The Basic Steps to Pair Your AirPods

To connect your AirPods to your iPhone, open the case near your unlocked phone, wait for the setup screen to appear, and tap Connect. Your AirPods will pair to that iPhone and automatically connect to any other Apple devices signed into the same account — your iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch — without needing to pair them separately each time.

If the setup screen does not appear, open Settings on your iPhone, tap Bluetooth, make sure it is turned on, then look for your AirPods in the list of available devices and tap them. The pairing takes a few seconds. Once paired, your AirPods will reconnect to your iPhone automatically whenever you open the case near the phone.

The first time you pair, make sure both your AirPods are in the case and fully charged. The case itself does not need to be charged for pairing to work, but your AirPods do. If one AirPod is dead, only the charged one will show up in your Bluetooth list.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your AirPods case near your unlocked iPhone and tap Connect on the screen that appears — this is the fastest way to pair for the first time.
  • After the first pairing, your AirPods reconnect automatically whenever you open the case near your iPhone.
  • Your AirPods will also connect to your iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch if they are signed into the same Apple account, without needing separate pairing.
  • If the setup screen does not appear, go to Settings > Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth on, and select your AirPods from the device list.
  • Both AirPods need to be in the case and charged before pairing — if one is dead, only the charged one will appear in Bluetooth settings.

Why Your AirPods Might Not Appear in Bluetooth Settings

If you do not see your AirPods listed in Bluetooth settings, the most common reason is that they are not in pairing mode. Press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the light inside flashes white — this puts your AirPods into pairing mode so your iPhone can find them. Then go back to Settings > Bluetooth and look again.

Another reason is that Bluetooth itself is turned off on your iPhone. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen to open Control Center, and make sure the Bluetooth icon is highlighted in blue. If it is gray, tap it to turn Bluetooth on.

If your AirPods still do not show up after holding the button on the case, try restarting your iPhone. Turn it off completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Then put your AirPods in pairing mode again and check Bluetooth settings.

Connecting to a Different iPhone or Switching Between Devices

If you want to use your AirPods with a different iPhone, open the case near that phone and tap Connect when the setup screen appears. Your AirPods will switch to the new phone and stay connected to it until you pair them with another device.

If you own multiple iPhones or other Apple devices, you can switch which one your AirPods are connected to by going to Settings > Bluetooth on any device, finding your AirPods in the list, and tapping them. Your AirPods will disconnect from whatever they were connected to and reconnect to the device you just tapped.

If you share your AirPods with someone else and want to pair them to their iPhone, have them hold down the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white, then follow the pairing steps on their phone. Your AirPods will now be paired to both iPhones, but will only actively connect to whichever one is closest or was used most recently.

Resetting Your AirPods if Pairing Fails

If your AirPods are already paired to another device and will not pair to your iPhone, you may need to reset them. Hold down the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds, but this time wait until the light flashes amber and then white — this erases all previous pairings. Then follow the normal pairing steps on your iPhone.

Resetting your AirPods will unpair them from every device they were connected to, including your Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch. You will need to pair them again to those devices if you want to use them there. This is useful if your AirPods are stuck trying to connect to an old phone you no longer use.

What to Do if Your AirPods Connect But Sound is Muted or Quiet

If your AirPods are paired but you cannot hear anything, first check the volume on your iPhone — swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center and make sure the volume slider is not all the way down. You can also press the volume up button on the side of your phone to increase it.

Next, make sure the audio is actually playing through your AirPods and not through your iPhone speaker. Open Control Center again, tap the audio card at the top, and look for a list of devices. If your iPhone speaker is listed instead of your AirPods, tap your AirPods to switch the audio output to them.

If sound is still not working, try disconnecting and reconnecting. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your AirPods, and tap Disconnect. Then open your AirPods case near your iPhone and tap Connect again.

Understanding Bluetooth and Why Your AirPods Disconnect Sometimes

Bluetooth is a wireless connection that lets devices talk to each other over a short distance — usually up to 30 feet. Your AirPods use Bluetooth to connect to your iPhone, which is why you need to turn Bluetooth on in Settings for them to work.

Your AirPods may disconnect if you move too far away from your iPhone, if Bluetooth is turned off, or if you open your AirPods case near a different Apple device. They may also disconnect if your iPhone runs out of battery or if another device using the same Bluetooth connection is turned on nearby. This is normal behavior, not a sign that something is broken.

If your AirPods keep disconnecting even when your iPhone is nearby and Bluetooth is on, try resetting them using the method described above. Persistent disconnections can sometimes be fixed by resetting, restarting your iPhone, or updating to the latest version of iOS through Settings > General > Software Update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pair my AirPods to every Apple device I own?

No. Once you pair your AirPods to one Apple device using your Apple account, they automatically appear in Bluetooth settings on your other devices — iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — without needing to pair them again. You can switch between devices by opening Bluetooth settings and tapping your AirPods.

What if I lost one of my AirPods?

You can still use the remaining AirPod by itself — it will work in either ear. If you want to find the lost one, open the Find My app on your iPhone, tap Devices, select your AirPods, and tap Find. The lost AirPod will play a sound to help you locate it, though only if it still has battery.

Can I pair my AirPods to an Android phone?

AirPods are designed for Apple devices and work best with iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You can pair them to an Android phone through Bluetooth settings, but you will lose features like automatic switching between devices and the ability to control them from your phone. For Android, consider earbuds made specifically for Android.

Why do my AirPods connect to my old iPhone instead of my new one?

Your AirPods remember all the devices they have been paired with and will try to connect to whichever one is closest or was used most recently. To make them prefer your new iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth on your new phone, tap the information icon next to your AirPods, and tap Forget This Device on your old iPhone. Then pair them fresh to your new phone.

Do I need to charge the AirPods case to use my AirPods?

No. The case charges your AirPods when they are inside it, but the case itself does not need to be charged for you to use the AirPods. However, if the case is not charged, your AirPods will only hold a charge for a few hours instead of the full 24 to 30 hours they normally last.