Apple’s wireless AirPods and some Beats models automatically switch between devices depending on which device you’re using. If your AirPods won’t switch, here are some things to try.
Do your AirPods support automatic switching?
Not all models of AirPods (or Beats) support automatic device switching. You must be using AirPods Pro, 2nd or 3rd generation AirPods, AirPods Max headphones, Powerbeats or Powerbeats Pro earbuds, or Beats Solo Pro headphones for this to work.
You can find out which version of AirPods you have by connecting them to your iPhone or iPad, then navigating to Settings > Bluetooth and tapping the “i” button next to AirPods. On a Mac, you can do this by connecting them and then visiting System Preferences (or System Settings) > Bluetooth and clicking Options next to AirPods.
It’s worth noting that you’ll also need an Apple device for this to work. It’s not supported on Windows PCs or Android smartphones, but you can pair AirPods with almost any device and enjoy wireless audio.
Make sure “Auto connect” is enabled
To do this, you need to tell AirPods to automatically connect to each device you want to use. This setting is device-specific, so you can tell AirPods to automatically connect to your iPhone instead of your Mac.
To do this, go to Settings > Bluetooth, then tap the “i” next to AirPods on your iPhone or iPad. Under “Connect to this iPhone/iPad”, make sure “Automatic” is enabled. You can do the same on your Mac under System Preferences > Bluetooth by clicking the Options button next to your AirPods.
For any device you want to use this feature on, make sure to select “Automatic” in this box. If you want to exclude the device from automatic connection, select “Last connected to this <device>”. If you want to turn this feature off completely, select “Last connected to this <device>” on all your Apple gadgets.
Turn on automatic ear detection
When your AirPods detect that they’re in your ears, they’ll switch based on which device they think you’re using. This feature may still work if it is not enabled, but you will have a better experience with it enabled. You’ll also save battery life because your AirPods won’t stay on all the time when you open the case.
To do this, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the “i” next to AirPods, then turn on Automatic Ear Detection. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth, then click the Options button next to AirPods, then turn on automatic ear detection.
Make sure you’re using the same Apple ID on all devices
One of the best things about AirPods and Beats headphones is how they sync between devices using iCloud. This means you only need to pair your AirPods with a single device and they will work on all of your devices. The only caveat is that you need to share the same Apple ID on all devices.
Reboot the affected device
If you’re sure your AirPods or Beats are compatible, and you’ve checked your AirPods settings under Bluetooth and it’s still not working, try restarting whatever is causing you trouble. The same goes for your iPhone or iPad, but the steps to restart may vary depending on the device you have. Any software issues you may have that are causing the problem should be resolved by a full restart.
Make sure everything is updated
If it still doesn’t work, it’s worth checking that you meet the minimum software version requirements for this feature. If you do not meet these requirements, the feature will not work.
You can check which version of iOS or iPadOS you have under Settings > General > About This Mac on your iPhone or iPad. On a Mac, click the Apple logo and select About This Mac to see the installed version.
If you don’t meet the minimum requirements, try updating your iPhone, iPad or Mac to the latest software from Apple under Settings > General > Software Update or System Preferences > Software Update on your Mac.
Unpair your AirPods and start over
If you’ve tried everything else and met all the minimum requirements, try restoring your AirPods to factory settings by unpairing. You can do this by clicking the “i” button next to your AirPods or using the Options button next to your AirPods under System Preferences > Bluetooth on your Mac under Settings > Bluetooth.
Still not working? manual switch
If you’ve tried everything and it still doesn’t work, you can switch between devices manually. To do this on your iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen, tap the Now Playing box, and select your AirPods from the options below the playback controls. On a Mac, you can click the Control Center icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, then click the AirPlay button next to the volume slider. You can also enable the “Show sound in menu bar” option on the Output tab under System Preferences > Sound for a quick toggle.
>>>>>>>>>>>>Apple battery