How to Switch Devices with AirPods

Floricity

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posted on 5 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Once paired, your AirPods will automatically connect to your iPhone or Apple Watch depending on which is playing audio. If you want your AirPods to connect to a different device, such as a different tablet or your Mac, you'll need to switch them manually. This wikiHow will teach you how to switch between connected devices with your AirPods.

Steps

Switching to an iPhone or iPad

Open the Control Center. If you're using an iPhone 10 or later (or a later-model iPad), swipe down from the top-right corner of the home screen. On the iPhone 8, SE, or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the home screen.

Tap the AirPlay icon next to your media. This can look like two airwaves curved together or a triangle surrounded by airwaves. You'll then see a list of previously connected devices, such as speakers.

Tap your AirPods. The audio from that iPhone or iPad should now play in your AirPods. If not, make sure you have them connected properly. If you previously paired your AirPods but don't see them in this list, make sure they are powered on, charged, and either out of the charging case or that the charging case lid is open.

Switching to a Mac

Click the volume Windows Volume or Bluetooth Mac Bluetooth icon. You should see these in your Mac's menu bar along the top of your screen. If you don't see these icons, navigate to the Apple menu > System Preferences and select Show in menu bar in both the sound and Bluetooth sections.

Hover over your AirPods. You'll see your AirPods in the list as long as they have been paired, are powered on, charged, and not in a closed charging case.

Click Connect. This is usually the first option in the menu. The audio playing from your Mac should play through your AirPods.

Switching to an Apple TV

Navigate to the Apple TV Home screen. After you turn on your TV and Apple TV (which usually comes on when you turn on the TV), you'll land on the Home screen.

Hold the play/pause button on your Apple TV remote. You can let go of the button when you see the screen blur and a menu pops up.

Select your AirPods. If you previously paired your AirPods to your Apple TV, you should see them in the list, as long as they are powered on, charged, and not in a closed charging case.

Switching to an Apple Watch

Open Control Center. Swipe up from the bottom of the display to bring up Control Center. #* As mentioned in the introduction, your AirPods will automatically switch to your Apple Watch as soon as it starts playing audio.