How to connect two pairs of AirPods to one phone

⚡️Fast fix

• Connect your AirPods to your iPhone first and make sure they’re active.
• Have both AirPod charging cases nearby.
• Use the Share Audio feature in the iPhone Control Center.

You’re on the train with a friend and want to share your favorite playlist — without playing DJ for the entire car. Did you know you can share audio on an iPhone® by connecting two pairs of AirPods® to your device? It’s the perfect solution, and it’s easier than you might think.

At Asurion, we’re here to help you make the most of your devices. We study tech so we can offer insights, like Bluetooth® connection tips and how to connect AirPods to Android. Here’s our guide on how to connect two pairs of AirPods to one phone so you can conveniently share audio.

What you need for AirPods audio sharing

You can connect an iPhone to two AirPods at the same time over Bluetooth. However, you do need to make sure all of the devices support audio sharing.

Compatible devices for audio sharing include:

• iPhone 8 or later
• iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later
• AirPods Pro (all models)
• AirPods Max (all models)
• AirPods (all models)

You also need your iPhone to be on iOS 13 or later. If your iPhone currently uses an earlier version of iOS, go to the Settings app. Under General > Software Update, download and install the latest iOS version.

How to pair a second set of AirPods to your phone

When sharing audio with someone else, start by connecting your own AirPods. If they aren’t already paired with your device, open the case near your iPhone. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the pairing:

1. Put at least one of your AirPods in your ears. Your iPhone should automatically connect to them.
2. If your AirPods don’t automatically connect, open the Settings app.
3. Go to Bluetooth, then select your AirPods from the devices list to connect to them.
4. Start playing your audio to make sure it plays through your AirPods.

Then, once paired, follow these steps to share audio:

1. Open the Control Center on your iPhone by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (for iPhones with Face ID®) or swiping up from the bottom of the screen (for iPhones with a Home button).
2. Tap the Now Playing screen in the Control Center, which should show the audio you’re listening to.
3. Select your AirPods, and choose Share Audio.
4. Keep the other pair of AirPods near your iPhone to help them connect. You may need to open the AirPod case.
5. When your iPhone detects the second pair of AirPods, select Share Audio again.

You may see some additional instructions on screen. Follow them to complete the connection. Then, select the newly connected second pair of AirPods to play audio through them as well as the first pair. Once both pairs of AirPods are connected to your iPhone, you and someone else can listen to the same audio from your phone simultaneously.

You can set each person’s volume level separately by pressing and holding the volume bar in the Control Center. You’ll see two separate volume bars, each labeled with the name of the corresponding pair of AirPods. Drag the volume level up or down to adjust for each pair separately.

When you’re ready to stop sharing audio, tap the icon that looks like two people in the Now Playing section of the Control Center. Tap the pair of AirPods you want to disconnect. You can continue playing audio through the other pair of connected AirPods.

Troubleshoot AirPods sharing connection issues

If you can’t get a second pair of AirPods to connect to your iPhone, don’t worry. As an easy first troubleshooting step, make sure both pairs of AirPods have enough battery life.

You can often solve the connection issues with one of these fixes:

• Make sure you’re using an iPhone 8 or later with compatible headphones.
• Check for an iOS update—make sure you’re using iOS 13 or later.
• Restart your iPhone.
• Toggle Bluetooth on and off.
• Disconnect both pairs of AirPods from any other nearby devices.
• Disconnect your AirPods from your iPhone and then repair them.

While playing audio, both people should stay near the iPhone for the best connection. If you get too far away from the device, the connection may drop or go in and out.