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To pair AirPods 4 with an iPhone or iPad, turn on Bluetooth, open the case with the earbuds inside, and hold it near the device; then follow the setup prompt. To connect them manually to a Mac or Windows PC, open the case and double-tap its front until the light flashes white, then select AirPods in the device’s Bluetooth settings.
Pair AirPods 4 with an iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth on.
- Return to the Home Screen. With both AirPods in the case, open the case and hold it near your iPhone or iPad.
- When the setup animation appears, follow the onscreen instructions to finish pairing.
Apple recommends using a device with current iOS or iPadOS. A Wi-Fi or cellular connection is needed during pairing to access Find My features. See Apple’s AirPods setup instructions.
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If the setup animation does not appear
- Keep both earbuds in the open case.
- Double-tap the front of the case and wait until the status light flashes white. This puts AirPods 4 into pairing mode.
- On the iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Bluetooth and select AirPods when they appear in the device list.
Connect AirPods 4 to a Mac
If you already set up AirPods 4 with an iPhone and your Mac uses the same Apple Account, they may connect automatically. Put the AirPods in your ears, open Control Centre from the menu bar, choose Sound, and select AirPods if they are not already selected.
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To pair them directly, open System Settings > Bluetooth on the Mac and make sure Bluetooth is on. Open the AirPods case with both earbuds inside, double-tap the front until the status light flashes white, then select AirPods from Nearby Devices and connect. Apple documents the case-pairing method and Mac setup in its guide to setting up AirPods with a Mac and other Bluetooth devices.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation | Bluetooth Headphones, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio, USB-C Charging Case, Wireless Charging, H2 Chip
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation help reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse yourself in what you’re listening to.*
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — The powerful H2 chip comes to AirPods 4. Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency mode — which lets you comfortably hear and interact with the world around you exactly as it sounds — to provide the best listening experience in any environment.* And when you’re speaking with someone nearby, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — Voice Isolation improves the quality of calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
Pair AirPods 4 with a Windows PC
- Open the PC’s Bluetooth settings and turn Bluetooth on.
- With both earbuds in the case, open the lid and double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white.
- Choose AirPods from the PC’s available Bluetooth devices and complete the connection prompt, if one appears.
Windows menu names and steps can vary by version. Apple’s instructions cover pairing with non-Apple Bluetooth devices generally rather than Windows-specific screens. Once connected, AirPods can be used to listen and talk; Siri is unavailable on non-Apple devices. See Apple’s Bluetooth-device instructions.
What changes between Apple and Windows devices?
| Setup detail | iPhone or iPad | Mac | Windows PC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual setup | Open the case near the device and follow the setup animation. | Select AirPods in Sound or pair through Bluetooth settings. | Select AirPods from the PC’s available Bluetooth devices. |
| Manual pairing mode | Double-tap the case front until the light flashes white, then select AirPods in Bluetooth settings. | Double-tap the case front until the light flashes white, then select AirPods in Nearby Devices. | Double-tap the case front until the light flashes white, then select AirPods in Bluetooth settings. |
| Account integration | Apple setup flow. | May connect automatically when AirPods were set up on an iPhone and the Mac uses the same Apple Account. | Bluetooth selection; Apple Account automatic connection is not described for Windows. |
| Siri | Apple-device features are available according to setup and device configuration. | Apple-device features are available according to setup and device configuration. | Siri is unavailable on non-Apple devices. |
Apple says AirPods can switch automatically among supported Mac, iPhone, and iPad software configurations when signed in to the same Apple Account. That account-based convenience is separate from initial Bluetooth pairing; it does not replace selecting AirPods in Bluetooth settings when manual setup is needed.
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Bestseller No. 5
Best Value
Apple AirPods 5 Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION—AirPods 5 offer improved Active Noise Cancellation to help reduce outside noise, at their best value yet.
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU—Adaptive Audio blends Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency for the best listening experience in any environment.* Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing if you start talking.*
- LIVE TRANSLATION—Communicate across languages using Live Translation, enabled by Apple Intelligence.*
- NEW SIRI AI—Get more done every day with hands-free access to an even more powerful and personalized AI assistant on your iPhone.* Ask open-ended questions, brainstorm, and have full conversations.
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY—Next-generation Adaptive EQ for better sound quality. Voice Isolation improves call quality in loud conditions,* using advanced computational audio to reduce background noise and clarify your voice.
Rank #4
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation with AppleCare+ (2 Years)
- WHY APPLECARE+ - Get protection, service and support direct from Apple. AppleCare+ covers unlimited repairs for accidental damage, like a cracked display, and includes coverage for the hardware and battery. Get convenient service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers around the world or Express Replacement Service so you don’t have to wait for a repair. Help is easy with 24/7 priority tech support from Apple experts.
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation help reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse yourself in what you’re listening to.*
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — The powerful H2 chip comes to AirPods 4. Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency mode — which lets you comfortably hear and interact with the world around you exactly as it sounds — to provide the best listening experience in any environment.* And when you’re speaking with someone nearby, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — Voice Isolation improves the quality of calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
Rank #3
Sale
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation | Live Translation, Heart Rate Sensing, Hearing Aid Feature, Bluetooth Headphones, Spatial Audio, USB-C Charging
- WORLD’S BEST IN-EAR ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2* so you can stay fully immersed in the moment.*
- BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO PERFORMANCE — Experience breathtaking, three-dimensional audio with AirPods Pro 3. A new acoustic architecture delivers transformed bass, detailed clarity so you can hear every instrument, and stunningly vivid vocals.
- HEART RATE SENSING — Built-in heart rate sensing lets you track your heart rate and calories burned for up to 50 different workout types.* With iPhone, you will have access to the Move ring, step count, and the new Workout Buddy,* powered by Apple Intelligence.*
- LIVE TRANSLATION — Communicate across language barriers using Live Translation,* enabled by Apple Intelligence.*
- EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge. Or up to 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature.*
Rank #2
Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds | Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat & Water Resistant, USB-C Charging Case, H2 Chip
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- PERSONALIZED SPATIAL AUDIO — Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you, creating a theater-like listening experience for music, TV shows, movies, games, and more.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — AirPods 4 feature the Apple-designed H2 chip. Voice Isolation improves the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
- LONG BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge. And get up to 30 hours of total listening time using the case.*
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