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How to Pair AirPods with an iPhone, Mac, Windows PC, or Android

Turn on Bluetooth, put AirPods into pairing mode with the control for your model, and select them on your iPhone, Mac, Windows PC, or Android device.
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To pair AirPods, turn on Bluetooth on the device, put the AirPods in pairing mode, then choose them from the device’s setup prompt or Bluetooth list. The pairing gesture depends on the AirPods model: some cases have a rear button, newer cases use a double-tap on the front, and AirPods Max use a listening-mode button.

How to pair AirPods with an iPhone?

  1. On your iPhone, open Settings > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth.
  2. For AirPods or AirPods Pro, put both earbuds in the case and open its lid near the iPhone. For AirPods Max, take them out of the Smart Case and hold them near the iPhone within 60 seconds.
  3. When the setup animation appears, follow its instructions and tap Done.

If the animation does not appear, put the AirPods in pairing mode using the model-specific instructions below, then select them in Settings > Bluetooth. Apple recommends using the latest iOS or iPadOS. An internet connection can help make Find My features available during setup; it is not required for basic Bluetooth pairing. See Apple’s AirPods pairing guide for Apple devices.

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How do I connect AirPods to my Mac?

  1. On your Mac, open System Settings > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth.
  2. Put the AirPods into pairing mode. The required control varies by model; see the pairing-control guide below.
  3. When the AirPods appear in the Bluetooth device list, select them and click Connect.

If the AirPods are already set up with an iPhone and your Mac uses the same Apple Account, they may connect automatically. If they do not, pair them manually through Bluetooth. See Apple’s Apple-device instructions.

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How do I pair AirPods with a Windows PC?

  1. Turn on Bluetooth in your Windows Bluetooth settings.
  2. Put the AirPods into pairing mode with the control for your model.
  3. Choose the AirPods from the PC’s Bluetooth device list and follow any prompts.

Windows uses the standard Bluetooth discovery flow for a non-Apple device. The exact Windows menu labels can vary by version; Apple’s non-Apple pairing guide does not specify a Windows-version-specific Settings path. The guide is available at Apple Support.

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Can I connect AirPods to Android?

  1. Turn on Bluetooth on the Android phone. One example path is Settings > Connections > Bluetooth; menu names can vary by phone.
  2. Put the AirPods into pairing mode.
  3. Select them when they appear in the Bluetooth device list.

On Android and other non-Apple devices, AirPods work as a Bluetooth headset for listening and talking, but Siri is unavailable. Apple describes this in its non-Apple device pairing guide.

Which pairing control do my AirPods use?

Use the control that matches your model. For case-based models, the status light flashes white when the AirPods are in pairing mode.

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AirPods model Pairing control
AirPods 1, 2, or 3; AirPods Pro 1 or 2 Put both earbuds in the case and open the lid. Press and hold the setup button on the back for about five seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
AirPods 4 or 5; AirPods Pro 3 Put both earbuds in the case and open the lid. Double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white.
AirPods Max Press and hold the listening-mode button for about five seconds, or until the status light flashes white.

AirPods Max do not use a charging-case setup button. Newer case designs use a front double-tap instead of a rear button. Apple’s Apple-device guide and non-Apple guide describe the model-specific steps.

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Why won’t my AirPods connect?

Work through these checks in order, following Apple’s AirPods connection troubleshooting instructions:

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  1. Update the operating system on the device you are trying to connect.
  2. Put both AirPods in the charging case and check that they are charging.
  3. Check that Bluetooth is turned on.
  4. If the device says the AirPods are connected but audio still comes from its speakers, select the AirPods as the audio output and test playback. Check the device volume too.
  5. Put both earbuds in the case, close the lid for 15 seconds, then open it and try pairing again.
  6. If they still will not connect, reset the AirPods and repeat the pairing steps. On an iPhone or iPad, the pairing gesture after resetting depends on the model; on a Mac, use manual Bluetooth pairing.

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