You can connect two AirPods to the same device, but only one pair plays audio at a time

Apple's standard pairing system allows you to connect multiple AirPods to a single iPhone, iPad, or Mac. However, audio will only play through whichever pair you select in your Bluetooth settings. If you want both pairs to play sound simultaneously — so two people can listen together — you'll need to use audio sharing, a feature built into iOS 13.1 and later.

The process differs depending on whether you want to switch between pairs or have both playing at once. Most people use the switching method for convenience: connect both pairs, then pick which one to use. Audio sharing is simpler if you're sitting next to someone and want to share a movie, song, or podcast without passing headphones back and forth.

Key Takeaways

  • You can pair as many AirPods as you want to one device, but only one pair will play audio unless you use audio sharing.
  • To switch between two pairs, go to Settings > Bluetooth, find each pair in the list, and tap to connect the one you want to use.
  • Audio sharing lets both pairs play the same audio at the same time and requires both AirPods to be within Bluetooth range and charged.
  • Audio sharing works with AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods (2nd generation and later), and AirPods (3rd generation), but not the original AirPods.
  • If a pair won't connect, forget it from Bluetooth settings and re-pair it by holding the setup button on the case until the light flashes white.

How to pair a second pair of AirPods to your device

Start with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac unlocked and Bluetooth turned on. Open the case of the second AirPods pair — the ones already connected will stay connected. Hold the new AirPods case near your device until a setup card appears on screen, then tap "Connect." Your device will add the new pair to its Bluetooth list.

If no setup card appears, open Settings, go to Bluetooth, and look for the new AirPods in the list of available devices. Tap the name to connect. Both pairs are now paired to your device, but only one will play audio at any given time.

You can repeat this process to add a third, fourth, or more pairs. Your device will remember all of them, so next time you open the case of any pair near your phone, it will recognize them instantly.

Switching between two pairs of AirPods

Once both pairs are paired, switching is straightforward. Open Control Center on your device — swipe down from the top right on iPhone or iPad, or click the Bluetooth icon on Mac. Look for the audio output section, which shows a speaker icon. Tap or click it to see all connected audio devices, then select the pair you want to use.

Alternatively, go to Settings > Bluetooth on any device. You'll see a list of all paired AirPods. Tap the name of the pair you want to connect, and audio will route to that pair within seconds. The pair you were using before will disconnect automatically.

This method works instantly and doesn't require any special setup. The downside is that only one person can listen at a time — if you want both pairs playing the same audio, use audio sharing instead.

Using audio sharing to play sound through both pairs at once

Audio sharing is built into iOS 13.1 and later. Both AirPods must be compatible: AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods (2nd generation or later), or AirPods (3rd generation). The original AirPods do not support this feature.

Start playing audio on your device — a song, video, podcast, or anything else. Open Control Center and tap the audio output icon (the speaker with sound waves). You'll see your current AirPods listed. Tap "Share Audio" or look for a plus icon next to your AirPods name. Hold the second pair of AirPods close to your device. A prompt will appear asking if you want to share audio with that pair. Tap "Share" and both pairs will play the same audio at the same volume.

Either person can adjust the volume independently using their own AirPods controls. To stop sharing, open Control Center again, tap the audio output icon, and select "Stop Sharing" or tap one of the pairs to disconnect it.

What to do if the second pair won't connect

If your second AirPods don't appear in Bluetooth settings or won't stay connected, the fastest fix is to forget them and re-pair. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, find the AirPods in the list, tap the info icon (i) next to the name, and select "Forget This Device." Confirm by tapping "Forget" again.

Now hold the setup button on the back of the AirPods case for about 15 seconds until the status light flashes white. This resets the AirPods to factory settings. Hold the case near your device, and the setup card should appear. Tap "Connect" to pair them fresh.

If they still won't connect, make sure Bluetooth is on, your device's software is up to date, and the AirPods case has enough battery. Restart your device if the problem persists. If one AirPod in the pair isn't working, the issue is usually with that individual earbud rather than the pairing — try resetting just that earbud by holding it against the reset button inside the case.

Pairing two AirPods on Mac or iPad

The process is identical on Mac and iPad. On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, then "Open Bluetooth Preferences." On iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth. In both cases, you'll see a list of available devices. Hold the new AirPods case nearby, and they'll appear in the list. Click or tap to connect.

To switch between pairs on Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and select the pair you want. On iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the pair name. Audio sharing works the same way: open Control Center, tap the audio output icon, and select "Share Audio" when prompted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use audio sharing with one pair of AirPods and one pair of Beats headphones?

No. Audio sharing only works between two pairs of compatible AirPods. If you want to share audio with a different brand of headphones, you'll need to use a third-party app or manually switch the audio output between devices.

Will both pairs play at the exact same volume?

Yes, they start at the same volume when you enable audio sharing. However, each person can adjust their own volume independently using the controls on their AirPods or in Control Center without affecting the other pair.

What happens if one pair of AirPods runs out of battery during audio sharing?

Audio will continue playing through the remaining pair. When you turn the dead pair back on and they reconnect, you can re-enable audio sharing to include them again.

Can I connect two AirPods to my phone and one to my iPad at the same time?

Yes. Each device maintains its own Bluetooth connection to the AirPods. You can have one pair connected to your phone and another to your iPad simultaneously. To switch a pair between devices, disconnect it from one and reconnect it to the other through Bluetooth settings.

Do both pairs of AirPods need to be the same model?

No. You can pair AirPods Pro with AirPods (3rd generation), or mix any compatible models. The only requirement for audio sharing is that both pairs support the feature — which rules out only the original AirPods.