Apple has made it easy to connect AirPods to iPhone and iPads that don’t belong to you. Learn how to connect AirPods to another device in just a few easy steps. Let's start learning how to connect AirPods to iPhones and iPads, no matter who they belong to!

Why You'll Love This Tip:

Listen to music or movies with a friend when you pair your AirPods to someone else's iPhone or iPad.
Let a friend with an iPhone or iPad who doesn't have AirPods borrow yours and easily connect to their device.

How to Connect AirPods to iPhone or iPad Even if They Aren’t Yours

System Requirements

This tip works on iPhones running iOS 16 or later or iPads running iPadOS 16 or later; however, the screenshots were taken on an iPhone running iOS 18. Find out how to update to the latest versions of iOS and iPadOS.

Can you use someone else's AirPods? Yes! Let's go over how to connect to someone else's AirPods. It's as simple as opening the AirPods case near the device and following the on-screen prompts to pair the AirPods. Here's how to pair AirPods to iPhones and iPads, no matter who owns them:

Unlock the iPhone or iPad that you want to connect to, and open the AirPods case near the new device.
A prompt labeled Not Your AirPods will appear on the screen. Tap Connect.
Following the on-screen prompts, press and hold the Setup button on the back of the AirPods' case. This is how to put AirPods in pair mode.
You can release the button once the status light changes to white. Your AirPods will begin connecting.
When your AirPods finish connecting, you'll get a notification that the owner of the AirPods will be able to see its location; tap OK.
If the AirPods have new features, you may see notifications explaining what they are and how to use them, just follow the on screen directions to enable or disable the features.

Now you know how to put AirPods in pairing mode and how to connect AirPods to a new device, even if it belongs to someone else. Once you're connected to these headphones, don't forget to check your AirPods notifications and make sure you'll get the notifications you need via your AirPods.

That's how to connect AirPods to another iPhone. This process works the same for second and third-generation AirPods, as well as first and second-generation AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. The AirPods you see on-screen will look different depending on which ones you use. Now you can continue listening with your AirPods on multiple iPhones or iPads. If you've just upgraded your iPhone, you can even use the above steps to connect your AirPods to a new iPhone. Next, find out how to connect AirPods to a laptop, or you can also learn how to pair your Beats earbuds to your iPhone.