AirPods connecting to Multiple Devices?

vrc0503 wrote:

I have to go to my mac book pro and then connect them. So apparently the connection on the iphone is lost. So in case i want to use it back i have to go to the bluetooth and then connect them. Is there a solution to stay connected in all devices at same time.

This is not possible with any Bluetooth device from any manufacturer. A BT device can only be connected to one "master" at a time. The AirPods will remain connected to the last device they connected to, unless that device is not within range; this is a small improvement over most other BT devices; if you were using the AirPods with your Mac, and the Mac was out of range, they will connect to your phone.

Yes. One AirPod connected to iPhone, another airpod connected to Macbook.

1. turn on bluetooth on iPhone, turn off bluetooth on Mac.

2. Insert one airpod into your ear, keep the other airpod in case.

3. connect first airpod to iPhone (then try playing some music)

4. turn on bluetooth on Mac

5. on Mac, click connect to airpods

6. immediately open case and insert 2nd airpod into ear. (then try playing other music on Mac)

7. VOILA! you will hear 2 different music on each airpod/ear!! AirPods is now connected to 2 devices concurrently!!

ENJOY1! 🙂

My AirPods switch seamlessly. I can have them paired to my iPad or Mac and if my phone rings, I can answer the call and it hands it off just fine. Sometimes I just wish I could assign one source to one pod and another to the other side, but it is so rare, that it is not a problem.

Lawrence Finch said not possible with any BT device to connect to multiple sources.

Sennheiser PXC550 absolutely do this and if I am listening to music on laptop and my phone rings it pauses and jumps to my call. Panasonic ANC headphones also do this, apparently allowing two different sources to play at same time. QC35's connect to multiple devices as well - not sure how the switching between devices is. My Beats Studio 3's seem to not cause me any problems being synced to both phone and laptop. Only my AirPods seem to get confused by being connected to "all my devices logged into same iCloud account" - total fail.

They do connect. Seamlessly is just based on your own opinion. All you have to do is open AirPlay on your device and click on the AirPods. 🙂

Yes certainly this method works. Just need to play music as quick as you can from second device. Otherwise, another AirPods will receive signal from first device too.

No, they don't. They connect to one at a time, and it's relatively easy to switch. Not a matter of opinion.

Jonathan Ramsay1 wrote:

Yes this is very possible. Jabra 65T do this very well. You just press stop on one device and play on the other.

Yes, and the AirPods can do that. But the OP wants to hear simultaneously from 2 sources, not switch between them.

The AirPods most definitely do not seem to do that. Please do not spread misinformation. The AirPods do not allow seamless automatic switching of playback between two devices. They need to be manually selected as the output from the second device. There are other Bluetooth earphones that do not require this manual selection. You just hit play on the second device and that’s it.

100% agree. Absolutely lame. My Bose headphones switch audio sources seamlessly (i.e., multiple Bluetooth connections simultaneously) and it's amazing. I am listening to music on my MacBook. If I get a call on my iPhone (and answer it), Bose knows to stop the music on the laptop and switch to the call on the iPhone. When the call ends, Bose switches back to the music on the laptop. Manual switching with the AirPods is extremely annoying.

“all you have to do” means it’s not seamless. With Bose QC35you do nothing. Your pair them to your iPhone and Mac once. From then on you turn on the headphones, they connect to both devices, and that’s it. You’re listening to music on your Mac and a call comes in via your iPhone ? No problem. The answer the call and the music from the Mac stops. iPhone call ends? No problem. Music from the Mac resumes playing. That is seamless.

Hello Lawrence Finch - This is not the case. I just bought the AirPods and will return them because my Bose QC35 allow me to listen to Spotify while working on MacBook Pro, then answer a call when my iPhone rings on that. Sadly, I bought these so I dont have to mess up my hair during meeting days.... but they aren't as impressive and the Bose QC35s, just had to pick my phone up in Starbucks. Yes first world problems but if Apple is maker of all devices you think they would have a hand off more clear, Bose got it figured out.

Obviously everyone should do that.

As is obvious (I hope) that we should not claim something is not possible because of BT limitations or something, just because we don't know better.

As mentioned previously in the thread, Bose and other manufacturers exploit the full BT capabilities and do that.

I have my Bose QC35 connected to both my iPad and iPhone while travelling. I watch Netflix on the iPad, and when I receive a call on the iPhone, the movie on the iPad automatically pauses and I receive the call on the phone. When the call is over, audio switches back to the iPad and the movie resumes.

It's amazingly convenient and I took it for granted that my AirPods would be able to do it as well, all being Apple devices and stuff. Sadly, that is not the case. Definitely something that has to be improved in the next version.

This is too cool - but not a permanent solution

Works well till both devices are playing music but once you stop one, the other syncs up to the other.

Which means if you are planning to keep one pod connected to the iPhone for taking calls while listening to music on a Macbook on the other ear - that is not going to happen :)