How to Connect Your Beats Pill Speaker to an iPhone

The basic steps to pair your Beats Pill

Turn on your Beats Pill by pressing and holding the power button on the back until the LED light flashes. On your iPhone, go to Settings, then Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is switched on. Your Beats Pill should appear in the list of available devices — tap it to connect. The speaker will remember your iPhone after the first pairing, so future connections happen automatically when both devices are nearby and Bluetooth is on.

The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Once connected, you'll see a small Bluetooth icon next to the battery percentage at the top of your iPhone screen, and audio will play through the speaker instead of your phone's built-in speakers.

Key Takeaways

Press and hold the power button on the back of your Beats Pill until the LED flashes, which means it's in pairing mode.
On your iPhone, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, turn it on, and select your Beats Pill from the list of devices.
After the first pairing, your iPhone will automatically connect to the speaker whenever Bluetooth is on and both devices are in range.
If your Beats Pill doesn't appear in the Bluetooth list, restart both the speaker and your iPhone, then try again.

What to do if your Beats Pill won't show up

If you don't see your Beats Pill in the Bluetooth list, the speaker may not be in pairing mode. Press and hold the power button for a full 5 to 10 seconds — you should see the LED light flash white or blue. If it's already on but not flashing, turn it off completely, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on and hold the power button again.

If the speaker still doesn't appear, restart your iPhone. Go to Settings, tap General, scroll down to Shut Down, slide to power off, wait 30 seconds, then press the side button to turn it back on. Once your iPhone restarts, go back to Bluetooth settings and look for the Beats Pill again. This fixes most connection problems.

Reconnecting after the initial pairing

Your iPhone stores the Beats Pill's information after you pair it once, so you don't have to go through the full pairing process every time. Simply turn on the speaker and make sure Bluetooth is on in your iPhone settings — the connection should happen within a few seconds.

If your iPhone doesn't automatically connect, open Bluetooth settings and tap the Beats Pill name manually. If the speaker is already listed but won't connect, tap the information icon next to its name and select "Forget This Device," then repeat the pairing steps from the beginning.

Switching the Beats Pill between devices

The Beats Pill can only play audio from one device at a time, but it remembers multiple devices. If you want to use it with a different iPhone, iPad, or Mac, turn off Bluetooth on the device currently connected, then turn on Bluetooth on the new device. The speaker will connect to the new device automatically if it's already paired.

If you're switching between devices frequently and the speaker isn't connecting, put the Beats Pill back into pairing mode by holding the power button for 5 to 10 seconds until the LED flashes. Then select it from the Bluetooth list on the new device. You can have up to 8 devices paired with one Beats Pill, though only one can play audio at a time.

Checking battery and connection status

The LED light on your Beats Pill tells you its battery level and connection status. A solid white light means it's fully charged and connected. A flashing white light means it's in pairing mode. A red light means the battery is low — usually below 20 percent. When the battery is critically low, the light will flash red.

You can also check the battery level on your iPhone. Once the speaker is connected, swipe down from the top right corner of your screen to open Control Center, and you'll see the Beats Pill battery percentage listed under the Bluetooth section. Charge the speaker using the USB-C cable that came with it — a full charge typically takes about 2 hours.

Troubleshooting audio that won't play

If your Beats Pill is connected but no sound comes out, check the volume on both your iPhone and the speaker itself. On your iPhone, use the volume buttons on the side or go to Settings and drag the volume slider up. On the Beats Pill, press the plus button on the top to increase volume — you should hear a tone confirming the adjustment.

If volume is turned up on both devices and you still hear nothing, disconnect the speaker from Bluetooth and reconnect it. Go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, find the Beats Pill, tap the information icon, and select "Forget This Device." Then hold the power button on the speaker for 5 to 10 seconds until it flashes, and pair it again from your iPhone's Bluetooth settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Beats Pill with multiple iPhones at the same time?

No, the speaker plays audio from only one device at a time. However, you can pair it with up to 8 different iPhones, and it will automatically connect to whichever one you turn Bluetooth on for first. If two iPhones have Bluetooth on nearby, the speaker connects to the one it paired with most recently.

Why does my Beats Pill keep disconnecting from my iPhone?

Disconnections usually happen when Bluetooth is turned off, the speaker moves out of range (typically beyond 30 feet), or the battery is very low. Check that Bluetooth is on in your iPhone settings and that the speaker's battery isn't critically low. If disconnections keep happening even when devices are close together, restart both the iPhone and the speaker.

Do I need to unpair my Beats Pill before selling or giving it away?

Yes, you should remove it from your Bluetooth settings before handing it over. On your iPhone, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, find the Beats Pill, tap the information icon, and select "Forget This Device." This removes your pairing information and lets the new owner pair it fresh with their own device.

What if my Beats Pill is already paired to another device and won't connect to my iPhone?

Turn off Bluetooth on the other device first, or move it far away from the speaker. Then try connecting your iPhone. If that doesn't work, put the Beats Pill into pairing mode by holding the power button for 5 to 10 seconds until the LED flashes, then select it from your iPhone's Bluetooth list.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.