To connect earbuds to your phone or computer, put the earbuds in pairing mode, turn on Bluetooth on your device, and select the earbuds from its Bluetooth list. Complete any pairing prompts to finish connecting.
Your earbud model determines the pairing button or gesture, while your phone or computer determines the connection menu. The Windows steps below use Windows 11 menus.
The short version
- Start with the earbuds: Use your model’s pairing button or gesture to make them discoverable.
- Open Bluetooth: Turn on Bluetooth and select the earbuds in your device’s pairing menu.
- Check the sound: On Android, iPhone, or Mac, select the connected earbuds as your audio output if playback goes elsewhere.
- Reconnect saved earbuds: Select an existing pairing before removing it and starting again.
| Device | Where to connect | What to select |
|---|---|---|
| Android phone | Touch and hold Bluetooth in Quick Settings | Pair new device, then your earbuds |
| iPhone | Settings > Bluetooth | Your earbuds’ name |
| Windows 11 PC | Quick Settings, then Manage Bluetooth devices | Your earbuds under New devices |
| Mac | Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth | Connect beside your earbuds |
| Chromebook | Select the time, then Bluetooth | + Pair new device |
| Ubuntu GNOME desktop | Activities, then search for Bluetooth | Your earbuds under Devices |
Put your earbuds in pairing mode
Use the pairing control for your exact model before selecting the earbuds on your phone or computer. The button, gesture, and indicator differ between models.
For AirPods 4, AirPods 5, or AirPods Pro 3, leave the earbuds inside the open case and double-tap the case front until the light flashes white. For AirPods 1 through 3 or AirPods Pro 1 and 2, leave them inside the open case and hold the rear setup button until the light flashes white, approximately five seconds.
With Pixel Buds, keep the earbuds inside their open case and hold the pairing button until the status light pulses white. For Galaxy Buds4 or Buds4 Pro, keep both earbuds inside the open case and hold the rear connect button for more than three seconds, until the indicator repeatedly flashes blue, red, and green.
Older Galaxy Buds use different controls. For Galaxy Buds, Buds+, Buds Live, and Buds Pro, wear both earbuds and hold both touchpads until pairing mode starts. For Buds2 and Buds2 Pro, put both earbuds in the case and hold both touchpads until the case lights flash.
Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds enter pairing mode automatically when you remove both from the case for first setup. To pair another device, return them to the case, leave the lid open, and hold the rear pairing button for at least five seconds. Select WF-1000XM6 in the destination device’s Bluetooth menu when the indicator repeatedly flashes blue twice.
For Beats Studio Buds+, Fit Pro, Powerbeats Fit, and Powerbeats Pro 2, hold the open case’s system button until the light flashes. For Beats Solo Buds, keep them in the open case and hold either earbud’s button above the b logo until a tone repeats. Select your Beats in the destination device’s Bluetooth settings, then tap Pair if prompted on Android.
Connect earbuds to an Android phone
Swipe down from the top of the screen, then touch and hold Bluetooth and turn it on. Tap Pair new device, select your earbuds’ name, and complete the model-specific prompts. If Pair new device is absent, look under Available devices or select More > Refresh.
Android layouts vary by manufacturer, and Google notes that some steps require Android 15 or later. On a current Pixel phone, you can instead open Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth. Turn on Bluetooth, tap Pair new device, and select the earbuds.
Fast Pair offers a shorter route with compatible earbuds and supported Android devices running Android 6.0 or later. Enable Bluetooth and Location, then put the earbuds in pairing mode near the phone. Tap Connect on the notification, followed by Set up if additional setup is offered. If the notification does not appear, use the Bluetooth menu above.
Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro also support proximity pairing with a Galaxy phone. Open the charging case nearby and tap Connect on the popup. On One UI 8.0 or later, open Settings and tap your Galaxy Buds’ name to reach their integrated controls after pairing.
Connect earbuds to an iPhone
Open Settings > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth. With the earbuds in discovery mode, tap their name when it appears. Enter a PIN only if the accessory requires one.
For AirPods proximity setup on iOS 27 or later, keep the earbuds inside their open case and hold it beside the iPhone with Bluetooth enabled. Follow the setup animation and tap Done. If the animation does not appear, use your model’s manual pairing control and select the AirPods in Bluetooth settings.
Supported Beats earbuds also offer proximity setup when you open their case beside an iPhone with Bluetooth enabled. For Galaxy Buds, use the iPhone’s Bluetooth settings. Samsung limits its older iPhone companion app to Buds+ and Buds Live.
Connect earbuds to a Windows PC
On Windows 11, select the taskbar Network, Sound, or Battery icon to open Quick Settings. Select the Manage Bluetooth devices chevron beside Bluetooth. With Bluetooth on and the earbuds in pairing mode, select them under New devices, complete the prompts, and select Done.
Scroll past Your devices if necessary to reach New devices. For an alternative route on Windows 11, right-click Start and open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth, then select the earbuds. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds4 setup also asks you to click Connect.
A Windows 11 desktop without built-in Bluetooth can use a compatible USB Bluetooth adapter. Connect the adapter, then pair the earbuds through Windows Bluetooth controls. After pairing, the devices can reconnect automatically when powered, within range, and with Bluetooth enabled.
Swift Pair-compatible earbuds can trigger a connection notification when placed in pairing mode near a compatible Windows 11 PC. Select Yes if Windows asks whether to use Swift Pair, then select Connect on the notification. Use Bluetooth controls when troubleshooting a headset connection on your PC; Windows + K opens Cast for displays.
If organizational policy blocks pairing on a managed Windows computer, ask your administrator to review the Bluetooth restrictions. The relevant policies include Bluetooth/AllowPromptedProximalConnections for Swift Pair prompts and Bluetooth/ServicesAllowedList for permitted profiles.
Connect earbuds to a Mac
Make the earbuds discoverable, then open Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth. Point to the earbuds and click Connect. Click Accept if requested.
You can also open the Bluetooth status menu in Control Center and select the earbuds. Once connected, open Apple menu > System Settings > Sound, select Output, and choose the earbuds for playback.
Connect earbuds to a Chromebook or Ubuntu computer
On a Bluetooth-capable Chromebook, select the time at the bottom right, select Bluetooth, and enable it. Put the earbuds in pairing mode, select + Pair new device, then select the earbuds. Complete the displayed instructions and check that they appear under Currently connected.
Supported Chromebooks can also use Fast Pair with compatible earbuds. Enable Bluetooth, put the earbuds in pairing mode nearby, and select Connect when detected. To reconnect a saved pair manually, select the time, open Bluetooth, and choose the earbuds under Previously connected.
On Ubuntu’s GNOME desktop, open Activities, type Bluetooth, and open Bluetooth. Enable its switch, make the earbuds discoverable, and select them under Devices. Complete any required PIN confirmation, click Confirm when requested, and check for Connected.
Fix sound or microphone selection after connecting
On Android, if your earbuds are connected but playback goes elsewhere, swipe down to the media panel. Tap the audio accessory name at the top right and choose the earbuds. Google notes that some Quick Settings instructions require Android 13 or later.
On iPhone, tap the AirPlay icon and select the Bluetooth accessory. The Bluetooth button in Control Center temporarily disconnects accessories without fully turning off Bluetooth. Restore the connection through Settings > Bluetooth or the AirPlay output selector.
On a Mac, choose the earbuds under Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output for playback. If you need to troubleshoot microphone problems on your computer, select Input in the same Sound settings and choose the earbuds. Microphone availability depends on the earbuds.
Fix a failed connection by reconnecting or pairing again
Start by selecting the saved earbuds before removing their pairing. On Android, enable Bluetooth, touch and hold Bluetooth in Quick Settings, and select the earbuds under Saved devices. On a Mac, select them from the Bluetooth status menu.
Forgetting Android earbuds removes their saved pairing. Open the settings icon beside the earbuds, using See all if necessary, and tap Forget. Put the earbuds in pairing mode and pair again. Choose Disconnect instead when you only want to release the current connection.
On iPhone, forgetting earbuds removes their pairing, and forgetting AirPods also unpairs them from other devices using the same Apple Account. Open Settings > Bluetooth, tap the Info button beside the earbuds, then tap Forget This Device and Forget Device. Put them back in discovery mode and select them again.
Removing earbuds from Windows removes their saved pairing. On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, select More options beside the earbuds, then select Remove device and Yes. Put the earbuds in pairing mode and add them again.
Forgetting earbuds on a Mac removes their pairing. Open Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth, hold Control while clicking their name, and click Forget. Make them discoverable and pair again. To release only the current connection, point to them and click Disconnect.
Use earbuds with two devices or share audio
Pixel Buds 2a and the Pixel Buds Pro family support two simultaneous source connections through Multipoint. Pair them separately with your phone and computer. On Pixel, open Settings > Connected Devices and the settings icon beside the earbuds; on another Android phone, open Google Pixel Buds.
Open More settings > Multipoint, enable Use Multipoint, and connect the earbuds from each source device’s Bluetooth settings.
AirPods 2 and later and all AirPods Pro support automatic switching between compatible Apple devices using the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication. Update the devices, then begin playback or answer a call on the destination device. macOS Sequoia and later support automatic switching; on macOS Sonoma, click Connect on the offered switching notification.
To share audio on a supported iPhone running iOS 27 or later, connect and wear the first AirPods. Tap the AirPods icon in Now Playing, the Lock Screen, or Control Center, then tap Share Audio. Bring a second compatible AirPods or Beats pair nearby, put it in pairing mode if needed, select Share Audio, and complete the prompts.
Pixel 8 and later can share audio with Bluetooth LE Audio accessories. Connect an LE Audio headset and verify playback, then swipe down to Quick Settings > Bluetooth > Share audio. Tap Pair new device to add another pair.
To join another phone’s audio broadcast with a compatible LE Audio Android phone and earbuds, first connect the earbuds to the receiving phone. Open its camera and scan the sharing phone’s QR code, then tap the playlist button and Listen. This joins the shared audio rather than creating a conventional Bluetooth pairing with the broadcasting phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you connect earbuds by speaking a command on Android?
With Android Voice Access active, say Turn on Bluetooth to enable Bluetooth. Continue through the phone’s Bluetooth pairing interface to complete the connection.
How do you enable Swift Pair notifications on Windows 11?
On Windows 11, press Windows + I to open Settings, then open Bluetooth & devices > Devices. Turn on Show notifications to connect using Swift Pair. This requires Swift Pair-capable hardware.
Can a charging case send computer audio to earbuds?
With JBL Tour Pro 3, connect the Smart Charging Case to a compatible computer’s USB-C or analog audio output using the appropriate supplied cable. The case transmits audio to its earbuds.
Can you manage Pixel Buds from a computer browser?
You can manage Pixel Buds Pro, Pro 2, and 2a in Chrome or Edge on ChromeOS 128 or later, macOS Sonoma 14 or later, or Windows 11 or later. First pair and connect the earbuds through the computer’s Bluetooth settings, then open Google’s Pixel Buds web companion and follow the access prompts. You can then manage supported settings and firmware.