The basic pairing process

To connect AirPods to your iPhone, open the AirPods case near your phone with the lid up. Your iPhone will detect them automatically and show a setup screen. Tap Connect, then tap Done when the pairing is complete. That's the standard path for new AirPods or AirPods you've never paired before.

If you don't see the setup screen, unlock your iPhone and go to Settings > Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is on. Open your AirPods case with the lid up and hold it near your phone for about 10 seconds. Your AirPods should appear in the list of available devices. Tap them to connect.

Once paired, your AirPods will reconnect to that iPhone automatically whenever Bluetooth is on and you open the case nearby. You don't need to repeat the setup process each time.

Key Takeaways

  • New AirPods show a setup screen automatically when you open the case near your iPhone — just tap Connect and you're done.
  • If the setup screen doesn't appear, turn on Bluetooth in Settings and hold the open AirPods case near your phone for about 10 seconds, then tap the AirPods name in the Bluetooth list.
  • After the first pairing, your AirPods reconnect on their own whenever you open the case and Bluetooth is on.
  • If your AirPods won't connect, restart your iPhone, forget the AirPods in Bluetooth settings, and pair them again from scratch.

What to do if the setup screen doesn't appear

The automatic setup screen only works the first time you pair new AirPods. If you're pairing used AirPods or AirPods that were previously connected to another device, you won't see that screen. Instead, go directly to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone and look for your AirPods in the available devices list.

If your AirPods don't show up in the Bluetooth list at all, make sure the case lid is open and hold it within a few inches of your phone for at least 10 seconds. The AirPods need to be in pairing mode, which they enter automatically when the case is open and they haven't been paired to a device recently. If they still don't appear, try restarting your iPhone and repeating the process.

Reconnecting AirPods to a different iPhone

If you want to connect your AirPods to a different iPhone, open the case near that new phone with Bluetooth on. The setup screen should appear if the AirPods haven't been paired to this device before. If it doesn't, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap your AirPods in the available devices list.

Your AirPods can be paired to multiple iPhones at once, but they will only connect to one device at a time. When you open the case near a different iPhone, they'll switch to that phone if Bluetooth is on. To prevent this automatic switching, you can unpair them from one device before pairing to another. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and select Forget This Device.

Fixing connection problems

If your AirPods connect but then disconnect, or won't stay connected, start by restarting your iPhone. Hold down the power button until you see the shutdown slider, swipe to power off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. This fixes most temporary connection glitches.

If restarting doesn't work, forget the AirPods and pair them again. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and select Forget This Device. Then open your AirPods case near your iPhone and pair them as if for the first time. This clears out any corrupted pairing data.

If your AirPods still won't connect after restarting and re-pairing, check that Bluetooth is actually on in Settings. Also make sure your iPhone's software is current — go to Settings > General > Software Update to check. Outdated software sometimes causes Bluetooth problems.

Checking your connection status

Once your AirPods are connected, you can see their battery level and connection status in a few places. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top right of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones). You'll see a battery icon showing the charge level of your AirPods and the case.

For more detail, go to Settings > Bluetooth and look at your AirPods in the list. If they show a checkmark next to them, they're currently connected. Tap the info icon to see the battery level of each earbud and the case separately.

Pairing AirPods with multiple Apple devices

If you have an iPhone, iPad, and Mac, you can pair your AirPods to all of them. They'll remember each device and switch between them automatically based on which one you're actively using. The first time you pair them to a new device, follow the same steps: open the case near that device with Bluetooth on and tap Connect.

After the initial pairing, your AirPods will switch devices seamlessly when you start using a different Apple device. For example, if you're listening to music on your iPhone and then open your Mac, the AirPods will switch to the Mac automatically. This works because all your devices are signed into the same Apple ID.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won't my AirPods show up in Bluetooth settings?

Make sure the case lid is open and hold it near your iPhone for at least 10 seconds. The AirPods need to be in pairing mode, which they enter when the case is open. If they still don't appear, restart your iPhone and try again. If the AirPods have been paired to another device recently, you may need to forget them from that device first.

Can I use one AirPod while the other charges?

Yes. You can use a single AirPod while the other stays in the case charging. Your iPhone will route audio to whichever AirPod is in your ear. When the one in your ear runs low, swap it with the charged one from the case.

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

No. Once paired, your AirPods reconnect automatically whenever you open the case and your iPhone's Bluetooth is on. You only pair them once, the first time you set them up.

What if my AirPods are connected but I can't hear anything?

Check the volume on your iPhone — swipe down from the top right to open Control Center and adjust the volume slider. Also make sure the AirPods are actually selected as your audio output. In Control Center, tap and hold the audio card at the top, then tap the AirPods name to switch to them if they're not already selected.

Can I connect my AirPods to my iPhone and another phone at the same time?

Your AirPods can be paired to multiple devices, but they only connect to one at a time. If you want to use them with both an iPhone and an Android phone, you'll need to forget them from one device and re-pair to the other. They can't switch between iOS and Android automatically the way they switch between Apple devices.