Apple AirPods are designed to seamlessly connect with your iPhone. It is easy to pair them. You can encounter issues connecting your AirPods with an iPhone, as with all Bluetooth devices. This article will show you how to connect your AirPods with an iPhone and what to do if they don’t work.
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on before you connect your AirPods with your iPhone. Go to Settings > Bluetooth to do this. Make sure the slider next to Bluetooth has been turned on. When the slider turns green, Bluetooth will be enabled.
How to connect your AirPods to an iPhone
Connect your AirPods with an iPhone by placing them in the case. Next, go to the iPhone’s home screen and open your AirPods Case while keeping it close to your iPhone. Next, tap Connect to see the setup prompt.
- Place your AirPods into their cases and close them. AirPods will last for at least 15 seconds in your case.
Before you connect your AirPods, make sure they are fully charged. For more information, please see our step-by_step guide on how to check the battery level of your AirPods. - Next, go to your iPhone’s homepage. For older iPhones, you can do this by pressing and holding the Home button at bottom of the screen. You will need to swipe up quickly from the bottom of an iPhone X and newer.
- Next, place your AirPods in the open case beside your iPhone. Keep your AirPods as close to your iPhone as possible so you get the best results.
- Next, tap Connect to see the setup prompt on your iPhone. The setup prompt will help you to set up other settings such as enabling “Hey Siri” or connecting your AirPods first time.
- Follow the instructions on the screen and then tap Done. You can also tap the “x” at the top-right corner to skip the steps.
Your AirPods will instantly connect to your iPhone once you have connected them. Instead of going through the setup, you’ll see a notification at the top that tells you that your AirPods have connected.
You might need to manually connect your AirPods if you don’t see the Connect button, or if you have trouble pairing them with an iPhone. Here’s how:
Manually connecting your AirPods to an iPhone
You can manually connect your AirPods with your iPhone by placing them in the case. Open the case beside your iPhone, and then press and hold the button at the back until you see a blinking light on it. When it appears on the screen, click Connect.
If you have the AirPods Pro, the Status light will be on the front side of your case. This light will also be visible on the inside of older models.
How to Connect Your AirPods When They Are Not Connecting
Try turning Bluetooth on and off, disabling low power mode, switching the iPhone’s audio output, and disconnecting any other Bluetooth devices if your AirPods don’t connect. You can also update your iPhone or reset your AirPods.
Turn Bluetooth on or off
Sometimes, the best solution is to turn Bluetooth off and wait for a few seconds before turning it back on. You can reset the Bluetooth settings of your iPhone to allow you to connect your AirPods.
To turn off Bluetooth, navigate to Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the slider next to Bluetooth. When the slider turns green, Bluetooth will be on. You can also quickly turn Bluetooth on or off by tapping the Bluetooth icon within your iPhone’s Control Centre.
Turn off Low Power Mode
Users report having trouble connecting to AirPods when the iPhone is in Low Power mode. This setting allows your iPhone to run longer when its batteries are low. However, some features may not work until the setting is disabled or your iPhone has been charged beyond 80%.
Go to Settings > Batterie, and then tap the slider beside Low Power Mode. It will turn off automatically when the slider turns gray. It can be turned off via the Control Center of your iPhone by tapping on the yellow battery icon.
You can switch the iPhone’s audio output to your AirPods
Your AirPods may be connecting to your iPhone but you aren’t hearing anything. This could indicate that your music is being played from another Bluetooth device. You can hear your AirPods if you simply switch the audio output of your iPhone.
Open the Control Center, and then tap the AirPlay button to switch the audio output of your iPhone. This button is located in the top-right corner. It looks like a triangle that has circles radiating from the top. To switch the audio output, choose your AirPods from this list.
Connect other Bluetooth devices to your iPhone
Your iPhone may want to connect to multiple Bluetooth headphones, speakers and other audio devices before your AirPods. You might need to first disconnect other devices before your AirPods can be connected to your iPhone.
To disengage Bluetooth devices from an iPhone, open Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the “i” at the right of the Bluetooth device’s name. Select Disconnect, or Forget this Device. You will need to set the device up again if you forget it.
Reset your AirPods
You can reset your AirPods back to their factory settings if all else fails. You will lose the ability to use Find My to locate your AirPods if they are lost.
To reset your AirPods, navigate to Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the “i” at the right of the AirPods’ name. Scroll down and tap To forget this Device. Next, tap To forget Device. The pop-up window will allow you to select Forget This Device.
Notice: You will need to reset your AirPods after you have done that.
Get the latest iPhone update
Apple recommends that users have the latest software to connect AirPods with an iPhone. AirPods Pro can only be used with iPhones that run iOS 13.2 or later. AirPods 2 work with iOS 12.2 or later. AirPods 1 are compatible with iOS 10 or later.
Go to Settings> > software update. You will see your iOS version here. Tap Download and install if an update is available. Ensure that your iPhone is charged while you wait for the update to complete.
If your AirPods are still not connecting to your iPhone, you can check our step-by-step guide on how to contact Apple customer support.
