Connect your AirPods and AirPods Pro to your iPhone

Find out how to use your iPhone to set up your AirPods.

Set up AirPods and AirPods Pro for the first time

If you’re setting up your AirPods for the first time, make sure you have an iPhone with the latest version of iOS,1 then follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Home Screen.

  2. With your AirPods in the charging case, open the charging case and hold it next to your iPhone. A setup animation will appear on your iPhone. If you can’t see the setup animation, find out what to do.

  3. Tap Connect.

  4. If you have AirPods Pro 1 or 2, or AirPods 3 or 4 (both models), follow the on-screen instructions.

  5. If you have AirPods Pro 1 or 2 or AirPods 2, 3 or 4 (both models), and you set up Siri on your iPhone already, then Siri is ready to use with your AirPods. If you haven't set up Siri already and you have AirPods Pro 1 or 2, or AirPods 2, 3 or 4 (both models), you'll be guided through the setup.

  6. Tap Done.

  7. If you're signed in to iCloud, your AirPods are set up automatically with any of your supported devices that are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account.2

iPhone setup and AirPods

Connect AirPods and AirPods Pro manually

If you can’t see the setup animation when trying to connect your AirPods, try to connect them manually.

  1. With your AirPods in the charging case, open the lid.

  2. Do the following, depending on your device:

    • For AirPods 4 (both models), double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white.

    • For all other models, press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.

  3. Go to Settings > Bluetooth.

  4. When your AirPods appear in the list of Bluetooth devices, select them.

Find out more

If your AirPods or AirPods Pro won't connect

Set up your AirPods with a Mac or a non-Apple device

Switch your AirPods to another device

  1. For full functionality, make sure the iPhone paired with your AirPods has the latest version of iOS. To be able to pair and use your AirPods with your iPhone, your iPhone must be running one of these versions of iOS, depending on which AirPods you have:

    • AirPods 1: iOS 10.0 or later

    • AirPods 2: iOS 12.2 or later

    • AirPods 3: iOS 15.1 or later

    • AirPods 4 (both models): iOS 18.0 or later

    • AirPods Pro 1: iOS 13.2 or later

    • AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning): iOS 16.0 or later

    • AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C): iOS 17.0 or later

  2. AirPods and AirPods Pro can be associated with one Apple Account to take advantage of features such as automatic device switching and Find My. If you want to use AirPods Max that someone else has used, they need to first remove them from their Apple Account.

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