Connecting AirPods to Mac, iPhone, and other devices

Excited to use your Apple AirPods®, AirPods Pro®, or AirPods Max®? The pairing process is a breeze, so you’ll be taking calls and enjoying your favorite tunes in a flash. At Asurion, we assist millions in maximizing their tech experience. Whether you need to locate a misplaced laptop or halt bothersome texts on your phone, we ensure your beloved devices run smoothly round the clock. Here are our expert tips for linking AirPods or AirPods Pro with your iPhone®, Android™, Mac®, Apple Watch®, or PC laptop.

Pairing your AirPods for the first time? You can easily sync wireless earbuds with your iPhone. Here’s how:

Make sure you’re running the latest version of iOS®.
Go to the Home screen.
With your AirPods in the charging cradle, open the cradle and hold it next to your iPhone. A setup animation appears.
Tap Pair.
If you have AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd generation), read and scroll through the next three screens.
If you have AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or AirPods (2nd or 3rd generation) and you’ve set up Hey Siri® on your iPhone, it’s ready to use with your AirPods. If you haven’t set up Hey Siri, follow the setup prompts.
Tap Done.

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How to connect AirPods to your Mac

Before you sync your AirPods to your MacBook® or iMac®, check to make sure your computer has the operating system you need:

AirPods (1st generation) require macOS® Sierra or a later version.
AirPods (2nd generation) require macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or a later version.
AirPods (3rd generation) require macOS Monterey or a later version.
AirPods Pro require macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or a later version.

If your Mac is signed in to iCloud® and you’ve already paired your AirPods and iPhone, your AirPods should automatically sync with other devices registered with the same Apple® ID. Here’s how to check if your Mac is good to go:

Place your AirPods in your ears.
Go to the menu bar on your Mac and click either the Bluetooth® menu or Volume control.
Choose AirPods from the list.

If AirPods doesn’t appear as an option in the menu bar, try this:

Select System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click Bluetooth.
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
Put both AirPods in the charging case, then open the lid.
Press and hold the Setup button on the back of the case until the status indicator light flashes white.
Select AirPods from the devices list, then click Connect.

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How to connect your AirPods to your Apple Watch

To connect your AirPods to your Apple Watch, just follow these easy steps:

Start by making sure your AirPods are charged and inside their case, with the lid open.
Hold the AirPods case near your Apple Watch.
On your Apple Watch, press the Digital Crown to go to the Home screen, then open the Settings app.
In Settings, scroll and tap on Bluetooth.
Once your AirPods appear on the watch’s Bluetooth list, tap on them to pair. If your AirPods don’t appear in the list of devices, put them into pairing mode. Do this by pressing and holding the button on the back of the AirPods case until the white light starts blinking.

Once connected, your AirPods seamlessly link with your Apple Watch when within range and removed from their case. This configuration enables you to effortlessly indulge in music, handle calls, and interact with Siri directly from your wrist.

Guide on seamlessly switching AirPods across Apple devices.

To enable seamless audio switching between your AirPods and devices, such as transitioning from music on your computer to taking a phone call, follow these steps. Ensure both your iPhone and Mac are updated to the latest operating system versions and that you are signed in to both devices with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication. With these settings in place, your AirPods (2nd or 3rd generation) or AirPods Pro will seamlessly switch between your devices.

Occasionally with macOS Big Sur or later, you’ll get a notification about your AirPods on your Mac screen. Click Connect to confirm that you want your AirPods to either switch or stay with your Mac.

If you want to turn off automatic switching, here’s how:

Turn off AirPods automatic switching on your iPhone

Make sure your AirPods are in your ears and connected to your iPhone.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
Tap the Info button next to your AirPods.
Tap Connect to this iPhone.
Tap When last connected to this iPhone.
To turn automatic switching back on, tap Automatic.

Turn off AirPods automatic switching on your Mac

Make sure your AirPods are in your ears and connected to your Mac.
Go to the Apple menu and click System Preferences > Bluetooth.
Click the Options button next to AirPods in the list of devices.
Under the Connect to this Mac menu, select When last connected to this Mac.
To re-enable automatic switching, click Automatic.

How to connect AirPods to your Android

While you can pair AirPods with non-Apple gadgets for audio and phone calls, features like Siri and automatic device switching are limited. Here’s how to configure your AirPods with an Android smartphone or tablet:

Go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth.
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
With your AirPods in the charging cradle, hold them near your device and open the lid.
Press and hold the Setup button on the back of the case until the status light blinks white.
Select AirPods from the list of devices.

How to connect AirPods to your PC or laptop

You can also use your AirPods as a Bluetooth headset with your PC or non-Mac laptop, but you can’t use Siri or automatically switch between devices. To connect:

Open the Start menu, then click Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & Other Devices.
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
With your AirPods in the charging case, hold them near your computer and open the lid.
Press and hold the Setup button on the back of the case until the status light blinks white.
Select AirPods from the list of devices.

For those needing more than one pair of AirPods, it’s possible to connect two pairs to your devices. Explore our detailed guide for seamless instructions.