Pairing AirPods with an iPhone usually takes less than a minute. Keep Bluetooth on and make sure the AirPods and charging case have enough power. Once they are paired to an iPhone signed in to your Apple Account, they can also become available on your other compatible Apple devices using that account.
Pair AirPods with your iPhone
- Unlock the iPhone and go to the Home Screen.
- Open the AirPods case with the AirPods inside and hold it near the iPhone.
- When the setup card appears, tap Connect.
- Follow the onscreen prompts. Depending on your AirPods model, you may be offered options for Siri, listening modes, or other features.
- Tap Done when setup finishes.
If the setup card does not appear, open Settings > Bluetooth and confirm Bluetooth is turned on. Put the AirPods in pairing mode using the control appropriate for your case, then select the AirPods when they appear in the Bluetooth device list.
What to know
If previously paired AirPods refuse to connect, put them back in the case for a few seconds and try again. You can also forget the AirPods in Bluetooth settings and pair them again. Pairing and Find My are related but different features; supported AirPods normally become associated with Find My as part of setup with your Apple Account.
If the AirPods still do not appear
Keep the case close to the unlocked iPhone and make sure both devices have power. If the AirPods were previously used with another device, they may reconnect there instead. Temporarily disconnecting them from that device can help. You can also open Bluetooth settings and look for the AirPods manually. If they are listed but will not connect, use the information button beside their name to forget the device, then repeat the pairing process. Resetting AirPods is a later troubleshooting step rather than something normally required for first-time pairing.