The basic process: pairing your AirPods Pro for the first time
To connect AirPod Pros to a device, you put them in pairing mode and then select them from your device's Bluetooth settings. The first time you pair them, open the case near an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Android phone and a setup screen appears automatically — tap "Connect" and you're done in seconds. After that first pairing, your AirPods Pro remember that device and connect whenever you open the case nearby.
If you're pairing to a device that's not an Apple product, or if the automatic setup screen doesn't appear, you'll need to enter pairing mode manually. Hold the button on the back of the AirPods Pro case for about 15 seconds until the light flashes white. Then go to your device's Bluetooth settings, find "AirPods Pro" in the list, and tap it to connect.
Once connected, your AirPods Pro stay paired to that device unless you unpair them or they run out of battery for an extended period. You can have them paired to multiple devices at once — they'll connect to whichever one you're actively using.
Key Takeaways
- On your first pairing with an Apple device, a setup screen appears automatically when you open the case nearby — just tap "Connect".
- For non-Apple devices or if the automatic screen doesn't appear, hold the back button on the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white, then select AirPods Pro in Bluetooth settings.
- Your AirPods Pro can be paired to multiple devices at the same time and will connect to whichever one you're actively using.
- After the first pairing, your AirPods Pro connect automatically whenever you open the case near a paired device.
Connecting to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Apple devices make the pairing process nearly automatic. Open your AirPods Pro case and hold it within a few inches of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. A white setup card appears on your screen with an image of the AirPods and a "Connect" button. Tap or click that button, and the pairing completes in a few seconds. Your device may ask you to name the AirPods or choose which features you want to use — you can skip these or fill them in depending on your preference.
If the setup card doesn't appear, make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your device's settings. On iPhone and iPad, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon. On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Once Bluetooth is on, open the AirPods case again and the setup card should appear.
After your first pairing, opening the case near any of your Apple devices automatically connects the AirPods Pro to whichever device you're actively using. If you want to switch between devices manually, go to Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use and tap your AirPods Pro in the list.
Connecting to an Android phone or other non-Apple devices
Android phones and other Bluetooth devices don't show the automatic setup card, so you'll need to put your AirPods Pro in pairing mode manually. Hold the button on the back of the AirPods Pro case for about 15 seconds. The light on the front of the case will flash white — this means pairing mode is active and your AirPods Pro are ready to connect.
On your Android phone, open Settings and go to Bluetooth (the exact path varies by phone model, but it's usually under "Connected devices" or "Connections"). Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. You should see "AirPods Pro" appear in the list of available devices. Tap it to connect. The pairing usually takes a few seconds, and you'll see a confirmation message once it's complete.
Some Android devices may ask you to confirm the pairing a second time or enter a PIN code. If a code appears on your screen, just tap "Confirm" or "OK" — you don't need to type anything. Once paired, your AirPods Pro will connect to that Android phone whenever you open the case nearby, just as they do with Apple devices.
What to do if your AirPods Pro won't connect
If your AirPods Pro don't appear in your device's Bluetooth list, first check that the case has enough battery. Open the case and look at the small light on the front — if it's red or not lighting up at all, the case needs to charge. Plug it into a USB-C cable for at least 15 minutes. If the light is amber or green, the case has battery and your AirPods Pro should have power too.
Next, try putting your AirPods Pro back in pairing mode. Hold the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white. Then try connecting again from your device's Bluetooth settings. If you still don't see them in the list, restart your device — turn it off completely and turn it back on, then try pairing again.
If your AirPods Pro were previously paired to another device, they might be trying to connect to that device instead. Go to the Bluetooth settings on the old device and "forget" or "unpair" the AirPods Pro. Then put them in pairing mode again and connect to your new device. This clears up most connection problems.
Switching between multiple paired devices
Your AirPods Pro can stay paired to several devices at once. When you open the case near a device you're actively using — like unlocking your iPhone or opening a web page on your Mac — the AirPods Pro automatically connect to that device. This works smoothly if you're switching between your phone and laptop throughout the day.
If you want to manually switch which device your AirPods Pro are connected to, go to the Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use and tap your AirPods Pro in the list. They'll disconnect from the previous device and connect to the new one. On Apple devices, you can also hold down the volume control on your AirPods Pro to see which device they're connected to and switch from there.
To remove a device from your AirPods Pro's paired list entirely, go to that device's Bluetooth settings, find "AirPods Pro," and choose "Forget" or "Unpair." This is useful if you sell a device or want to clean up your pairing list. You can always pair them again later by putting them in pairing mode.
Resetting your AirPods Pro if nothing else works
If your AirPods Pro still won't connect after trying the steps above, a full reset may help. Put both AirPods back in the case and close it. Hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds — keep holding even after the light flashes white. Keep holding until the light flashes amber and white alternately. This takes about 30 seconds total. Release the button and wait a few seconds.
Your AirPods Pro are now reset to factory settings and have forgotten all their previous pairings. Open the case near your device and follow the pairing steps for your device type (automatic setup for Apple devices, manual pairing mode for Android). The reset clears out any software glitches that might have been preventing connection.
After a reset, you'll need to pair your AirPods Pro to all your devices again. This is a last resort, but it solves most persistent connection problems. If they still won't connect after a reset, there may be a hardware issue and you should contact Apple Support.
Understanding Bluetooth and why pairing matters
Bluetooth is a wireless connection standard that lets devices talk to each other over short distances — usually up to 30 feet. Your AirPods Pro use Bluetooth to send audio from your phone, computer, or tablet to the earbuds. Unlike WiFi, Bluetooth doesn't need an internet connection; it's a direct link between two devices.
Pairing is the process of telling two Bluetooth devices they're allowed to connect to each other. The first time you pair your AirPods Pro to a device, that device remembers them and they remember it. After that, they recognize each other and connect automatically when they're nearby and both turned on. This is why you only have to go through the setup process once per device.
Pairing is also a security feature — it prevents random Bluetooth devices from connecting to your phone without permission. When you put your AirPods Pro in pairing mode, you're temporarily making them visible to any nearby device so you can select them. Once paired, only devices that already know about them can connect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my AirPods Pro with multiple devices at the same time?
Your AirPods Pro can be paired to multiple devices, but they can only play audio from one device at a time. When you open the case near a device you're actively using, they automatically connect to that device and disconnect from the previous one. You can manually switch between paired devices through Bluetooth settings if you want to control which one they're connected to.
Why do my AirPods Pro keep disconnecting?
Disconnections usually happen because the case battery is low, Bluetooth is turned off on your device, or the AirPods Pro are trying to connect to a different paired device. Check that your case has battery (look at the light color), make sure Bluetooth is on, and try forgetting the AirPods Pro from other devices if you're not using them. If disconnections continue, try a full reset.
Do I need WiFi to connect my AirPods Pro?
No. Bluetooth is a separate wireless technology that doesn't need internet. Your AirPods Pro connect directly to your device over Bluetooth whether or not you have WiFi turned on. You only need internet if you're streaming music from a service like Spotify or Apple Music, but the connection between your device and the AirPods Pro itself is Bluetooth-only.
What's the difference between pairing and connecting?
Pairing is a one-time setup where two devices learn about each other and agree to connect in the future. Connecting is what happens each time they link up after that. You pair once, then your AirPods Pro connect automatically every time you open the case near that device. If you forget the AirPods Pro from a device, you have to pair them again.
Can I pair my AirPods Pro to a Windows computer?
Yes. Put your AirPods Pro in pairing mode by holding the back button for 15 seconds until the light flashes white. On your Windows computer, go to Settings, then Devices, then Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on and wait for "AirPods Pro" to appear in the list. Click it to connect. The process is the same as with Android phones.