on the headphones, hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the LED light flashes red and blue, then go to your device's Bluetooth settings and select the Beats model from the list. The first time you pair them, this process takes about a minute. After that, your Beats will reconnect automatically when you turn them on and your device's Bluetooth is active.

The exact steps depend slightly on whether you're using an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac, but the core idea is the same: put the Beats into pairing mode, then tell your device to find and remember them. Once paired, you won't need to repeat the pairing process unless you reset the headphones or pair them with a different device.

Key Takeaways

Hold the power button on your Dre Beats for about 10 seconds until the light flashes red and blue, which means they're in pairing mode and ready to connect.
On your phone or computer, open Bluetooth settings, wait for your Beats model to appear in the list, and tap or click it to complete the connection.
After the first pairing, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever both devices have Bluetooth turned on.
If your Beats won't pair, try resetting them by holding the power button for 15 seconds until the light goes out, then start the pairing process again.
You can pair one set of Beats with multiple devices, but they can only play audio from one device at a time.

Pairing Dre Beats with an iPhone or iPad

On an iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it on, then go to Settings > Bluetooth. Make sure your Beats are in pairing mode (flashing red and blue light), and your device will show the model name in the list. Tap the name to connect. Once paired, you'll see a checkmark next to the Beats name, and they'll appear under "My Devices" in Bluetooth settings.

If you have multiple Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account, your Beats may pair with all of them at once. This means audio will play on whichever device you're actively using, but you can also manually switch by going to Control Center and tapping the audio output icon at the top-right of the music player.

Pairing Dre Beats with Android phones

On an Android phone, open Settings, go to Connected Devices or Bluetooth (the exact name varies by phone brand), and turn Bluetooth on. Put your Beats into pairing mode by holding the power button for about 10 seconds until the light flashes red and blue. Your phone will scan and show available devices — tap your Beats model name to pair. You'll see "Connected" appear next to the name when the pairing is complete.

Android phones don't automatically switch audio between devices the way iPhones do. If you pair your Beats with multiple Android devices, you'll need to manually disconnect them from one device before they'll connect to another. To do this, go to Bluetooth settings, find the Beats name, and tap "Forget" or "Unpair," then pair them with the new device.

Pairing Dre Beats with Windows computers

On Windows 10 or 11, click the Windows icon in the bottom-left, go to Settings, then select Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. Turn Bluetooth on, put your Beats into pairing mode (flashing red and blue), and click "Add device." Windows will scan for available Bluetooth devices and show your Beats model in the list. Click it to pair. Once connected, you'll see "Connected" appear under the device name.

Windows computers remember paired Beats and will reconnect automatically when both Bluetooth is on. If you need to disconnect them temporarily without unpairing, right-click the Beats name in Bluetooth settings and select "Disconnect." They'll stay in your device list and reconnect the next time you turn them on.

Pairing Dre Beats with Mac computers

On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), then select Bluetooth. Turn Bluetooth on, put your Beats into pairing mode (flashing red and blue), and wait for your Beats model to appear in the device list. Click "Connect" next to the Beats name. Once paired, you'll see "Connected" appear under the device name.

Macs store paired Beats in their Bluetooth memory, so they'll reconnect automatically when you turn them on and Bluetooth is active. If you want to use your Beats with a different Mac or device, you don't need to unpair them from the first Mac — just put them in pairing mode again and pair with the new device. The Beats will remember both connections and connect to whichever device is closest or most recently used.

What to do if your Beats won't pair or keep disconnecting

If your Beats won't show up in the pairing list, make sure they're actually in pairing mode by holding the power button for 10 seconds and watching for the red and blue flashing light. If the light doesn't flash, the battery may be too low — charge them for at least 15 minutes and try again. Also check that Bluetooth is turned on on your device and that no other Beats are currently paired and in range.

If your Beats pair but then disconnect after a few minutes, try resetting them by holding the power button for 15 seconds until the light goes out completely. Wait 10 seconds, turn them back on, and pair them again with your device. If they still disconnect, the issue may be interference from other wireless devices — move away from Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, or other Bluetooth devices and try pairing in a different location.

If resetting doesn't work, try "forgetting" the Beats from your device's Bluetooth settings and pairing them fresh. On iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to the Beats name, and select "Forget This Device." On Android, go to Bluetooth settings, find the Beats, and tap "Forget" or "Unpair." On Windows or Mac, right-click the Beats name and select "Remove Device" or "Forget." Then put the Beats back in pairing mode and pair them again.

Pairing multiple devices with the same Beats

Dre Beats can be paired with multiple phones, tablets, or computers at the same time, but they can only play audio from one device at a time. This means you can have your Beats connected to both your iPhone and your laptop, and they'll automatically play audio from whichever device you're actively using — as long as both devices support this feature. iPhones and Macs do this automatically, but Android and Windows devices may not.

To pair a second device, straightforward put your Beats into pairing mode again (hold the power button for 10 seconds until the light flashes red and blue) and follow the pairing steps for that device. Your Beats will remember both connections. If you want to remove a device from the pairing list, go to that device's Bluetooth settings, find the Beats name, and select "Forget," "Unpair," or "Remove Device."

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to pair Dre Beats for the first time?

The first pairing usually takes about one to two minutes from the moment you put the Beats into pairing mode until they show up in your device's Bluetooth list and you tap to connect. After that, they'll reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on and Bluetooth is active on your device.

Why do my Beats keep disconnecting from my phone?

Disconnections usually happen because the battery is low, Bluetooth is being interrupted by other wireless devices, or the pairing has become corrupted. Try charging your Beats fully, moving away from Wi-Fi routers and other Bluetooth devices, and then resetting the Beats by holding the power button for 15 seconds. If that doesn't work, forget the Beats from your phone's Bluetooth settings and pair them again from scratch.

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

You can pair your Beats with multiple devices, but they'll only play audio from one at a time. iPhones and Macs will automatically switch audio to whichever device you're actively using, but Android and Windows devices won't. If you want to switch manually, go to your device's Bluetooth settings and select your Beats from the list.

What does the flashing red and blue light mean on my Beats?

The flashing red and blue light means your Beats are in pairing mode and ready to connect to a new device. If the light is solid blue, they're already connected to a device. If the light is off or red only, the battery is low or the Beats are off.

Do I need to pair my Beats every time I use them?

No. After the first pairing, your Beats will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on and your device's Bluetooth is active. You only need to pair them again if you reset the Beats, pair them with a new device, or if the pairing becomes corrupted and you need to forget and re-pair them.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.