The basic steps to pair Apple headphones
Apple headphones connect to your iPhone through Bluetooth, a wireless connection that pairs devices so they can communicate. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way whether you own AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or Beats headphones made by Apple.
Turn on your headphones first. For AirPods and AirPods Pro, open the case near your iPhone — the pairing screen appears automatically on your phone. For AirPods Max, press and hold the noise control button on the left ear cup until the LED light flashes white. For Beats headphones, press and hold the power button until you see a flashing light.
On your iPhone, tap Connect when the pairing screen appears. If no screen shows up, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, make sure it is turned on, and look for your headphones in the list of available devices. Tap the name of your headphones to connect. Your iPhone remembers this pairing, so the next time you turn on your headphones near your phone, they connect automatically.
Key Takeaways
- Apple headphones use Bluetooth to connect wirelessly, and most models show a pairing screen automatically when you open the case or turn them on near your iPhone.
- If the automatic pairing screen does not appear, you can manually connect through Settings > Bluetooth by selecting your headphones from the available devices list.
- Once paired, your iPhone remembers the connection and reconnects automatically each time you turn on your headphones nearby.
- You can connect the same headphones to multiple Apple devices, and your iPhone will switch between them based on which device is actively using them.
What to do if your headphones do not appear in Bluetooth settings
If your headphones are not showing up in the Bluetooth list, first make sure they are actually powered on and in pairing mode. For AirPods, open the case and hold it near your iPhone for 15 seconds — the white light inside the case should flash. For Beats headphones, hold the power button for 10 seconds until the LED flashes red and white alternately.
Next, restart Bluetooth on your iPhone. Go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and toggle it off. Wait 10 seconds, then toggle it back on. Your headphones should appear in the list within a few seconds. If they still do not show up, restart your iPhone by holding down the power button and sliding to power off, then turning it back on.
If your headphones have been paired to another device recently, they may still be connected to that device. Unpair them from the other device first, or turn off Bluetooth on that device so your headphones can connect to your iPhone instead.
Connecting multiple pairs of Apple headphones to one iPhone
Your iPhone can store multiple Bluetooth pairings, so you can connect different headphones at different times. Each pair goes through the same pairing process — turn them on in pairing mode near your iPhone and tap Connect when prompted.
Once paired, all your headphones appear in the Bluetooth list in Settings. When you want to switch to a different pair, turn on the new headphones and your iPhone automatically connects to them if they are the only ones powered on nearby. If multiple pairs are on at the same time, your iPhone connects to whichever one was most recently used, but you can manually select a different pair from the Bluetooth menu.
Switching your headphones between iPhone and other Apple devices
Apple headphones can pair with multiple devices at once — your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch can all have the same headphones in their Bluetooth memory. When you turn on your headphones, they connect to whichever Apple device is actively using them or was used most recently.
To manually switch your headphones to a different device, open Control Center on that device and tap the audio output icon (the speaker with sound waves). Your headphones appear in the list of available outputs. Tap them to switch the connection. Your iPhone loses the audio connection, and your headphones now play sound from the device you selected.
Troubleshooting when your headphones keep disconnecting
If your headphones disconnect randomly or drop connection frequently, the problem is usually interference or a weak Bluetooth signal. Move closer to your iPhone — Bluetooth works best within 30 feet, but obstacles like walls and metal objects can weaken the signal. If you are near other wireless devices like microwaves, routers, or cordless phones, move away from them.
Forget the pairing and set it up again. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your headphones in the list, tap the information icon next to their name, and select Forget This Device. Then turn your headphones on in pairing mode and pair them again from scratch. This clears out any corrupted pairing data that might be causing the disconnections.
If disconnections continue, check that your headphones have a full battery. Low battery can cause unstable connections. Also check for a firmware update for your headphones — open the Beats app or use the Find My app for AirPods, and look for an update option.
Using headphones with Siri and phone calls
Once your headphones are connected, Siri works through them automatically. Press and hold the side button on your iPhone or say "Hey Siri" if you have that feature turned on, and Siri responds through your headphones. You can also activate Siri by pressing the button on your headphones themselves — most Apple headphones have a dedicated Siri button or a multi-function button you can press and hold.
Phone calls and FaceTime audio route through your headphones automatically when they are connected. The microphone in your headphones picks up your voice, so you do not need to hold your iPhone to your ear. If you want to switch back to your iPhone's speaker or microphone during a call, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center, tap the audio output icon, and select iPhone Speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my AirPods connect to my iPad instead of my iPhone?
When multiple Apple devices are nearby and powered on, your AirPods connect to whichever device was using them most recently. If your iPad was the last device you used them with, they connect to the iPad first. To force them to connect to your iPhone instead, turn off Bluetooth on your iPad or move it out of range, then turn on your AirPods.
Can I connect non-Apple Bluetooth headphones to my iPhone?
Yes. Any Bluetooth headphones work with iPhone — they do not have to be made by Apple. The pairing process is the same: put your headphones in pairing mode, go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone, and tap the headphones name when it appears. Non-Apple headphones may not have all the same features as AirPods, like automatic switching between devices, but they connect and play audio normally.
What if I forgot which device my headphones are currently paired to?
Check the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and look at the list of connected devices — if your headphones show a checkmark or say "Connected", they are currently paired to your iPhone. If they do not appear or show "Not Connected", they are paired to a different device. Turn on that device's Bluetooth to see which one they connect to automatically.
Do I need to unpair my headphones before selling them?
Yes. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your headphones in the list, tap the information icon, and select Forget This Device. This removes the pairing from your iPhone. Repeat this on any other Apple devices that had them paired. The new owner can then pair them to their own devices without any connection to your account.