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How to connect AirPods to an iPhone

In This Article

In This Article

Here is how you can connect your Apple AirPods to any iPhone in just a few easy steps.

Getting a new pair of AirPods, whether that be the latestAirPods 3or the reliableAirPods 2, is an exciting experience and allows you to easily connect to your Apple devices to listen to your favourite music and podcasts.

And while setting up earbuds can be a pain, the process of connecting AirPods to an iPhone is a simple process that can be knocked out in minutes, and we’re making the process even easier with this step-by-step guide. Keep reading to find out how you can connect your Airpods to an iPhone.

What we used

The Short Version

Step1

Go to your iPhone Home Screen

Go to your iPhone Home Screen

You will need to make sure that your iPhone is running with the latest version of iOS. You can check this on your iPhone by going into Settings then About, where the software version of your device will show at the top of the screen.

Step2

Open the AirPod charging case and hold it up next to your iPhone

You will need to make sure the AirPods are inside the charging case during this process. Wait for the setup animation, then press Connect

Step3

Press down the Hold button

The Hold Button is located on the back of the AirPods charging case, it is a small circle.

Step4

Wait for the AirPods to connect

Do not close your AirPods charging case or lock your iPhone during this process.

Step5

Choose how you want your AirPods to announce Calls and Notifications

If you have not already configured Hey Siri on your iPhone, you will be guided through the setup if you are connecting the AirPods Pro, AirPods 2 or AirPods 3. If you have already set up Hey Siri it will be ready to use with your AirPods without the need for another set-up. You can also click Announce Calls and Notifications if you don’t wish to customise these settings and skip to the last step.

Step6

Press Continue

Once you have customised your Calls and Notifications settings for your AirPods you can press Continue. You can also configure these settings again afterwards, so don’t worry if you’re unhappy with your original choices.

Step7

Click Done

Click Done, your AirPods will now be connected with your iPhone and will connect once you put them in your ears.

FAQs

Yes, you can take phone calls with your AirPods in, and there is an option to be notified when you have an incoming call through your AirPods.

Even though AirPods have been designed to be used alongside other Apple products, you can connect them to Android smartphones and tablets, although the set-up process will look different.

Yes, AirPods feature automatic ear detention, meaning that they will turn on the moment you put them in your ears and will pause your audio if you remove them.

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Gemma joined Trusted Reviews as a staff writer after graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a Journalism degree. She’s worked with national outlets, covering breaking news stories to reviews fo…

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Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.