Connect AirPod Pros to an iPhone or iPad

The fastest way to connect AirPod Pros to an iPhone or iPad is through the automatic pairing process. Open the charging case near your unlocked device, and a setup screen appears on your screen within seconds. Tap Connect, then Done. Your AirPod Pros are now paired to that device and will automatically connect whenever they're in range.

If the automatic setup screen doesn't appear, open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap Bluetooth, make sure Bluetooth is turned on, then look for your AirPod Pros in the list of available devices. Tap the name of your AirPods, and they'll connect. You'll see a checkmark next to them when the connection is active.

Once you've paired your AirPod Pros to one Apple device, they automatically sync to your other Apple devices that use the same iCloud account — your Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV will all see them without additional setup steps.

Connect AirPod Pros to a Mac

To connect AirPod Pros to a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. If you don't see it, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), click Bluetooth, and check the box next to Show Bluetooth in menu bar.

Open your AirPod Pro charging case near your Mac. Your AirPod Pros should appear in the Bluetooth menu. Click them to connect. If they don't show up automatically, make sure your case is open and your AirPod Pros are inside, then wait a few seconds and check the menu again.

If you've already paired your AirPod Pros to an iPhone or iPad on the same iCloud account, your Mac may recognize them immediately without any additional steps. Just open the Bluetooth menu and select them.

Connect AirPod Pros to Android Phones and Tablets

AirPod Pros work with Android devices, but the setup is slightly different because Android doesn't have the automatic pairing screen that iPhones have. Open your AirPod Pro charging case and press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the light inside flashes white. This puts your AirPod Pros into pairing mode.

On your Android phone or tablet, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Your AirPod Pros should appear in the list of available devices — the name usually shows as "AirPods Pro" or similar. Tap the name to connect.

Once connected, your AirPod Pros will reconnect to that Android device automatically whenever Bluetooth is on and the case is open nearby. However, unlike with Apple devices, you won't get automatic syncing across multiple Android devices — you'll need to manually connect to each one.

Connect AirPod Pros to Windows PCs

To connect AirPod Pros to a Windows PC, first put them in pairing mode by opening the charging case and holding the button on the back for about 15 seconds until the light flashes white. On your Windows PC, click the Windows icon in the bottom left, then go to Settings and select Bluetooth & devices.

Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Click Add device, then select Bluetooth. Your AirPod Pros should appear in the list within a few seconds. Click them to connect. Windows will confirm the connection once it's complete.

If your AirPod Pros don't appear, make sure the case is open and the light is still flashing white. You may need to wait 30 seconds and try again, as Windows sometimes takes longer to detect Bluetooth devices than iPhones do.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhones and iPads, open the charging case near your device and tap Connect on the setup screen that appears automatically.
  • On Macs, Macs paired to the same iCloud account as your iPhone will recognize your AirPod Pros without additional setup.
  • On Android and Windows devices, hold the button on the back of the charging case for 15 seconds to enter pairing mode, then select your AirPod Pros from the Bluetooth settings menu.
  • Once connected to a device, your AirPod Pros will reconnect automatically whenever Bluetooth is on and the case is nearby.
  • You can pair your AirPod Pros to multiple devices, but they can only play audio from one device at a time.

Troubleshooting Connection Problems

If your AirPod Pros won't connect, the first step is to forget them from your device and start over. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your AirPod Pros, and select Forget This Device. Then open the charging case near your phone and reconnect.

On Mac, Android, or Windows, go to Bluetooth settings, find your AirPod Pros in the list, and select the option to forget or unpair them. Then put your AirPod Pros back in pairing mode by holding the button on the case for 15 seconds and reconnect.

If your AirPod Pros still won't connect after forgetting them, try restarting your device. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then attempt to connect again. If one AirPod connects but the other doesn't, try putting both back in the case, closing it for 10 seconds, opening it again, and reconnecting.

Switching Between Devices

Your AirPod Pros can be paired to multiple devices at once, but they play audio from only one device at a time. To switch which device they're playing from, open the Control Center on your iPhone or iPad (swipe down from the top right), tap the audio card showing your AirPod Pros, and select a different device from the list.

On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, find your AirPod Pros, and look for the option to switch the audio output device. On Android or Windows, you'll need to manually disconnect from the current device and reconnect to the new one through Bluetooth settings.

If you're switching between an iPhone and Mac on the same iCloud account, your AirPod Pros will often switch automatically when you start playing audio on the other device — you don't need to do anything manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pair my AirPod Pros separately to each device?

On iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches using the same iCloud account, you only pair once — they sync automatically. On Android and Windows, you need to pair each device separately by putting your AirPod Pros in pairing mode and selecting them from Bluetooth settings.

Why won't my AirPod Pros show up in Bluetooth settings?

Make sure the charging case is open and the light inside is flashing white, which means pairing mode is active. If the light isn't flashing, hold the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds. Also check that Bluetooth is turned on in your device's settings and that you're within 30 feet of your AirPod Pros.

Can I use AirPod Pros with both an iPhone and Android phone at the same time?

Your AirPod Pros can be paired to both devices, but they'll only play audio from one at a time. To switch, you'll need to manually disconnect from one device and reconnect to the other through Bluetooth settings — there's no automatic switching between different operating systems.

What does the white flashing light on the charging case mean?

The white flashing light means your AirPod Pros are in pairing mode and ready to connect to a new device. This mode lasts for about 15 minutes, so if the light stops flashing before you finish connecting, hold the button on the back of the case again for 15 seconds.

Why do my AirPod Pros keep disconnecting?

This usually happens when Bluetooth is turned off, you're too far from your device, or there's interference from other wireless devices. Try moving closer to your device, restarting Bluetooth, or restarting both your AirPod Pros and your device. If the problem continues, forget your AirPod Pros and pair them again from scratch.