How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to an iPhone or iPad

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A user-friendly guide to syncing any Bluetooth headset with iOS

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: April 21, 2026 Fact Checked

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Connecting Third-Party Headphones

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Connecting AirPods

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Troubleshooting

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

Do you have wireless headphones or earbuds you want to pair with your iOS device? Wireless headphones make it easy to listen to music on the go since you don't have to worry about wires getting tangled. These headphones have Bluetooth capabilities, so you'll just need to go into your device's settings to set up and use them. This wikiHow will show you how to connect wireless headphones or earbuds with an iPhone or iPad using Bluetooth. We’ll also go over troubleshooting tips if you’re having issues getting your headphones to connect.

Quick Steps

Turn on your Bluetooth headphones and put them in discover mode.
Go to Settings → Bluetooth → toggle on Bluetooth.
Tap your headphones underneath Other Devices.

Section 1 of 3:

Connecting Third-Party Headphones

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1
Turn on the Bluetooth headphones. Wireless headphones or earbuds typically have Bluetooth capabilities. Some may come with a Bluetooth dongle, which may connect to your device. In most cases, you'll just need your Bluetooth headphones and your iPhone or iPad.
- Make sure your Bluetooth device is fully charged and turned on before attempting to pair. Depending on the accessory, you may have to press a button or activate a switch to power it on.
2
Put the headphones into pairing mode. The headphones must be in pairing mode so that your iPhone or iPad can detect them. Some accessories automatically go into pairing mode when turned on, while others require you to press a button or select an option from a menu.
- Similar to a Bluetooth speaker, an LED light should indicate whether or not your headphones are ready to be paired.
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This looks like a grey cog icon.^{[1]
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You can find this underneath Wi-Fi, near the top of the Settings menu.
The switch will turn from grey to green. If this is already toggled on, skip this step.^{[2]
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6
Tap your headphones. You can find a list of nearby devices underneath Other Devices.^{[3]
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- If you don't see your headphones, make sure you're within 33 feet (10 meters) of your iPhone or iPad.^{[4]
  X
  Research source} You may need to turn the headphones off and on again.
- Your wireless headphones should connect. You can now listen to music on your iPhone or iPad.

Section 2 of 3:

Connecting AirPods

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1
Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone or iPad. While AirPods are specifically designed to play nicely with your Apple devices, they still need an active Bluetooth connection in order to pair. To toggle on Bluetooth, open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and tap Bluetooth. Make sure the switch next to Bluetooth at the top of the menu is in the on (green) position.
- You can also open the Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon to quickly turn it on or off. If the icon is blue, Bluetooth is on.
2
Hold the AirPods close to your iPhone or iPad. Make sure the AirPods are charged. Depending on the model, they might need to be in or out of their case for this part of the process:^{[5]
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- Leave AirPods or AirPods Pro inside their case with the case open. Move the case close to your iPhone or iPad.
- Take AirPods Max out of their case and move them close to your iPhone or iPad.
3
Follow the prompts in the setup animation. Your iPhone or iPad should automatically detect your AirPods and start the pairing process. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish pairing, then tap Done.
- Don’t see the animation? You can also pair manually:^{[6]
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  - Put your AirPods in pairing mode. The right way to do this depends on the model.
    - AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3: Open the case with the AirPods inside and hold it close to your device. Double-tap the front of the case so the status light flashes white.
    - AirPods Max: Press and hold the Listening Mode button for a few seconds until the status light flashes white. You can also connect some models to your iPhone or iPad with a USB-C cable.
    - All other models: Place the open case with the AirPods inside close to your device. Press and hold the setup button on the back until the status light flashes white.
  - Go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad.
  - Tap your AirPods under the Other Devices header to connect.

Section 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

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1
Make sure your headphones are fully charged. If your headphones are dead or if their battery level is very low, they might not be able to connect properly. Charge them for a while and try connecting again.^{[7]
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Disconnect your headphones from any other devices. If your headphones already have an active Bluetooth connection with some other device (like a computer, a different phone or tablet), they might not be able to connect to your iPhone or iPad. Disconnect any other active connections and try again.
- Similarly, you might need to disconnect other wireless devices that are currently connected to your iPhone or iPad.
3
Turn the headphones on and off again. Turning your headphones off and on might help resolve any glitches that are preventing them from connecting. It might also help to toggle Bluetooth off and on again on your iPhone or iPad.
- You can also try restarting your iPhone or iPad. While you’re at it, make sure you’re running the latest version of iOS.
4
Make sure the headphones are in range of your iPhone or iPad. Your headphones generally need to be within about 10 meters (33 feet) of your iPhone or iPad to get a good connection. Try moving closer, and make sure there aren’t any walls or other obstacles between your headphones and your device.
5
Check your app permission settings. If you can’t connect to the headphones when using a specific app, make sure that app has permission to connect to Bluetooth. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is enabled for the app in question.^{[8]
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Community Q&A

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Question

What is meant by selecting the headphones?

Community Answer

Open your "Settings" and scroll down to "Bluetooth." First, make sure Bluetooth is turned on. If the headphones have a "discoverable" mode, make sure that is turned on as well. Under the Bluetooth on/off switch is a list of devices; the headphones should show up in this list and will have a message that says "Not Connected." Tap on the "Not Connected" message in the white bar with the name of the headphones in it, and it should start to sync. A message will appear to notify you if the sync was successful or not. (Sometimes it takes a while.) Make sure to keep the headphones near the phone while doing this.

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Question

I can hear out of one earbud but not the other one. What is wrong?

Genesis Frazier

Community Answer

Either, your earbuds are broken, or maybe they aren't connected to Bluetooth. It's also possible that you are too far from your phone.

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Question

Do these steps go the same with syncing wireless ear buds?

Playercircuit

Community Answer

Yes, the steps should be just the same with any sort of Bluetooth device.‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍ ‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍

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Tips

If you're prompted to enter a security code when you're pairing the headphones, you should be able to find the code in the headphones' manual.

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