Apple AirPods automatically connect with iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac through iCloud. On Apple TV, you have to pair AirPods manually. Since your AirPods are connected to the above devices at the same time, you are not required to disconnect them from one device when you want to use AirPods on another device.
If you need to switch AirPods, simply choose the pods on any of the above mentioned devices.
- You can choose AirPods in Control Center on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch.
- Click on AirPods from volume menu bar in your Mac.
- Switch to AirPods on your Apple TV by selecting them from Bluetooth settings.
If you are using Apple TV, older Macs and non-Apple devices such as Android, Windows computer and other Bluetooth devices, you are supposed to manually connect your AirPods in Bluetooth settings.
How to Switch to AirPods from iPhone and iPad
Apple allows you to choose AirPods or your traditional hands-free when you like to listen to songs. When the AirPods is connected to your device, follow the steps:
Step #1: Swipe up from the bottom of your iOS device (iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch); this will invoke Control Center.
Step #2: Now swipe left to land on Now Playing card that has all media playback controls.
Step #3: Next, tap on down arrow button and choose AirPods from the menu.
You can also select AirPods from Settings → Bluetooth.
The audio output menu is directly available within many apps like Apple Music; if your AirPods go beyond the Bluetooth range or 10 meters or 33 feet, the output comes back to iPhone.
How to Switch to AirPods from Apple Watch
You can always use AirPods on your Apple Watch if you had already set up them with your iPhone, which is paired with your smartwatch. In this case, simply swipe up from the bottom of watch face to bring Control Center; next, tap AirPlays icon, which looks like concentric circles with a triangle at bottom. Then, choose your AirPods from the list of options.
If you receive a call through Apple Watch when AirPods are paired and audio is playing, you can see a customized AirPods button in place of that regular green Answer button. This button indicates that you can relay the call via AirPods instead of answering it from Apple Watch speaker.
Expert Tip: You can listen to your favourite songs from Apple Watch even if your iPhone is not handy; you can transfer music from iPhone to Apple Watch.
How to Switch AirPods from Mac
To switch AirPods from Mac, you need to click the Volume icon on Mac menu bar → choose AirPods and select Connect from the sub-menu to start listening to music. iTunes and other such apps offer their own controls to choose your choice of audio playback device.
If volume menu bar icon is not seen, head to System Preferences → Sound and then check the box next to ‘Show volume in menu bar’.
If you are using legacy Mac that doesn’t have Bluetooth chipsets required for Handoff, launch System Preferences → Bluetooth; then right click on AirPods in the list and choose Connect in the pop-up menu.
Now you should be able to switch to AirPods from the Volume menu bar on your Mac.
How to Switch to AirPods from Apple TV
On your fourth generation Apple TV:
Step #1: Open Settings.
Step #2: Launch Remotes and Devices.
Step #3: Next, tap on Bluetooth.
On previous Apple TV, users should skip the step of Remotes and Devices; instead, they need to select Settings → General → Bluetooth.
Finally, users can click on AirPods in My Devices list and then select Connect Device.
You can now listen to Apple TV audio via AirPods.
In case your AirPods are not shown in the list even after pairing with your device, you can check if ‘Not Connected’ is seen next to AirPods’ name in Settings → Bluetooth on iOS or System Preferences → Bluetooth on macOS.
From the list on iOS, tap on your AirPods, or you can right click on AirPods on macOS and choose Connect to re-establish wireless connection; this probably can make AirPods re-appear in the audio output menu and somewhere else in the system.
It is done! Now you can use your AirPods with all iOS and Mac devices by switching them comfortably.
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