How to Put AirPods in Pairing Mode

By Suraj Giri, reviewed by Suraj Giri on September 26, 2026
Published September 26, 2026. 4 min read.

Open the case with both AirPods inside. On AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3, double-tap the front of the case; on older AirPods, hold the setup button on the back. On AirPods Max, hold the listening mode button. The status light flashes white when AirPods are ready to pair. For other problems, see AirPods pairing, battery and sound fixes; for other brands, pair and connect Bluetooth earbuds with their own controls.

Hand holding an open white earbuds case over a kitchen table — Getting earbuds ready to pair with a new device. Illustration: Gadget247News, generated with Runway

Pairing Mode by AirPods Model

Your AirPods model decides which control starts pairing mode, and every model shows the same flashing white status light.

Models	Control	What you see
AirPods 4 and AirPods 5 (both models of each), AirPods Pro 3	Double-tap the front of the open case	Status light flashes white
AirPods 1, 2 and 3, AirPods Pro 1 and 2	Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case, about 5 seconds	Status light flashes white
AirPods Max	Press and hold the listening mode button, about 5 seconds	Status light flashes white

To check which AirPods you have, see Which AirPods Do I Have? Model Numbers Explained.

Step by Step for Your Model

Each set of steps ends in the other device's Bluetooth list.

AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3

To put AirPods 4, AirPods 5 or AirPods Pro 3 in pairing mode, double-tap the case:

Put both AirPods in the charging case and open the lid.
Hold the case next to your device and double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white.
Select your AirPods in the other device's Bluetooth list.

Apple's steps for these cases use a double-tap on the front, not a setup button.

AirPods Pro 1 and 2, AirPods 1 to 3

To put AirPods 1, 2 or 3 or AirPods Pro 1 or 2 in pairing mode, hold the setup button:

Put both AirPods in the charging case and open the lid.
Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for "about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white."
Select your AirPods in the other device's Bluetooth list.

Four steps to put AirPods in pairing mode: put both AirPods in the case and open the lid, double-tap the front of the case on AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 or hold the setup button on the back on older AirPods, stop when the status light flashes white, then select the AirPods in the other device Bluetooth list — Pairing mode for AirPods with a charging case, from Apple support article 118576 and the AirPods User Guide, checked September 26, 2026. Diagram: Gadget247News

AirPods Max

To put AirPods Max in pairing mode, use the listening mode button:

Press and hold the listening mode button for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
Select AirPods Max in the other device's Bluetooth list. On a Mac, click Connect next to them in the Nearby Devices list.

How to Tell AirPods Are in Pairing Mode

A flashing white status light means your AirPods are in pairing mode and ready to pair. On AirPods 3, 4 and 5 and every AirPods Pro, the light is on the front of the case; on AirPods 1 and 2 with the Lightning Charging Case, it sits inside the case, between the AirPods. Amber means something else: less than one full charge remains, and during a reset the light flashes amber, then white.

Pairing Mode vs Reset: What's the Difference?

Pairing mode makes AirPods appear in another device's Bluetooth list so you can select them. A reset goes further: Apple's reset steps include Forget This Device on your iPhone, and "any custom settings you've made for your AirPods also reset." On AirPods 1 to 3 and AirPods Pro 1 and 2, a reset means holding the setup button for about 15 seconds until the light flashes amber, then white; AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 use three double-taps instead. Apple lists the reset last, so try pairing mode first; if you do need to hard reset AirPods, that page has every step.

Why Won't My AirPods Go Into Pairing Mode?

Check these four things when the light won't flash white:

A flat case: if no light appears, Apple says your AirPods may need charging before you can use them again.
An AirPod out of the case: Apple's pairing steps for case models start with both AirPods in the charging case.
The wrong control for your model: AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 use the double-tap; the setup button is for AirPods 1 to 3 and AirPods Pro 1 and 2.
AirPods Max that still won't flash white: Apple's first fix for AirPods Max issues is a restart, and it asks for at least 50% charge before you restart or reset them.

If the light still never flashes white, reset the AirPods or work through AirPods not connecting to your phone for Apple's full order. A case that won't charge at all is a separate problem, covered in AirPods Case Not Charging.

Now Connect Your AirPods

Once the light flashes white, finish on the device you want to use:

iPhone or iPad: hold the open case next to it and follow the steps on the screen, or see how to pair AirPods with an iPhone.
Mac: How to Connect AirPods to a Mac has the Bluetooth settings steps.
Android phone, Windows PC or TV: connect and pair AirPods from that device's Bluetooth settings, then select them when they appear.

AirPods Pairing Mode: Quick Answers

AirPods that pair but keep cutting in and out have a disconnection problem, not a pairing-mode one; Why AirPods Keep Disconnecting covers that.

Why are my AirPods suddenly not pairing?

Charge them, then put both AirPods in the case, close the lid for 15 seconds and start pairing mode again; the not-connecting guide above has Apple's full order. If the trouble began after an iOS or AirPods update, check the AirPods firmware history.

How do I force AirPods to connect?

Put them in pairing mode with the control for your model until the status light flashes white, then select them in the device's Bluetooth list. If they still won't connect, Apple's last step is a reset.