To connect AirPods Max, open Bluetooth, hold the noise control button, then select the headset on iPhone, Android, Mac, or Windows.
You bought these over-ear headphones for rich sound and tight noise control. Pairing should be quick and repeatable. This guide shows the fastest paths on each platform, plus fixes when the link refuses to stick. Follow the steps once and you can swap between phone, laptop, and tablet without fuss.
Before you start, charge the headset for a few minutes, keep the ear cups out of the Smart Case, and stay within a meter or two of the device you want to pair. If the light never turns white, you’re not in pairing mode yet.
Quick Device Paths And Checks
| Device | Fast Path | What To Check |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Or iPad | Open case, hold near device, follow on-screen card; or go to Settings > Bluetooth and pick the headset. | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, iOS current, status light flashing white. |
| Mac | Menu bar Control Center > Bluetooth > select the headset; or System Settings > Bluetooth. | macOS current, no other computer already connected. |
| Android | Settings > Bluetooth > Pair new device; hold the noise control button until the light flashes white. | Bluetooth on; Location on for Fast Pair phones. |
| Windows | Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth, then pick the headset. | Bluetooth radio present and on; drivers current. |
| Apple TV | Settings > Remotes And Devices > Bluetooth, then select the headset. | tvOS current and the headset in pairing mode. |
How To Connect AirPods Max To Any Device (Quick Start)
iPhone Or iPad
- Unlock the phone or tablet and stay on the Home screen.
- Take the headset out of the Smart Case and hold it near the device.
- When the setup card appears, tap Connect.
- If no card shows, open Settings > Bluetooth and pick the headset under Other Devices.
- Press and hold the noise control button until the status light flashes white if it doesn’t show in the list.
Mac
- Open Control Center in the menu bar, click Bluetooth, then select the headset.
- If you don’t see it, open System Settings > Bluetooth and press the noise control button until the light flashes white.
- Select Connect.
- In Sound settings, set Output and Input to the headset for calls and music.
Apple TV
- Put the headset in pairing mode by holding the noise control button until the light flashes white.
- On Apple TV, open Settings > Remotes And Devices > Bluetooth.
- Pick the headset and connect.
- Use the Digital Crown to adjust volume during playback.
Android Phones And Tablets
- Open Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap Pair new device.
- Hold the noise control button until the light flashes white.
- Pick the headset and confirm the pairing code. Some phones also show a pop-up via Fast Pair; if you see it, tap Connect.
Windows Laptops And PCs
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
- Click Add device > Bluetooth.
- Hold the noise control button until the light flashes white.
- Pick the headset and allow pairing.
- Open Sound settings and set Output and Input to the headset to route calls and music.
Switch Audio Output And Controls
Once paired, switching is easy. On iPhone, open Control Center, touch the AirPlay icon in the Now Playing tile, and pick the headset. On Mac, use the menu bar Sound icon to select output and mic. On Android, pull the quick settings shade, long-press Bluetooth, and tap the connected headset under Audio. On Windows, click the volume icon and choose the headset from the output picker.
Press the noise control button to cycle between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency. Turn the Digital Crown to change volume; press once to play or pause, twice to skip forward, three times to go back. Hold the Crown to speak to Siri on Apple gear.
If you want spatial audio with head tracking on Apple devices, open Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info button next to the headset, and turn on the modes you like. On Mac, open Control Center > Sound and toggle Spatial Audio during playback. Non-Apple devices still get stereo and mic functions, just without Siri or automatic device switching.
Connection Facts Backed By The Makers
Apple’s pairing steps match the same button sequence here, including the white-light cue and the manual route through Bluetooth settings—see Apple’s setup guide. Windows pairing details live in the system guide with the exact Settings path for Windows 11 and Windows 10—see the Windows pairing guide.
Fix Common Pairing Problems
Reset The Headphones
A stale link is the usual reason a phone or laptop refuses to connect. First, put the headset back in pairing mode and try again. If that fails, reset: press and hold the noise control button and the Digital Crown together until the light turns amber, then white. Re-pair after the reset finishes.
Forget And Re-Pair
On iPhone and iPad, open Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info button next to the headset, and choose Forget This Device. On Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth, click the info button, and remove it. On Android, unpair in Bluetooth settings. On Windows, remove the device under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices. Then run the normal pairing steps.
Charge And Update
Low battery can block pairing. Give the headset ten minutes on a charger, then try again. Updates for the headset install while connected to Apple gear. Keep the headset near an iPhone or iPad on Wi-Fi, and you’ll pick up firmware updates passively.
Interference And Range
Bluetooth prefers clear air. Move away from busy USB hubs and Wi-Fi routers, and keep the phone or laptop within a few meters. Microwaves and crowded 2.4 GHz spaces can cause dropouts. If your office is noisy on radio bands, try a different room or turn off unused radios.
Windows Bluetooth Quirks
On some PCs, the headset pairs for voice but not high-quality audio until you choose the stereo profile. In Sound settings, pick the entry labeled Stereo for playback and the Hands-Free entry for calls when needed. Update the Bluetooth adapter driver from the laptop maker if the stereo option is missing. Reboot after driver changes.
Troubleshooting Quick Table
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No white light | Not in pairing mode | Hold the noise control button 5–10 seconds until white. |
| Shows in list but fails to connect | Cached pairing data | Forget on nearby devices, reboot phone and headset, re-pair. |
| Choppy audio | Radio noise or range | Move closer, shield from hubs/routers, switch off unused gear. |
| Mic not working on Windows | Wrong input device | Set input to the headset in Sound settings. |
| Works on phone, not on laptop | Already linked to another device | Disable Bluetooth on the last device, then connect again. |
| No pop-up on iPhone | Animation requires proximity | Use Settings > Bluetooth and connect from the list. |
Pro Tips For A Stable Link
Name The Headset
Give the headphones a clear name so you can spot them fast across devices. On iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth > info and edit Name. On Mac, rename under System Settings > Bluetooth. Short names reduce mix-ups when family or coworkers use the same gear.
Use One Device At A Time
The headset can remember many devices but keeps one active audio path. If sound keeps jumping, turn off Bluetooth on the gadget you’re not using, then pick the headset on the one you want.
Switch Faster On Apple Gear
On iPhone and iPad, long-press the volume slider in Control Center and tap the output picker. On Mac, add the Sound icon to the menu bar in Control Center settings for one-click swaps. If handoff feels slow, disable Automatic Switching in the Bluetooth info panel and pick devices manually.
Balance Sound And Battery
Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio use more power. If you spend hours on calls, tap the info button and pick a single mode you like. Lower the volume a notch or two in quiet rooms to stretch time between charges.
Know The Button Map
Right ear cup: noise control button up top, Digital Crown near the back. That layout helps when you start pairing blind. The status LED sits under the right ear cup, next to the Lightning port, so you can spot white, amber, or green without removing the pads.
One-Minute Checklist
- Hold the noise control button until you see a white light.
- Open Bluetooth settings on the phone, tablet, computer, or Apple TV.
- Pick the headset from the list and confirm any code.
- Set Output and Input to the headset if you want mic and music on the same device.
- If the link fails, reset with noise control + Digital Crown, then re-pair.
When To Use A Cable
Most folks stick to wireless, but a cable can help on flights or when a laptop blocks Bluetooth. Use a Lightning to 3.5 mm audio cable from Apple or a certified maker. Plug into the right ear cup and the other end into the plane seat jack or computer. The mic won’t pass over a plain analog cable, so keep Bluetooth handy for calls.
Care For Reliable Pairing
Keep the ear cups and headband clean and dry. Moisture on ear pads can confuse sensors and pause playback. Store the headset in the Smart Case when you travel so low-power mode kicks in. Avoid crushing the ear cups in a packed bag; pressed buttons can keep the headset awake and drain the battery, which hurts pairing the next day.
What You Lose On Non-Apple Devices
Siri and automatic switching are Apple-only. Spatial audio controls, ear detection settings, and the Ear Tip Fit Test don’t apply here, but Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency still work from the button. Android and Windows users can still map media controls and see battery level through third-party widgets or built-in tiles on some phones.
Audio Sharing On Apple Gear
You can listen with two sets of compatible headphones at once on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Start playback, tap the AirPlay icon, choose Share Audio, then bring the second pair near the device and connect. Each listener can set a different volume. For movies beside a friend, this beats passing one ear cup back and forth.
Call Quality Tips
Tilt the ear cups so the mesh lines match your jaw. The beam-forming mic array needs a clear path. If the caller hears wind, cup your palm near the right ear for a moment to shield the ports. In video apps, open audio settings and pick the headset as both mic and speaker to avoid echo.
Travel And Multi-Device Life
Before boarding, pair to the tablet you use for movies and switch off Bluetooth on your phone so it doesn’t grab the link. At work, keep the USB dongles and 2.4 GHz mice away from the laptop’s Bluetooth module. On desktops, a short USB-C extension that moves the Bluetooth adapter to the front panel can cut dropouts by placing the antenna in open air.
You Now Have A Repeatable Playbook
Pair once, name the headset, set your audio outputs, and keep the reset combo handy. With those habits, you can jump between phone, Mac, Android, and Windows in seconds and keep music and calls flowing.