How to sync airpods to apple watch

Q: Why wont my AirPods connect to my Apple Watch?

If your AirPods still wont connect to your Apple Watch, it may be running an outdated version of watchOS. AirPods are only compatible with Apple Watches running watchOS 3 or newer. To update your Apple Watch, open up the Watch app on your iPhone and tap General -> Software Update.

It's easy to pair the Apple Watch with AirPods

Updated on March 25, 2021

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It's easy to pair the Apple Watch with AirPods
What to Know
How to Pair AirPods to Apple Watch
What to Do If You Can't Connect AirPods to Apple Watch
Sync Your Music to Apple Watch
How to Disconnect AirPods From Apple Watch
How to unpair AirPods from iPhone and iPad
How to pair or unpair AirPods from Mac
How to disconnect AirPods from Mac
Connect or disconnect AirPods to Apple Watch
Unpair AirPods from Apple Watch
How to connect AirPods to Apple TV
Pair AirPods to other non-Apple devices
How to change AirPods connection within your Apple devices
Connected AirPods are the backbone of the Apple ecosystem
Why wont my AirPods connect to my Apple Watch?
Can I connect my AirPods to my Apple Watch without my phone?

What to Know

Open Control Center from the watch, tap Audio Output, tap AirPods.
Not working? Be sure the AirPods are set up properly with your iPhone.

This article explains everything you need to know about how to connect AirPods to Apple Watch, plus how to troubleshoot and disconnect them.

How to Pair AirPods to Apple Watch

To use AirPods to listen to audio loaded onto your Apple Watch, follow these steps:

Start by making sure your AirPods are set up on your iPhone.
This is the most important step of the process. When you do this, your AirPods will be automatically set up for all devices that use the same iCloud account as your iPhone, including your Watch. You won't need to do any setup on the Watch.
On your Apple Watch, from a watch face, open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
Tap the Audio Output icon (this is the AirPlay icon; a set of circles with a triangle pushing into the bottom on it).
Tap AirPods to set the Apple Watch's audio to output to the AirPods.
If you haven't set up your AirPods with your iPhone, you can still connect them directly to your Watch. To do that, press the button on the AirPods case to put them in pairing mode. Then, on the Watch, go to Settings > Bluetooth > AirPods.

What to Do If You Can't Connect AirPods to Apple Watch

Trying to connect your AirPods to Apple Watch and running into problems? Try these fixes:

If you haven't set up AirPods with iPhone, do that first.
If AirPods are set up with iPhone, but aren't showing up on your Watch, make sure your iPhone and Watch are signed into iCloud. On iPhone, go to Settings > [your name]. If you're not signed into iCloud, do so.
Make sure Airplane Mode isn't enabled on your Watch. If you see an airplane icon at the top of the watch face, open Control Center and unselect the airplane icon.
Ensure that both your Apple Watch and AirPods are properly charged and turned on.
Unpair your AirPods from your Apple Watch, then pair the devices again using the steps mentioned earlier.

Why Won't My AirPods Connect? (We've Got The Fixes)

Sync Your Music to Apple Watch

The best thing about connecting AirPods and Apple Watch is that you can load audio directly onto your Watch and leave your iPhone behind while you're out and about (this is even better if you have a Watch with cellular connectivity). You can even add podcasts or access Spotify with your Apple Watch.

How to Disconnect AirPods From Apple Watch

If you've paired AirPods to Apple Watch directly, you can unpair them by following these steps:

On your Apple Watch, tap Settings.
Tap Bluetooth.
Tap the i next to your AirPods.
Tap Forget Device.

If audio on your Apple Watch is playing to your AirPods and you want it to play through the Watch's speaker instead, you don't have to unpair the devices. Instead, open Control Center, tap the audio output icon, then tap Apple Watch.

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AirPods are currently the most loved wireless earphones delivering an unparalleled listening experience. Thanks to iCloud integration, it’s also simple to connect AirPods and AirPods Pro to your iPhone, Mac, Watch, and Apple TV. But, if you’re not a part of the Apple Ecosystem, these wireless earphones are known to deliver seamless connectivity across Windows and Android devices.

Now that you’re all set follow this straightforward guide to get started!

How to connect AirPods to iPhone and iPad
How to pair or unpair AirPods to Mac
Connect or disconnect AirPods to Apple Watch
How to connect AirPods to Apple TV
Pair AirPods to other non-Apple devices
How to change AirPods connection within your Apple devices

If you’re pairing your AirPods to your iPhone for the first time:

Go to Settings → tap Bluetooth → toggle on Bluetooth.
Open the AirPods case (keep the AirPods inside) and hold it next to your device.
Long-press the back button on the AirPods’ charging case.
Next, a small window will pop up on your iPhone. Tap Connect. (the setup guide will appear on the screen.)
If you’re using AirPods Pro or AirPods 2, you get the option to set up Siri. Tap Use Siri and follow the instructions.
Tap Done.

If you’ve paired your AirPods before with your iPhone:

Unlock your iPhone.
Open the AirPods case and hold it next to your iPhone.
Tap Connect, then tap Done.

Note: Once you connect your AirPods to your iPhone, iCloud will automatically pair it with the iPad signed in to the same Apple ID. If you’re unable to pair AirPods with your iPhone, try the below steps:

Ensure that your device is running the latest version of iOS.
Go to Control Center and check if Bluetooth is activated.
Go to Settings → Bluetooth. Ensure your AirPods are selected as your audio device.
If nothing seems to work, reset your AirPods. Then, wait for 15 seconds before connecting again.

How to unpair AirPods from iPhone and iPad

Note: When you unpair/remove the earphones from your iPhone, it automatically disconnects from the iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch sharing the same Apple ID. Let’s look at the steps.

Open Settings on your iOS device.
Tap Bluetooth.
Tap the i icon next to your AirPods.
Scroll down and tap Forget this Device → tap Forget Device again to confirm.
Note: To unpair other devices paired via iCloud, tap Forget Device again to confirm.

How to pair or unpair AirPods from Mac

When you pair AirPods with your iPhone, they will automatically be paired with your Mac. However, your Mac must support Handoff and be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID. Once done, open the AirPods case → click the Volume control in the menu bar → select AirPods.

If your earphones aren’t connected to your iOS device, you have the option to connect them directly to your Mac.

Put the AirPods in their case if they’re not already. Open the lid.
Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light starts flashing white.
Next, click the Apple menu on your Mac, then select System Preferences.
Click Bluetooth.
Finally, select AirPods in the Devices list, double-click the device name, or right-click and select Connect.
Further, click Options next to the device name for options like noise cancellation, transparency, automatic detection, and more.
Tap the volume button in the menu bar to enable or disable Noise Cancellation or Transparency.

Note: If you’re unable to connect AirPods to your Mac, try the following steps:

Check if your Mac supports AirPods and ensure it’s updated to the latest macOS.
Remove AirPods from the list and try to pair them again by finding AirPods in the Bluetooth list, clicking the ‘X’ to its right. Then, repeat the pairing process.
If nothing helps, reset your AirPods. Press and hold the button on the back of the AirPods case for at least 15 seconds until the status light starts to flash amber. Then, try again.

How to disconnect AirPods from Mac

First off, go to System Preferences → click the Bluetooth icon
Now, you have to right-click your AirPods in the Bluetooth device section.
Select Remove.
Click Forget device again to confirm.

Connect or disconnect AirPods to Apple Watch

Again, the AirPods or AirPods Pro will automatically connect to the Apple Watch if connected to the paired iPhone or Mac with the same Apple ID. However, you can manually connect the smartwatch and the earphones, like any Bluetooth device.

Put the earphones in the charging case.
Open the lid.
Open Settings on your Apple Watch, scroll down, and tap Bluetooth.
Press and hold the setup button on the rear side of your watch until the status light starts flashing white.
Next, the watch will search for the earphones and connect to them. If prompted, enter a passkey or PIN.

Unpair AirPods from Apple Watch

The steps are similar to those on the iPhone. In addition, once you unpair your AirPods from your iPhone, they’ll automatically disconnect from your Apple Watch.

Go to Settings.
Tap Bluetooth.
Next, tap the i icon next to your AirPods.
Tap Forget Device.
Tap Forget Device again to remove the AirPods from all the devices on your iCloud account.

How to connect AirPods to Apple TV

Open AirPods charging case.
Then, you must press and hold the pairing button on the back of the case until the light flashes.
Next, launch Settings on your Apple TV
Click Remotes and Devices → Bluetooth.
Finally, select AirPods from the list.

To disconnect

Open Settings on your Apple TV.
Next, click on Remotes and Devices → Bluetooth.
(or General → Bluetooth on third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ or earlier models).
Locate your headphones in the list and select them.
Now, select Forget Device.
Choose Forget Device again to confirm.

Pair AirPods to other non-Apple devices

You can connect the wireless headphones to your non-Apple devices the same way as any other Bluetooth device. Simply put the AirPods in pairing mode (check the method above) → head over to the Bluetooth settings on your device and select the headphones.

How to change AirPods connection within your Apple devices

Do you own multiple Apple devices? The primary benefit of owning AirPods is that you can switch them between your Apple devices without a hassle. It’s incredibly easy and comes in handy.

To learn how to do it, check out our guide on switching AirPods with iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.

Connected AirPods are the backbone of the Apple ecosystem

It’s as simple as that. I hope this guide simplified the steps for pairing your AirPods to your Apple and other devices. AirPods are true wireless earphones offering a great sound experience and Siri support. Hence, undoubtedly they’re my first choice for music and video streaming.

What qualities stood out to you with your AirPods? We’d love to hear about the features you’d like to see in next-gen earphones. Who knows what Apple’s headphones will look like in 10 years?

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A self-professed Geek who loves to explore all things Apple. I thoroughly enjoy discovering new hacks, troubleshooting issues, and finding and reviewing the best products and apps currently available. My expertise also includes curating opinionated and honest editorials. If not this, you might find me surfing the web or listening to audiobooks.

Why wont my AirPods connect to my Apple Watch?

If your AirPods still won't connect to your Apple Watch, it may be running an outdated version of watchOS. AirPods are only compatible with Apple Watches running watchOS 3 or newer. To update your Apple Watch, open up the Watch app on your iPhone and tap General -> Software Update.

Can I connect my AirPods to my Apple Watch without my phone?

Once they have been set up, AirPods can already connect to all models of Apple Watch without the paired iPhone being nearby: Use your AirPods - Apple Support. Listen to music on your Apple Watch - Apple Support.