How to Connect to AirFly: A Complete Setup Guide

The Twelve South AirFly is a compact Bluetooth transmitter that bridges a common gap: it lets you use wireless headphones — including AirPods — with devices that only have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Think airplane entertainment systems, gym equipment, older TVs, or Nintendo Switch in docked mode. Connecting it sounds simple, but the process has enough variables that it trips people up the first time.

Here's how it works and what affects whether your connection goes smoothly.

What AirFly Actually Does

AirFly plugs into any 3.5mm audio output and transmits that audio signal via Bluetooth to your wireless headphones. It doesn't receive Bluetooth — it sends it. That distinction matters: AirFly is always the transmitter, and your headphones are always the receiver.

Some AirFly models (like the AirFly Pro and AirFly Duo) also work in reverse as a Bluetooth receiver, letting you stream audio from your phone to a wired speaker system. This dual-mode functionality adds a pairing step that confuses some users.

Step-by-Step: How to Connect AirFly to Your Headphones

1. Plug In the AirFly

Insert the AirFly into the 3.5mm headphone jack of your source device — a seatback screen, treadmill, TV, or similar. The device needs to be on and outputting audio for the connection to feel responsive during testing.

2. Put AirFly Into Pairing Mode

On most AirFly models:

• Press and hold the button on the AirFly until the LED blinks rapidly (typically white or alternating colors)
• This indicates it's in pairing/discovery mode
• If it connects automatically to a previously paired device, you may need to hold the button longer to force a new pairing session

3. Put Your Headphones Into Pairing Mode

Your Bluetooth headphones also need to be discoverable. For AirPods:

• Open the case with AirPods inside
• Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the light flashes white

For other headphones, the process varies — most use a long press of the power button or a dedicated pairing button.

4. Wait for the Connection

Once both devices are in pairing mode, they should find each other within a few seconds. A solid LED on the AirFly typically confirms a successful connection. Some models emit a tone or chime.

5. Test the Audio

Play audio on the source device. If you hear it through your headphones, the connection is live. If not, check that the volume isn't muted on the source device — a common miss.

AirFly Model Differences That Affect Setup 🎧

Not all AirFly devices work identically. The model you have determines what's possible.

If you're trying to share audio between two pairs of headphones, you need the Pro or Duo. If you're trying to use AirFly as a receiver (to play phone audio through a car stereo, for example), you need the Pro specifically.

Common Connection Problems and Why They Happen

AirFly Not Showing Up in Bluetooth Settings

AirFly doesn't appear in your phone's Bluetooth settings during transmit mode — because your phone isn't involved. The connection is between AirFly and your headphones directly. If you're looking for it in Settings, that's the wrong place to look.

Previously Paired Headphones Won't Reconnect

AirFly stores pairing memory. If you've used different headphones with it since, it may have overwritten the stored device. Re-pair from scratch using the steps above.

Audio Lag or Sync Issues ✈️

Bluetooth audio always introduces some latency — typically 40–200ms depending on the codec and headphone hardware. On airplane screens or video content, this can cause audio to feel slightly out of sync with video. The AirFly itself doesn't have active lip-sync correction; how noticeable the delay is depends heavily on your specific headphones and their Bluetooth chip.

Weak or Dropping Signal

AirFly has a relatively short effective range — generally around 30–33 feet in open conditions, but walls, interference from other Bluetooth devices, and the density of the environment all reduce this in practice. On a crowded plane with dozens of active Bluetooth signals, performance can be inconsistent.

Charging and Battery Considerations

Most AirFly models have an internal battery. If the unit isn't powering on, check charge level — the LED typically indicates low battery with a specific blink pattern. The USB-C AirFly draws power directly from the host device's port, so battery isn't a factor in that version.

The Receiver Mode Setup (AirFly Pro Only)

If you want to flip the function — streaming from your phone to a wired speaker or car stereo — the AirFly Pro handles this differently:

• Switch the Pro to receive mode (usually via a toggle or button combination per the manual)
• Plug AirFly into the audio input of your speaker or stereo
• Pair your phone to AirFly via Bluetooth, the same way you'd connect to any Bluetooth speaker

In this mode, your phone does appear in the Bluetooth device list, and AirFly acts as the bridge into the wired system.

What Shapes Your Experience

How well AirFly works for you comes down to a handful of variables: which model you have, what Bluetooth codec your headphones support, how much wireless interference exists in your environment, and whether you need one connection or two simultaneous ones. The setup steps are consistent — but the outcome varies meaningfully across those factors.