AirPods compatibility: What Do AirPods work with

Thinking of buying some AirPods but wondering what AirPods work with? You’ve come to the right place! We’ll be looking at all the devices that AirPods are compatible with, including which iPhones AirPods work with, if the Apple Watch works with AirPods,  which Apple TV models support AirPods, whether you can connect AirPods to a Mac, and whether Apple’s AirPods work with Andoird, Google and other smarthones, PCs and even games consoles such as the PS4.

Products that work with AirPods

Here’s a quick summary of the devices that work with AirPods that we cover in this article:

• iPhones
• Apple Watch
• Apple TV
• Mac
• Android phones
• PCs

Read on for more information bout how to pair the AirPods with your gadgets.

Which iPhones work with AirPods?

AirPods can work with any device that’s running iOS 10 or later, watchOS 3 and macOS Sierra, or an Apple TV with tvOS 1 or later – so that includes iPhone 5, SE and the iPhone 6 and onwards.

You will need an iCloud account though as that’s what ‘links’ them to your devices.

It’s really easy to use the AirPods with your iPhone.

How to connect AirPods to an iPhone

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone.
2. Go to the Home screen.
3. Put your AirPods in their case – keep the lid – and hold them beside your iPhone.
4. A pop up will appear on your iPhone indicating that you should “Connect”. 
5. Click on the Connect tab.
6. Go through the options that appear on the iPhone screen.

If you are signed into iCloud on your iPhone then any other device you own that’s signed into the same iCloud account will be able to recognise and connect to your AirPods.

Do AirPods work with Apple Watch?

As long as your watch is running watchOS 3 or later (Watch OS 3 came out in September 2016 and works with all Apple Watches) your watch can work with the AirPods. Watch OS 5 launched in September 2018 and doesn’t support the original Apple Watch but since that watch can run WatchOS 3 and later you will be able to use the AirPods with it.

How to connect AirPods to an Apple Watch

The Apple Watch should instantly connect to your AirPods as long as it is linked to the same iCloud account as they are.

If they don’t connect automatically, you can connect them to the AirPods by following the steps below:

How to connect AirPods to Apple Watch

1. Put the AirPods in their case with the lid open.
2. Press the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
3. Open Settings on the Watch.
4. Tap on Bluetooth.
5. Select your AirPods from the Bluetooth devices that appear.
6. Wait for the word Paired to appear beside them.

Can AirPods connect to Apple TV?

As long as your Apple TV is running tvOS 1 or later – essentially any Apple TV with an App Store – you’ll be able to use the AirPods with it.

However, where the iPhone or Apple Watch will pair automatically, you will have to access settings on your Apple TV in order to pair the AirPods.

How to connect AirPods to Apple TV

1. Put the AirPods in their case with the lid open.
2. Press the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
3. Open Settings on the Apple TV.
4. Click on Remotes & Devices.
5. Click on Bluetooth.
6. Select your AirPods from the Bluetooth devices that appear.
7. Wait for the word Connected to appear beside the AirPods.

Can AirPods connect to a Mac?

AirPods will connect to any Mac that is running at least macOS Sierra. That’s the version of macOS that launched in 2016 and is compatible with any Mac from 2009 or 2010 onwards including:

• 2009 MacBook or later
• 2010 MacBook Air or later
• 2010 MacBook Pro or later
• 2010 Mac mini or later
• 2009 iMac or later
• 2010 Mac Pro or later

Here’s how to find out which Mac you have.

Connect your AirPods to your Mac

1. Open System Preferences on your Mac.
2. Click on Bluetooth and turn it on.
3. Place our AirPods in their case with the lid open.
4. Press the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
5. Your AirPods should appear in the list of devices. 
Click on Connect.

We explain how to use your AirPods with a Mac here.

Do AirPods work with Samsung and Google phones?

AirPods can work with any Bluetooth equipped device including Android phones, such as the Galaxy range and also Google’s Pixel phones.

You won’t be able to use all the features – for example, you won’t be able to speak Siri controls – but you will be able to use the AirPods to listen to music or talk on the phone, for example.

How to connect AirPods to an Android phone

To connect to your Android phone – whatever brand makes it, be it Samsung or Google – follow these steps:

1. Open settings on your non-Apple phone.
2. Turn on Bluetooth.
3. Place our AirPods in their case with the lid open.
4. Press the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
5. Your AirPods should appear in the list of devices. Select them.
6. Wait for the devices to pair.

Will AirPods work with a PC?

The process is similar if you are connecting AirPods to a PC – as long as it has Bluetooth switched on.

How to connect AirPods to a PC

1. As with the Mac, you’ll need to open the Bluetooth settings menu on the PC.
2. Turn on Bluetooth.
3. Place our AirPods in their case with the lid open.
4. Press the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
5. Your AirPods should appear in the list of devices. 
Click on Connect.

Can AirPods connect to PS4, Xbox, Nintendo?

When it comes to games consoles it’s not as simple.

• Sony only allows its own devices to pair with the PS4 via Bluetooth.
• The Xbox doesn’t support Bluetooth headsets without an adaptor.
• You’ll encounter similar problems with the Nintendo Switch.

There are apps and dongles that may enable you to use your AirPods with one of these devices though and we’ll look at that in a separate article.