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To connect AirPods to an iPhone, go to the iPhone Home Screen, open the charging case with the AirPods inside, and hold it next to the phone. When the setup animation appears, tap Connect, follow any additional prompts, and tap Done. If the animation does not appear, put the AirPods into pairing mode using the control for their specific model, then choose them under Settings > Bluetooth.
Before you connect AirPods
For the simplest setup, have the AirPods in their charging case and start from the iPhone Home Screen. Apple recommends keeping the iPhone on the latest iOS for full functionality. The minimum iOS version needed to pair depends on the AirPods generation, so there is no single minimum that applies to every pair.
If you are unsure which pairing control to use, identify the AirPods model first. Pairing instructions differ by generation: some newer models use a double-tap on the front of the case, while other models use a setup button on the back. Do not assume that a control shown for one case is present on another.
Connect AirPods using the setup animation
- Go to the iPhone Home Screen. Keep the AirPods inside their charging case.
- Open the case beside the iPhone. Hold it near the phone and wait for the setup animation.
- Tap Connect. Follow any additional on-screen directions that appear for your setup.
- Tap Done when prompted to finish.
Once the setup is complete, the AirPods can play audio from the iPhone and be used for calls. If you use other supported Apple devices and are signed into the same Apple Account, setup may also be available automatically on those devices.
#1 Best Overall
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- PERSONALIZED SPATIAL AUDIO — Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you, creating a theater-like listening experience for music, TV shows, movies, games, and more.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — AirPods 4 feature the Apple-designed H2 chip. Voice Isolation improves the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
- LONG BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge. And get up to 30 hours of total listening time using the case.*
If the setup animation does not appear
You can pair AirPods through the iPhone’s Bluetooth settings instead. First, open the case and put the AirPods into pairing mode using the control specified for that model. Depending on the generation, that may mean double-tapping the front of the case or pressing the setup button on its back.
- With the AirPods in pairing mode, open Settings > Bluetooth on the iPhone.
- Look for the AirPods in the list of available devices and select them.
- Follow any instructions shown on the iPhone to complete pairing.
If you do not see the AirPods listed, confirm that you used the pairing control and method for the exact model you own. Case controls differ across generations, and an instruction for a different case may not put your AirPods into pairing mode. Keeping iOS current is also recommended; pairing requirements vary by model.
Rank #2
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation help reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse yourself in what you’re listening to.*
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — The powerful H2 chip comes to AirPods 4. Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency mode — which lets you comfortably hear and interact with the world around you exactly as it sounds — to provide the best listening experience in any environment.* And when you’re speaking with someone nearby, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — Voice Isolation improves the quality of calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
Use AirPods for audio, calls, and Siri
Listen and manage playback
After pairing, audio from the iPhone can play through the AirPods. Depending on the model, controls on the earbuds or headphones can pause or resume playback and skip tracks. The available gestures and controls are not the same on every generation.
Make and answer calls
AirPods can be used to make and answer calls from the iPhone. Call controls may be available on the AirPods themselves, but the action assigned to a press or touch depends on the model and its supported settings.
Rank #3
- WORLD’S BEST IN-EAR ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2* so you can stay fully immersed in the moment.*
- BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO PERFORMANCE — Experience breathtaking, three-dimensional audio with AirPods Pro 3. A new acoustic architecture delivers transformed bass, detailed clarity so you can hear every instrument, and stunningly vivid vocals.
- HEART RATE SENSING — Built-in heart rate sensing lets you track your heart rate and calories burned for up to 50 different workout types.* With iPhone, you will have access to the Move ring, step count, and the new Workout Buddy,* powered by Apple Intelligence.*
- LIVE TRANSLATION — Communicate across language barriers using Live Translation,* enabled by Apple Intelligence.*
- EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge. Or up to 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature.*
Use Siri
Connected AirPods can work with Siri for tasks such as finding information, playing music, and handling calls. Siri must be configured on the iPhone. Depending on the AirPods generation, you may be able to activate Siri by voice or with a press or touch control.
Check model-specific controls
To see and adjust supported options, open the AirPods settings on the iPhone after connecting them. Use the options available for your model rather than expecting every AirPods generation to offer the same gestures or Siri controls.
Rank #4
- Automatically on, automatically connected
- Easy setup for all your Apple devices
- Quick access to Siri by saying “Hey Siri”
- Double-tap to play or skip forward
- New Apple H1 headphone chip delivers faster wireless connection to your devices
Find AirPods with Find My
AirPods paired with an Apple Account device can appear in Find My. Depending on the model and settings, supported features can include viewing a map location, playing a sound, or using a nearby-finding option. The available features vary, so seeing one option described for another AirPods model does not guarantee that it will appear for yours.
Set up Find My before the AirPods go missing. If a pair is offline or has no charge, Find My may show only its last known location—or no location. Feature availability can also vary by country or region.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside noise, so you can immerse yourself in music
- Transparency mode for hearing and interacting with the world around you
- Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you
- Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to your ears
- Three sizes of soft, tapered silicone tips for a customizable fit
What to check when a feature is missing
- The setup prompt is absent: use manual pairing through the model’s pairing control and Settings > Bluetooth.
- You cannot find the case control shown in an instruction: check the instructions for your exact AirPods generation; pairing controls differ across cases.
- A gesture or Siri option is unavailable: available controls depend on the model, and Siri must be configured on the iPhone.
- Find My shows limited information: its options depend on model, settings, connection and charge state, prior setup, and country or region.
- Pairing requirements are unclear: keep iOS up to date and check the minimum requirement for the specific AirPods generation rather than relying on a universal version number.
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