Simultaneous Airpod connection cause constant disconnections. Why?

Ian Chamandy1,

Thank you for clarifying that this is occurring with a Mac computer. What we want to establish is what is expected behavior and what is not working as expected. This next article goes over what the switching should look like.

Switch AirPods between iPhone and other devices

From the above article, "If your AirPods switch from your iPhone to another device but you want them to stay connected to your iPhone, tap the Return Headphone Connection button (in the “Moved to” notice at the top of the iPhone screen)."

"To stop AirPods from automatically switching between devices, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap next to the name of your AirPods, tap "i" Connect to This iPhone, then tap When Last Connected to This iPhone."

When the connection switches, are you receiving the alert that the connection was moved?

The tasks you are taking on the Mac that cause the switch, do they have related audio? Such as a web browsing tab with audio playing.

To better support we would appreciate the following information:

Is your Mac running the latest version of macOS Big Sur? Automatic switching was not supported until MacOS 11, so earlier versions the behavior may not be as expected. If needed, we will include links on updating your devices.

Update macOS on Mac

What version of iOS is your iPhone running?

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Could you also please identify which AirPods you have as well as the firmware version they are running?

Steps for this would be in the article Identify your AirPods

Are both devices signed in with the same Apple ID for iCloud, and is that Apple ID upgraded to Two-Factor Authentication?

Could you also let us know, is 'Automatically' chosen for the AIrPods in Bluetooth Settings on both the Mac and iPhone?

These settings as well as both devices being up to date are required for expected behavior of the automatic switching functionality. If these settings are in order and you find the switching is occurring in a way that would not be expected, we would recommend opening a direct support case with Apple Support to better investigate.

Get Support - Apple

Hi Chamandy1,

Thanks for reaching out using Apple Support Communities. We're here to help.

We understand you are wanting to better manage the automatic connection of your AirPods to your other devices. Happy to help with this!

For each device you have, you can choose if the AirPods connect to that device automatically, or only when last used on that device. Choosing 'When Last Connected' will prevent the AirPods from switching over to that device if another device is already being used. Take a look at this next article, the bottom section covers how to access this setting on both iOS and Mac devices.

Switch your AirPods to another device

Hope this helps!

Hi  Ian Chamandy1,

Thanks for following up. Sorry to hear our response was not helpful.

Your AirPods shouldn't be switching to another device while you are using it on a call, nor should a simultaneous connection be possible. If the connection is switched to one device, it disconnects from the other. Have you turned off the automatic switching feature we pointed out on any of your devices?

You mentioned a computer. Is this a Mac? The Auto-Switch feature mentioned is available on Mac and iOS devices. If using a PC, you may want to consult the Bluetooth settings on Windows for connection preferences.

Which model of AirPods do you have? You can use the link below to identify if needed. Is your iPhone caught up on software updates?

Identify your AirPods

Feel free to provide further detail on the devices referenced and we will assist if possible. Take care for now.