before iOS 17, I could listen to audio on iPad and switch to answer a phone call by selecting AirPods on the phone. This is no longer an option on the phone. There is only a selection for the phone speaker.
How do I answer a phone call using AirPods while listening to iPad audio ?
iPhone SE (3rd generation)
I have also found that if you select “Connect to this Phone / Automatically” in the phone settings, that it will grab the AirPods connection from the iPad and answer the phone call, but it will then remain connected to the phone and start playing music from the phone when you are finished with the phone call.
It appears that the only way to get the AirPods to go back to the iPad is to go to iPad settings and turn Bluetooth off/on and then re-connect the AirPods.
I have also found that if you select “Connect to this Phone / Automatically” in the phone settings, that it will grab the AirPods connection from the iPad and answer the phone call, but it will then remain connected to the phone and start playing music from the phone when you are finished with the phone call.
It appears that the only way to get the AirPods to go back to the iPad is to go to iPad settings and turn Bluetooth off/on and then re-connect the AirPods.
Thanks for reaching out fdm069,
It sounds like you're having trouble switching between audio sources with your AirPods. We can help.
You can check out these steps to Switch your AirPods to another device:
Switch manually
If necessary, follow these steps to choose a different device to play audio or to switch the audio to different headphones or speakers.
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
1. Open Control Center on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
2. Touch and hold the audio card in the upper-right corner of Control Center to control audio.
3. Tap, then choose the device that you want from the list.
Hope that helps.
Take care.
But why can’t you click on the speaker option and have the ability to select AirPods anymore? Seems like an easy update and a major inconvenience to not have that easy ability mid call. Having to go to the control center is far more clicks and swipes.
Precisely my question. Sort of hard to go to control center and go two levels deep to get to Bluetooth settings while you are trying to answer the phone call.
Other than emojis which I do not use, it appears that the ‘improvements’ to the phone app made it worse.
The same problem. I have Airpods connected to the PC and on iOS 16 it was possible to switch to Airpods in the outputs, even when they were not connected to the phone. Now it doesn't work and I have to go to BT.
Same issue. I have a personal iPhone and a work iPhone. I stream through my Airpods with my personal phone and when I answer my work iPhone, the toggle to connect the Airpods that used to be in the speaker menu on the call screen is now gone. It sounds unprofessional as I'm trying to hold my phone to hear a client speak all while trying to navigate the options menu to connect to my airpods.
Does Apple plan on bringing back this feature? It is definetly a downgrade.
Also, may I add that when they do connect, the volume is only halfway when normally I set it to maximum. I have to adjust the volume every single time when in the past I didn't.
ios 17 airpods will not switch from iPad to phone during call
