How to Connect AirFly: A Complete Setup Guide for Wireless Audio
The Twelve South AirFly is a small Bluetooth transmitter designed to solve a specific problem: getting wireless audio from a device that only has a headphone jack. If you want to use AirPods or any Bluetooth headphones on an airplane seatback screen, an old stereo, or a gym treadmill, AirFly acts as the bridge. Connecting it correctly takes only a few steps — but knowing why each step matters helps you troubleshoot when things don't go exactly as expected.
What AirFly Actually Does
AirFly plugs into a 3.5mm audio output and broadcasts that audio over Bluetooth to your wireless headphones or earbuds. It doesn't require an app, a Wi-Fi network, or any account setup. It's entirely self-contained.
There are several versions — including models that support single-device audio and others that support dual simultaneous connections (useful for sharing audio with a travel companion). Understanding which version you have matters before you start pairing, because the button behavior and pairing logic differ slightly between models.
Step-by-Step: How to Connect AirFly
1. Plug In and Power On
Insert the AirFly's 3.5mm connector into the headphone output of the source device — an airplane entertainment port, a treadmill's audio jack, a speaker system, or similar. Most models power on automatically when plugged in. If yours has a dedicated power button, press and hold it until the LED indicator lights up.
The LED color and blink pattern tell you the current state. A flashing white or blue light typically means the device is in pairing mode. A solid light usually means it's actively connected. Refer to the LED guide in your specific model's documentation, as light behavior varies across AirFly generations.
2. Put AirFly Into Pairing Mode
If AirFly is not already in pairing mode after powering on, press and hold the main button for several seconds until the light begins blinking rapidly. This signals that it's discoverable by Bluetooth devices.
On the AirFly Pro (the dual-connection model), pairing mode works similarly but you'll pair two devices in sequence — first one, then the other — before both are simultaneously connected.
3. Pair Your Bluetooth Headphones
Open your Bluetooth settings on your phone, tablet, or pair your headphones directly:
- For AirPods: Open the case near AirFly, press the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white, then AirPods will appear as a discoverable device in any Bluetooth pairing interface — or pair directly without a host device if AirFly supports standalone pairing (which most models do).
- For other Bluetooth headphones: Put them in pairing mode as you normally would, then select them from any available Bluetooth device list, or simply let AirFly detect them automatically if both are in pairing mode simultaneously.
Once paired, the LED on AirFly should change to a solid or slower-pulsing light, indicating an active connection. Audio from the 3.5mm source should now play through your wireless headphones. 🎧
4. Reconnecting After First Use
AirFly stores previously paired devices. On subsequent uses, simply plug it in and power it on — it will attempt to reconnect to the last paired device automatically. If your headphones are already in their case or powered off when AirFly turns on, open or power them on and the connection should re-establish without re-pairing.
Variables That Affect Your Experience
Not every AirFly connection works identically. Several factors shape what you'll encounter:
| Variable | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| AirFly model | Single vs. dual output; newer models may have extended range or faster pairing |
| Source audio quality | AirFly transmits what it receives — a noisy or low-volume 3.5mm source will sound noisy or quiet |
| Bluetooth codec support | AirFly uses standard Bluetooth audio; if your headphones rely heavily on proprietary codecs (like aptX or LDAC), those won't apply through AirFly |
| Bluetooth version compatibility | Very old Bluetooth headphones may pair but experience stability issues |
| Distance and interference | Walls, other wireless devices, and distance affect signal reliability |
Common Connection Issues and What Causes Them
AirFly not showing up as a discoverable device: It may not be in pairing mode. Press and hold the button until the LED blinks rapidly.
Audio cutting out intermittently: This is usually a Bluetooth range or interference issue. Keeping your headphones within a few feet of AirFly improves stability. Crowded Bluetooth environments (airports, gyms) can also cause interference.
No audio despite successful pairing: Check that the 3.5mm source is actually outputting audio. Some airplane jacks don't output audio until you interact with the entertainment system. Also confirm the volume is turned up on the source.
Pairing fails entirely: Reset AirFly by pressing and holding the button for an extended period (typically 10+ seconds) until the LED resets. Then re-enter pairing mode and start fresh.
One AirPod connects but not both: This is typically an AirPods issue, not AirFly. Resetting AirPods (holding the case button until amber light flashes) and re-pairing usually resolves it.
Dual-Device Pairing on AirFly Pro 🔗
The AirFly Pro allows two Bluetooth devices to connect simultaneously to a single audio source. The pairing sequence is:
- Put AirFly Pro into pairing mode
- Pair the first device — the LED will confirm connection
- Press the button again to enter pairing mode for the second device
- Pair the second device — both are now connected and receiving the same audio stream
Both users hear the same source simultaneously, which is the core use case for seat-sharing on flights. Attempting to play different audio from each device is not how this works — it's one source, two listeners.
What AirFly Doesn't Do
It's worth being clear about scope: AirFly is a transmitter, not a receiver. It sends audio from a wired source to wireless headphones. It cannot take audio from a Bluetooth source and send it to wired headphones — that's a different product category entirely (a Bluetooth receiver).
It also doesn't improve audio quality beyond what the source provides. If a gym treadmill has a mediocre audio output, AirFly faithfully transmits that mediocre signal to your premium headphones.
How Your Setup Shapes the Result
Connecting AirFly is genuinely simple in most situations, but the quality, reliability, and usefulness of the connection depend heavily on which model you're using, what source you're connecting to, which headphones you're pairing with, and the Bluetooth environment around you. A traveler using AirFly Pro with AirPods on an international flight is working with a very different set of variables than someone trying to connect aging Bluetooth headphones to a noisy shared gym machine. The steps are the same — but the outcome isn't always identical. ✈️