Switch AirPods between Apple devices
When you’re signed in using the same Apple ID on your Apple devices, your AirPods seamlessly connect to whichever device you’re listening to (on supported AirPods).
For example, if you’re listening to music on your Mac with AirPods and you start playing a podcast, music, or other audio on your iPhone, your AirPods switch to iPhone automatically. Your AirPods also switch automatically to iPhone when you make a call.
Switch AirPods to iPhone or iPad audio
Tap
on the Now Playing screen, the Lock Screen, or in Control Center.
Select your AirPods.
Prevent AirPods from switching to your iPhone or iPad
If you’re listening to audio on your iPhone or iPad, and your AirPods switch to another device, you can easily switch back.
Tap in the “Moved to” notice at the top of the screen.
![The Lock Screen on iPhone with a message at the top reading “Moved to Mac” and a button to switch the AirPods back to iPhone.](https://help.apple.com/assets/65F1C66A94AC154A7D0E2E94/65F1C66D12C94DFB570CD201/en_US/f00d475a432b148f83d633bf742c7439.png)
If you don’t want your AirPods to switch automatically, do the following:
Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings
, then tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen.
Tap Connect to This [device], then tap When Last Connected to This [device].
Switch AirPods to Apple Watch
If your AirPods are paired with your Apple Watch, you can easily switch from another device and begin listening to the audio on your Apple Watch. See Pair AirPods with Apple Watch.
Wear your AirPods near your Apple Watch.
On your Apple Watch, tap the audio you want to listen to—for example a song in Apple Music or an episode in Apple Podcasts.
Tap the name of your AirPods to connect.
Switch AirPods to Mac
Do one of the following:
Click
in the menu bar, then choose your AirPods.
Choose Apple menu
> System Settings, click Soundin the sidebar, click Output on the right, then select your AirPods (you may need to scroll down).
Prevent AirPods from switching to your Mac
If you don’t want your AirPods to switch automatically to your Mac, do the following:
Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
> System Settings, then click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down).Below Connect to This Mac, choose “When last connected to this Mac.”
In some situations, you receive a notification about your AirPods on the screen of your Mac. Click the Connect button to confirm that you want your AirPods to switch to—or stay with—your Mac.
Switch AirPods to Apple TV
If your AirPods are paired with your Apple TV, you can easily switch from another device and begin listening to the audio on your Apple TV. See Pair AirPods with Apple TV.
Wear your AirPods near your Apple TV.
When you see the name of your AirPods appear on Apple TV, press
on the Siri remote.