How to connect AirPods to iPhone: all models and solutions (2026)

Key points

• To connect the AirPods, open the charging case next to the iPhone, tap "Connect" and follow the on-screen instructions.
• When signed in to iCloud, the AirPods are automatically set up on your other devices using the same Apple Account.
• If the setup animation does not appear, connect the AirPods manually in Settings > Bluetooth.
• If they still will not connect, reset the AirPods and set them up again.

In this article

1. How to connect AirPods to iPhone for the first time
2. If the setup animation does not appear
3. Which iOS version each model requires
4. How to connect AirPods Max to iPhone
5. How to switch AirPods to another Apple device
6. Switch manually
7. Disable automatic switching
8. How to connect AirPods to an Android phone or another Bluetooth device
9. AirPods won't connect to iPhone: what to do
10. Restart the AirPods
11. Forget the AirPods and reconnect
12. Reset the AirPods
13. Common issues and solutions
14. Only one AirPod is working
15. One AirPod sounds quieter than the other
16. The microphone is not working
17. How to update AirPods firmware
18. The charging case will not charge
19. Frequently asked questions
20. How long does the AirPods battery last?
21. Can I use an AirPod from another pair?
22. Do AirPods work with an iPhone that does not have the latest iOS?
23. How do I know which AirPods model I have?
24. Conclusion

How to connect AirPods to iPhone for the first time

Before you begin, update the iPhone to the latest version of iOS. Then:

1. Go to the iPhone Home Screen.
2. With the AirPods inside the charging case, open the lid and hold the case next to your iPhone.
3. Wait for the setup animation to appear on the screen.
4. Tap "Connect".
5. Follow the on-screen instructions and tap "Done".

If you are signed in to iCloud, the AirPods will be set up automatically on other compatible devices using the same Apple Account, such as an iPad or Mac.

If the setup animation does not appear

Set up the AirPods manually:

1. With the AirPods inside the charging case, open the lid.
2. On AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white. On other models, press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
3. Open Settings > Bluetooth.
4. When the AirPods appear in the list, select them.

Which iOS version each model requires

These versions are for pairing and using the AirPods. To have all features, the iPhone must have the latest version of iOS.

Used AirPods: if the AirPods previously belonged to someone else, they must first remove them from their Apple account. Only then can you pair them with yours.

How to connect AirPods Max to iPhone

AirPods Max are set up outside the Smart Case:

1. Go to the iPhone home screen.
2. Take the AirPods Max out of the Smart Case and, within the next 60 seconds, hold them next to your iPhone until the setup animation appears.
3. Tap "Connect" and then "Done".

If the animation does not appear, press and hold the noise control button for about 5 seconds until the status light flashes white. Then select your AirPods Max in Settings > Bluetooth.

How to switch AirPods to another Apple device

AirPods 2, 3 and 4, all AirPods Pro and all AirPods Max switch automatically between iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro. For this you need:

• all devices updated to the latest operating system version;
• signed in on all with the same Apple Account, with two-factor authentication.

For example, if you are listening to music on your Mac and start playing a podcast on your iPhone, the AirPods switch to the iPhone. During a phone call, a FaceTime call or a video conference, the audio should not switch devices.

Switch manually

On iPhone, tap the AirPlay button on the Now Playing screen, the Lock Screen or in Control Centre and choose the AirPods. The AirPods only appear in the list when they are nearby and ready to use.

Disable automatic switching

1. With the AirPods in your ears and connected to your iPhone, open Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the information button next to your AirPods.
3. Tap "Connect to This iPhone" and choose the option for the last connection to this iPhone.

To re-enable, choose "Automatically".

How to connect AirPods to an Android phone or another Bluetooth device

On a non-Apple device, AirPods work as Bluetooth headphones: you can listen and talk, but you cannot use Siri, and Apple advises that functionality is limited.

1. On the device, open Bluetooth settings and confirm that Bluetooth is on. On an Android phone, Apple indicates the path Settings > Connections > Bluetooth.
2. With the AirPods in the charging case, open the lid.
3. On AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white. On other models, press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
4. When the AirPods appear in the list of Bluetooth devices, select them.

On a Windows PC, the steps are the same: open the computer's Bluetooth settings and select the AirPods when they appear.

AirPods won't connect to iPhone: what to do

Follow this order, which is the one Apple recommends:

1. Update the iPhone in Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Charge the AirPods. Place them in the charging case and confirm that both are charging.
3. Confirm that Bluetooth is active in Settings > Bluetooth. Tapping the Bluetooth button in Control Centre only disconnects the iPhone from devices; it does not turn Bluetooth off.
4. Test the connection. Put the AirPods in your ears, open Control Centre and tap the AirPlay button. If the AirPods appear, select them, play audio and confirm the volume is high enough.
5. Re-pair. If they do not appear or will not connect, place the AirPods in the case, close the lid, wait 15 seconds and open it. Follow the manual pairing steps described above and hold the open case next to the iPhone until you see the on-screen steps.
6. Reset the AirPods if they still will not connect (see below).

Restart the AirPods

• AirPods and AirPods Pro: place them in the case and close the lid for at least 10 seconds.
• AirPods Max: on the right ear cup, press and hold the Digital Crown and the noise control button simultaneously until the status light flashes amber (about 10 seconds), then release the buttons. If you hold them for more than 10 seconds, the AirPods Max will reset to factory settings.

Forget the AirPods and reconnect

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the information button next to the AirPods.
3. Tap "Forget This Device" and confirm.
4. Reconnect the AirPods as if it were the first time.

This action removes the AirPods from all devices signed in with the same Apple Account.

Reset the AirPods

Resetting also restores the AirPods' custom settings. You will then need to set them up again.

AirPods 1, 2 or 3 and AirPods Pro 1 or 2:

1. Place the AirPods in the case, close the lid and wait 30 seconds.
2. On the iPhone, forget the AirPods in Settings > Bluetooth, if they appear in the list.
3. Open the lid and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the status light flashes amber then white.

AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3:

1. Place the AirPods in the case, close the lid and wait 30 seconds.
2. On the iPhone, forget the AirPods in Settings > Bluetooth if they appear in the list.
3. Open the lid. With the status light on, double-tap the front of the case. Double-tap again when the light flashes white and a third time when it flashes faster.
4. Wait for the status light to flash amber then white.

AirPods Max: on the right ear cup, hold the Digital Crown and the noise control button until the status light changes from amber to white (about 15 seconds).

If the status light does not flash white, place the AirPods in the case, close the lid for 20 seconds and repeat the reset. Then open the lid next to your iPhone and follow the on-screen steps to reconnect them.

Common issues and solutions

Only one AirPod is working

1. Confirm that the charging case is fully charged and clean the case's charging port.
2. Place both AirPods in the case and let them charge for 30 seconds.
3. Open the case next to your iPhone and check on the screen that each AirPod is charging.
4. Put the non-working AirPod in your ear, leave the other in the case and close the lid. Play audio to test it.
5. If it works, put both back in the case for 30 seconds and test them together. If one still has no sound, reset the AirPods.

One AirPod sounds quieter than the other

• If your AirPods have ear tips, remove them. Check the microphone and speaker mesh on each AirPod and, if there is debris, clean the AirPods.
• Open Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual and scroll down to "Balance". Confirm that the slider is in the centre.

The microphone is not working

Each AirPod has a microphone. By default, either one acts as the microphone, and if you are using only one AirPod, that one picks up your voice. To confirm the setting:

1. With the AirPods in your ears and connected, open Settings and tap the AirPods name.
2. Tap "Microphone". If it does not appear, tap "Audio & Routing" first.
3. Choose "Automatically Switch AirPods", "Always Left AirPod" or "Always Right AirPod".

With "Always Left AirPod" or "Always Right AirPod", that AirPod acts as the microphone even when out of your ear or in the case. If the microphone seems not to be working, check that you have not selected the AirPod you are not using.

How to update AirPods firmware

Make sure your AirPods have the latest firmware. Updates install automatically while the AirPods are charging near your iPhone, with the iPhone connected to a Wi-Fi network. To check the version, open Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information button next to your AirPods, and scroll down to the "About" section.

To force an update:

1. Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network and ensure your AirPods are connected via Bluetooth.
2. Connect the charging case to power, place the AirPods inside, and close the lid.
3. Leave the case near your iPhone for at least 30 minutes.
4. Open the lid to reconnect the AirPods and verify the version.

If they still do not update, reset the AirPods and try again.

The charging case will not charge

• Place the AirPods in the case, close the lid, and connect it with a Lightning or USB-C cable, depending on the case model. Leave it to charge for at least 15 minutes.
• Check that the cable is firmly connected to the case and the USB power adapter, and that the adapter is plugged into a working socket.
• On a Qi-compatible charger, place the case with the status light facing up. The light should illuminate for a few seconds. If it does not, reposition the case. If it still will not charge, use a cable.
• Clean the case charging port to remove any debris.
• If nothing works, reset the AirPods.

With the AirPods inside and the lid open, the status light shows the charge level: green when fully charged, amber when there is less than one full charge remaining.

If the issue persists after these steps, request a diagnostic from Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does the AirPods battery last?

It depends on the model. For AirPods Pro 2, Apple states up to 6 hours of listening time on a single charge (up to 5.5 hours with Spatial Audio and head tracking enabled) and up to 30 hours with the charging case. 5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time. Battery life depends on settings, environment and usage.

To check the charge on iPhone, open the case lid, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the information button next to your AirPods. iPhone will alert you when the charge reaches 20, 10 and 5 per cent.

Can I use an AirPod from another pair?

If the AirPods in the case are from different generations or belong to someone else, you may receive a "AirPods Mismatch" or "Different AirPods" alert. If you have lost an AirPod, you can request a replacement from Apple Support and set it up with your case.

Do AirPods work with an iPhone that does not have the latest iOS?

Yes, provided the iPhone has the minimum version for your model (see the table above). To access all features, update to the latest version of iOS.

How do I know which AirPods model I have?

Open Settings > Bluetooth and tap the information button next to the AirPods to view the model number. You will also find it on the underside of each AirPod, starting with the letter A. On AirPods Max, it is located behind the left ear cushion. Compare that number with the list on the Apple Support "Identify your AirPods" page.

Conclusion

Pairing AirPods with an iPhone is a one-time process: from then on, they connect to your Apple devices using the same Apple Account. If they fail, follow Apple's recommended order: update the iPhone, charge the AirPods, confirm Bluetooth is on, re-pair, and finally reset. If you are looking for AirPods, iOutlet refurbished models come with 24 months warranty.

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