AirPods & Connection to more than one iOS Devices

[gnirkatto]

Questions for the AirPods specialists:

After reading the AirPods reviews here, I decided to buy them, in particular as it was mentioned explicitly how easy and comfortable it will be to pair and to use them with multiple devices - I’m using 2 iPhones and an iPad, alternately.

So pairing was ok-ish, although a little disappointing to having to push a button after pairing them with the first device.

Using them was the bigger disappointment: apparently, after using them with one paired device, they try to reconnect to that very device only, even if this device is out of reach, and another already paired device is close.

I found that whenever I change from on device to the next, I will have to manually reconnect (not pair!) the device.

Even my old Plantronics headset supports pairing with multiple devices, and if the last coupled one is out of reach, it tries the next one, until it succeeds to connect to one of the paired devices.

My question: am I doing something wrong with the AirPods? Or is this regular behavior? If so, this would really be very disappointing, as Apple claimed to having developed special chips and SW in both the pods and the iPhones, to make coupling and using them smooth and easy, if I remember correctly.

 

[bamf-hacker]

As long as you are using the same Apple ID then the AirPods are pared to all the connected devices. I use mine with my iPhone X, 2 iPads and 2 rMBP's. If you are using a different device you just need to select the AirPods as the source and the audio goes to them. It wont auto switch since you can be using more than one device at a time.

 

[gnirkatto]

As long as you are using the same Apple ID then the AirPods are pared to all the connected devices. I use mine with my iPhone X, 2 iPads and 2 rMBP's. If you are using a different device you just need to select the AirPods as the source and the audio goes to them. It wont auto switch since you can be using more than one device at a time.

I’m ok with that, if I’m using more than one device at a time (although-my old BT headset can handle at least 2 active connections at the same time, without the need for manual intervention). But why do I have to manually connect to eg my iPhone when I’m away from home, if the last device they were connected to was my iPad, which rests at home? Again, my old BT headset does exactly that-it connects to the next paired device that is in reach, if it can’t find the one it was connected to previously.

 

[TripleOne]

Auto switch might be possible in future AirPods with the help of Face ID

 

[Raptor007]

My airPods are connected to my work iPhone, personal iPhone and iPad pro.

 

[TripleOne]

My airPods are connected to my work iPhone, personal iPhone and iPad pro.

Yeap, I have all of my devices connected to the AirPods too via iCloud.

 

[gnirkatto]

My airPods are connected to my work iPhone, personal iPhone and iPad pro.

Ok. Mine too. But that is not the reason for my dissatisfaction nor the point of this thread!?

 

[TripleOne]

Ok. Mine too. But that is not the reason for my dissatisfaction nor the point of this thread!?

I understand how tiring it can be having to manually switch to another device.

I’m just patiently waiting for the next-gen AirPods now.

 

[eyecrispy]

It is a touch annoying to have to manually change audio source but thankfully, it’s pretty easy via control center.

 

[Lee_Bo]

I use mine on my iMac, MacBook Pro, iPhone and iPad. To me they connect really smooth between devices.

 

[MB64]

For those of you that have the AirPods, do you hear a “click” when YOU hang up after a call? My beats 3 have that feature but my beats x don’t. There have been a few times where I pressed the button to end a call but caller was still on the line and I didn’t know.

 

[MB64]

I’ve had LG headphones that have that feature as well