Have you ever lost one of your AirPods? If so, you know how frustrating it can be to try to use the remaining AirPod by itself. The good news is that it is possible to pair mismatched AirPods, even if they are from different generations. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
First, you’ll need to reset both AirPods. To do this, place both AirPods in the charging case and close the lid. Wait 15 seconds, then open the lid and press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for at least 15 seconds. The LED light on the charging case will start to flash white, which means that the AirPods are reset. Once the AirPods are reset, you can start the pairing process. Open the lid of the charging case and hold the case close to your iPhone. The AirPods will automatically pair with your iPhone.
Identify the Model and Serial Number
Before you can pair mismatched AirPods, you need to identify the model and serial number of each AirPod. To do this, follow these steps:
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Place both AirPods in the charging case and close the lid.
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Open the lid of the charging case and hold it close to your iPhone or iPad.
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A pop-up window will appear on your iPhone or iPad displaying the model and serial number of each AirPod.
The model number is a four-digit number that can be found on the bottom of the charging case and the back of each AirPod. The serial number is a 12-digit number that can be found on the bottom of the charging case and the back of the left AirPod.
Once you have identified the model and serial number of each AirPod, you can proceed to the next step of pairing them.
Here is a table summarizing the steps for identifying the model and serial number of your AirPods:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Place both AirPods in the charging case and close the lid. |
| 2 | Open the lid of the charging case and hold it close to your iPhone or iPad. |
| 3 | A pop-up window will appear on your iPhone or iPad displaying the model and serial number of each AirPod. |
Put AirPods in Case and Charge
Before starting the pairing process, make sure both AirPods are in their charging case and fully charged. The charging case LED should be solid green when the AirPods are fully charged.
Open the Charging Case
Once the AirPods are charged, open the charging case lid and hold it close to your device.
Pair the AirPods
You will see a pairing request appear on your device screen. Tap “Connect” to pair the AirPods with your device.
Pair Mismatched AirPods
If you have a pair of mismatched AirPods, follow these steps to pair them:
| AirPod | Steps |
|---|---|
| Left AirPod | Place the left AirPod in the charging case and close the lid. |
| Right AirPod | Place the right AirPod in the charging case with the lid open. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the charging case for about 15 seconds, until the LED indicator light flashes white. Remove the right AirPod from the case and place it in your ear. |
| Both AirPods | Repeat step 2 with the left AirPod. Tap “Connect” on your device screen when the pairing request appears. The AirPods are now paired and ready to use. |
Press and Hold Pairing Button
To pair mismatched AirPods, you’ll need to press and hold the pairing button on the back of the case. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide:
- Open the lid of both AirPods cases.
- Press and hold the pairing button on the back of one case for about 5 seconds.
- The status light on the case will flash white.
- Now, press and hold the pairing button on the back of the other case for about 5 seconds.
- The status light on both cases will flash white and then change to green.
- Your AirPods are now paired.
Here’s a table summarizing the steps:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the lid of both AirPods cases. |
| 2 | Press and hold the pairing button on the back of one case for about 5 seconds. |
| 3 | The status light on the case will flash white. |
| 4 | Now, press and hold the pairing button on the back of the other case for about 5 seconds. |
| 5 | The status light on both cases will flash white and then change to green. |
| 6 | Your AirPods are now paired. |
Watch for Blinking Light
To tell which AirPod is which, place both AirPods in their case and open the lid. A small, round button is found on the back of the case. Press and hold this button for a few seconds until the status light inside the case starts blinking white. If only one AirPod is blinking, remove it from the case and place it back in. The light should now blink for both AirPods.
If the light does not blink, try the following:
- Make sure the AirPods are properly seated in the case.
- Check that the case is charged.
- Reset the AirPods by pressing and holding the setup button for 15 seconds.
| AirPods Light | Status |
|---|---|
| Blinking White | Pairing mode |
| Blinking Red | Battery low |
| Solid White | Connected |
| Solid Amber | Charging |
Connect AirPods to Bluetooth
Step 1: Open the Bluetooth settings on your device.
Go to “Settings” > “Bluetooth” on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Step 2: Put your AirPods in pairing mode.
Open the lid of the AirPods case and press and hold the setup button on the back for a few seconds.
Step 3: Select your AirPods from the list of available devices.
Once your AirPods are in pairing mode, they will appear in the list of available Bluetooth devices. Select them to connect.
Step 4: Verify the connection.
Once your AirPods are connected, you should see a “Connected” status next to them in the Bluetooth settings.
Step 5: Test the connection.
Play some music or make a phone call to ensure your AirPods are working properly.
Step 6: Configure additional settings (optional).
In the Bluetooth settings for your AirPods, you can configure additional options such as the microphone settings, noise cancellation, and more.
7. Troubleshooting tips for pairing mismatched AirPods
If you are having trouble pairing mismatched AirPods, try the following tips:
- Make sure that both AirPods are in the charging case and that the lid is open.
- Press and hold the setup button on the back of the charging case for at least 10 seconds, until the status light flashes white.
- Go to the Bluetooth settings on your device and forget both AirPods.
- Put both AirPods in pairing mode by pressing and holding the setup button on the back of each AirPod for a few seconds.
- Select one of the AirPods from the list of available Bluetooth devices on your device.
- Once the first AirPod is connected, put the other AirPod in the charging case and close the lid.
- Open the lid of the charging case again and the second AirPod should connect automatically.
How to Pair Mismatched AirPods
If you have lost one of your AirPods and purchased a replacement, you may be wondering how to pair the mismatched AirPods. The good news is that it is possible to pair mismatched AirPods. Here are the steps on how to do it:
- Put both AirPods in the charging case.
- Open the charging case and hold the button on the back for 15 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
- Release the button and open the Bluetooth settings on your device.
- Tap on the name of your AirPods to connect them.
Once you have paired the mismatched AirPods, they will work just like any other pair of AirPods. You can use them to listen to music, make phone calls, and more.
