Connect and use your AirPods Max (2024)

You can listen to music, make phone calls, use Siri, and more with your AirPods Max.

Use your iOS or iPadOS device to set up your AirPods Max

Ifyou're setting up your AirPods Max for the first time, make sure that the device that you want to pair isup to date.Then follow these steps:

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  1. Go to the Home screen.
  2. Take your AirPods Max out of the Smart Case,and within 60 seconds, holdthem next to the device that you want to pair with your AirPods Max untilyou see a setup animation on the device that you want to pair. If you don't see the animation, make sure that your iOS or iPadOS device is up to date, or pair your AirPods Maxwith your iOS or iPadOS device manually by going to Settings > Bluetooth. If you don't see thestatus lightflashing white on AirPods Max, press and hold thenoise control buttonuntil the light flashes white.
  3. Tap Connect to pair your AirPods Max with your device, or toset up features such as Hey Siri if you haven't yet set it up.
  4. If you want toexperience spatial audio, tap See & Hear How It Works to start the setup.
  5. Tap Done. If you're signed in to iCloud,your AirPods Maxare set up automatically with any of your supported devices that are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.

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Learn how toset up your AirPods Max with a Mac or a non-Apple device, such as an Android phone.

Listen and control audio with your AirPods Max

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When you put your AirPods Maxon your head while you're playing audio on your device,your AirPods Maxplay the audio from your device automatically.If youremove AirPods Maxfrom your head, audio pauses.If you put them back on your head within 15 seconds, play resumes automatically. AirPods Maxalso pause audio if you lift one earphone off of your head.

Your AirPods Maxear cushions are marked with L and R. Make sure to place the left earphone on your left ear and the right earphone on your right ear to enjoy the best sound quality and performance.

Store your AirPods Maxin the Smart Case to help preserve battery charge. Storing AirPods Maxloose in your bag can result in damage.

To connect to the in-flight entertainment system on a plane, plug aLightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cableinto your AirPods Maxto use them in wired mode.

To adjust the volume, turn up the volume usingthe Digital Crown.If the volume doesn't seem to get louder, adjust the volume on your phone.1To adjust the direction in which you turn the Digital Crown to increase and decrease the volume, go toSettings > Bluetooth > AirPods Max> Digital Crown.

If you have Hey Siri set up, youcan say "Hey Siri" toask questionsand make phone calls, and control your music. You can also press and hold the Digital Crownto use Siri.

Switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode

AirPods Maxlet you controlwhetheryou hear your surroundings. Press the noise control button to toggle betweenActive Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.You can select which modes that the press action switches between in Settings > Bluetooth > AirPods Max> Button Cycles Between.

Control audio

To control audio, use the Digital Crown:

  • To play and pauseaudioor mute yourself during a phone call, press the Digital Crown once. To resume playback or unmute yourself, press it again.
  • To skip forward, press the Digital Crown twice.
  • To skip back, press the Digital Crown three times.

Use the phone and get messages

To control phone calls, use the Digital Crown:

  • Press once to answer or end a call.
  • Press twice to reject an incoming call.
  • Press once to answer a second incoming call and put the first call on hold.
  • When two calls are active, press twice to end the current call and switch to another call.
  • Press and hold to reject a second incoming call.
  • Press twice to stop listening through your headphones and send the call to your phone.

When a call comes in while you're wearing your AirPods Max,Siri can announce the call.Siri can alsoread your incoming messages through your AirPods Max.

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Switch devices

Here's how to switch from listening to one device with your AirPods Maxto listening to another.

Switch automatically

YouneediOS 14.3 or later,iPadOS 14.3or later, or macOS Big Sur 11.1 or later for your AirPods Maxto switch between devices automatically.2 Your devicesneed to be signed in with the same Apple ID usingtwo-factor authentication. For example, while listening to music on your iPad, you answer a call on your iPhone. Your AirPods Maxswitch from the music on your iPad to the phone call on your iPhone automatically.

In some situations with macOS Big Sur, you'll see a notification about your AirPods Maxon the screen of your Mac. When you hold the pointer over the notification, a Connect button appears. Click Connect to confirm that you want your AirPods Maxto switch to—or stay with—your Mac.

If you want to turn automatic switching off for an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth on that device with your AirPods Max on your ears. Tap the Info buttonConnect and use your AirPods Max (7)next to your AirPods Maxin the list of devices. Tap Connect to This iPhone [or iPad], and then tap When Last Connected to This iPhone [or iPad]. To turn this feature on again, tap Automatically.

If you want to turn automatic switchingoff for your Mac, open Bluetooth preferences on your Mac with your AirPods Maxon your ears. Click the Options buttonnext to your AirPods Maxin the list of devices. Click Connect to This Mac, and then choose When Last Connected to This Mac. To turn this feature on again, choose Automatically.

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Switch manually

If necessary, followthese stepsto choose a different device to play audio or to switch the audio to different headphones or speakers.

On your iOS or iPadOS device

  1. Open Control Center on your iPhone or iPod touch,or iPad.
  2. Touch and hold the audio card in the upper-right corner of Control Center to control audio.
  3. TapConnect and use your AirPods Max (9), then choose the device that you want from the list.3

On your Mac

Click the volume controlConnect and use your AirPods Max (10)in the menu bar and choose your AirPods Maxor other speakers under Output Device.3

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Charge your AirPods Max

To charge your AirPods Max, plug the Lightning cable that came with your AirPods Maxinto the bottom-right earphone. You can use a USB-C to Lightning Cable or a USB to Lightning Cable. Then plug the other end of the cable into a USB charger or port.

When you're not using your AirPods Max, keep them in the Smart Case to preserve battery charge.

Learn moreabout charging.

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What you need

You need at least one of these:

  • iPhone or iPod touchwith iOS 14.3 or later
  • iPadwith iPadOS 14.3 or later
  • Apple Watchwith watchOS 7.2 or later
  • Apple TVwith tvOS 14.3 or later
  • Macwith macOS 11.1 or later

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  1. If you don't see the volume control in the menu bar,learn how to add it.
  2. Sound shouldn't switch from one device to another automatically if you're in a conversation, like a phone call, a FaceTime call, or a video conference.
  3. AirPods Maxappear only when they're nearby and ready to use.

Published Date:

Connect and use your AirPods Max (2024)

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