Are you tired of constantly switching between your iPhone and MacBook to listen to music or take calls on your AirPods? What if you could seamlessly connect your AirPods to both devices at the same time? The good news is that you can! In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of splitting your AirPods between two devices, making your multitasking experience more efficient and enjoyable.
Why Would You Want to Split Your AirPods Between Two Devices?
Before we dive into the how-to part, let’s take a step back and discuss the benefits of splitting your AirPods between two devices.
Firstly, imagine being able to listen to music on your MacBook while still being able to take calls on your iPhone. This setup is especially useful for those who work remotely or frequent online meetings. You can stay connected to your iPhone for important calls while still enjoying your favorite tunes on your laptop.
Secondly, splitting your AirPods allows you to switch between devices effortlessly. No more tedious switching between devices or worrying about missing important notifications. With this setup, you can seamlessly transition between your iPhone and MacBook, ensuring you stay connected and productive throughout the day.
Lastly, splitting your AirPods is a great way to conserve battery life. By connecting your AirPods to both devices, you can take advantage of the device with the most battery life, ensuring your AirPods stay powered throughout the day.
The Basics: Understanding How AirPods Connect to Devices
Before we dive into the process of splitting your AirPods, it’s essential to understand how they connect to devices in the first place.
AirPods use Bluetooth technology to connect to your devices. When you pair your AirPods with a device, they create a unique connection that allows for audio transmission. This connection is established through a process called “pairing,” where your AirPods sync with your device’s Bluetooth signal.
By default, AirPods can only be connected to one device at a time. However, with the introduction of iOS 13 and later, Apple introduced a feature called “Multiple Audio Devices.” This feature allows you to connect your AirPods to multiple devices simultaneously, making it possible to split your AirPods between two devices.
How to Split Your AirPods Between Two Devices
Now that we’ve covered the benefits and basics, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of splitting your AirPods between two devices.
Step 1: Ensure Your Devices are Compatible
To split your AirPods between two devices, both devices must be compatible with Multiple Audio Devices. This feature is available on:
- iPhone 11 or later
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation) or later
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation) or later
- MacBook (2018 or later)
- Mac Pro (2019 or later)
Step 2: Enable Multiple Audio Devices
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth, and toggle on “Multiple Audio Devices.” This will allow your iPhone to connect to multiple devices simultaneously.
Step 3: Connect Your AirPods to Both Devices
Put your AirPods in pairing mode by opening the charging case, then press and hold the pairing button on the back of the case until the LED light starts flashing.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth, and select your AirPods from the list of available devices.
Next, on your MacBook, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, then select your AirPods from the list of available devices.
Step 4: Configure Your Audio Output
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds and Haptics, and toggle on “Audio Sharing.” This will allow you to share your audio with other devices.
On your MacBook, click the Apple menu, then select “System Preferences,” followed by “Sound.” Select your AirPods as the output device, and ensure the “Show volume in menu bar” checkbox is selected.
Managing Audio Output
Now that you’ve connected your AirPods to both devices, you’ll need to manage your audio output. Here’s how:
- On your iPhone, you can quickly switch between devices by clicking the “Now Playing” widget in the Control Center, then selecting the device you want to output audio to.
- On your MacBook, you can switch between devices by clicking the volume icon in the menu bar, then selecting the device you want to output audio to.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
As with any new technology, you may encounter some issues when splitting your AirPods between two devices. Here are some common issues and their solutions:
AirPods Not Connecting to Both Devices
If your AirPods aren’t connecting to both devices, try the following:
- Ensure both devices are compatible with Multiple Audio Devices.
- Restart both devices and your AirPods.
- Forget your AirPods on both devices, then reconnect them.
Audio Delay or Lag
If you’re experiencing audio delay or lag, try the following:
- Ensure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Restart both devices and your AirPods.
- Adjust the audio output settings on both devices to ensure they’re set to the same output device.
Conclusion
Splitting your AirPods between two devices is a game-changer for multitaskers and those who want to stay connected and productive throughout the day. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can seamlessly connect your AirPods to both your iPhone and MacBook, ensuring you never miss a beat.
Remember to troubleshoot any common issues that may arise, and don’t hesitate to reach out to Apple support if you need further assistance.
With this setup, you’ll be able to take your multitasking experience to the next level, staying connected and productive like never before.
What is AirPods multitasking and how does it work?
AirPods multitasking allows you to connect your AirPods to two devices at the same time, enabling you to seamlessly switch between them. This feature takes advantage of the AirPods’ ability to pair with multiple devices, making it easy to use them with different gadgets simultaneously.
For example, you can be listening to music on your iPhone and then suddenly take a call on your Mac without having to disconnect and reconnect your AirPods. AirPods multitasking streamlines your workflow and eliminates the hassle of constantly switching between devices.
What devices are compatible with AirPods multitasking?
AirPods multitasking is compatible with various Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. As long as your devices are running the latest software updates, you can take advantage of this feature. Additionally, you need to have AirPods (2nd generation) or later to use multitasking.
Keep in mind that not all devices can be connected to your AirPods simultaneously. For instance, you can’t connect your AirPods to an iPhone and an Android device at the same time. However, you can connect them to multiple Apple devices, making it easy to switch between them.
How do I connect my AirPods to multiple devices?
Connecting your AirPods to multiple devices is relatively straightforward. First, make sure your AirPods are paired with one device, such as your iPhone. Then, go to the Bluetooth settings on the second device you want to connect, select your AirPods, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Once your AirPods are connected to both devices, you can switch between them seamlessly. You can use the volume controls on either device to switch the audio output. When you receive an audio notification on one device, your AirPods will automatically switch to that device.
Can I use AirPods multitasking with non-Apple devices?
Unfortunately, AirPods multitasking is exclusive to Apple devices running the latest software updates. This means you can’t connect your AirPods to both an iPhone and an Android device simultaneously. However, you can still use your AirPods with non-Apple devices, but you’ll need to disconnect from one device before connecting to another.
While this limitation may be inconvenient, it’s worth noting that AirPods multitasking is designed to work seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem. If you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem, this feature can be a game-changer for your productivity and workflow.
Do I need to manually switch between devices?
One of the best things about AirPods multitasking is that you don’t need to manually switch between devices. When you receive an audio notification on one device, your AirPods will automatically switch to that device. This allows you to focus on the task at hand without worrying about manually switching your AirPods.
However, if you want to manually switch between devices, you can do so by using the volume controls on either device. Simply lower or raise the volume on the device you want to switch to, and your AirPods will automatically connect to that device.
Will AirPods multitasking drain the battery faster?
AirPods multitasking does consume more power than using them with a single device, but the impact on battery life is minimal. Apple has optimized its devices and AirPods to work efficiently together, ensuring that the additional power consumption is negligible.
In reality, the difference in battery life is barely noticeable. You can still expect to get around 5 hours of listening time on a single charge, and up to 24 hours with the charging case. If you’re concerned about battery life, you can always keep your AirPods and devices charged regularly to ensure uninterrupted use.
Is AirPods multitasking available on all AirPods models?
AirPods multitasking is available on AirPods (2nd generation) and later models. This means that if you have the original AirPods or AirPods Pro (1st generation), you won’t be able to take advantage of this feature. However, if you have AirPods Pro (2nd generation) or AirPods Max, you can use multitasking to connect to multiple devices simultaneously.
If you’re planning to upgrade to a newer AirPods model, make sure to check if multitasking is supported before making a purchase.