How to stop AirPods from auto-switching between devices

⚡Fast fix

• In Bluetooth® settings, switch to When Last Connected to This Device.
• Change the settings across all of your paired Apple devices.
• Try restarting your device if the setting changes don’t seem to stick.

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AirPods® are designed to let you seamlessly listen to audio from all of your devices. You can go from listening to your favorite audiobook on your iPhone® to listening to a video on your Macbook® without many steps in between. However, this convenience also creates an issue for many users: AirPods auto-switching between devices when you don’t want them to.

It’s annoying when you’re trying to use your AirPods to listen to audio on one device, but they keep disconnecting to switch to another device. Fortunately, Asurion Experts have the know-how to help when technology gets frustrating. Follow this guide to find out how to stop autoswitch on AirPods.

Understand how automatic switching works

AirPods shift audio between Apple devices for your convenience. The idea is that automatic switching makes it as easy as possible to use your AirPods to listen to audio from multiple devices.

Not all AirPods models support automatic switching, though. To automatically switch from your iPhone, iPad®, Mac, or Apple Watch®, you need one of the following AirPod models:

• AirPods Max
• AirPods 2, 3, and 4
• AirPods Pro 1, 2, and 3 

Say you’re using your AirPods to listen to music from your Mac. Then a call comes in on your iPhone. Your AirPods may automatically switch to your iPhone so the call audio routes through your AirPods.

If you want the audio to switch, this feature makes using your AirPods with multiple Apple devices very easy and convenient. You don’t have to do anything. But when you don’t want to change devices, automatic switching becomes a frustrating obstacle you have to undo to get back to your original audio.  

Auto-switching isn’t the only potential pitfall with AirPods. It’s also common for the microphone to stop working. Try these quick fixes for AirPod microphones that won't work.

Change settings on iPhone or iPad

You can turn off automatic switching on your devices to prevent this from happening. Then, if you want to go from listening to audio on one device to another with your AirPods, you’ll have to manually connect them to the device of your choosing.

Follow these steps to turn off the auto switch on AirPods for your iPhone or iPad:

1. Put your AirPods in your ears and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
3. Select the More information button next to your connected AirPods in the list of your devices. The button looks like a lowercase "i" in a circle.
4. Go to Connect to This iPhone and select When Last Connected to This iPhone/iPad.

Now, your AirPods will automatically connect only to your iPhone or iPad if that device was the last one you connected them to. If you connect them to your iPhone, then manually switch to your Mac, your AirPods will no longer automatically connect to your iPhone again the next time. You’ll have to connect them manually by selecting them in Bluetooth settings.

Try these troubleshooting steps to fix AirPods that aren't connecting to your iPhone. And if your AirPods are ringing in the case, there are a few quick fixes for that, too.

Limit switching across your Apple ecosystem

For Mac, the steps to turn off AirPods auto switch between devices are very similar:

1. Put your AirPods in and connect to your Mac.
2. Open the Apple menu from the Mac menu bar that runs along the top of your screen.
3. Go to System Settings > Bluetooth.
4. Under My Devices, find your connected AirPods. Select the More information button next to them.
5. Under Connect to this Mac, select When last connected to this Mac.

You can repeat a similar process on your Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro to stop auto-switching with those devices, too. For other playback devices:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. 
2. Go to General > AirPlay & Continuity. 
3. Turn off Keep Audio with Headphones.

With this setting turned on, you’ll see a banner at the top of your iPhone screen when a car, speaker, or other playback device is available while using your AirPods. If you want to transfer your audio from your AirPods to that device, just tap the AirPlay button.

Once you adjust the AirPod Pro auto-switch settings on each of your devices, you’ll have to manually switch audio from one device to another. If you’re struggling with AirPod connections and no other troubleshooting steps are working, use this guide on how to reset your AirPods.