MacOs – Using AirPods Seamlessly Between Mac and iOS Devices With Bluetooth

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Apple AirPods are supposed to work for iOS devices, Apple Watches and Macs. Apple states that the OS requirements are:

Requires iCloud account and macOS Sierra, iOS 10, or watchOS 3 (source).

I am a prospective buyer of AirPods. My question is what the experience is like, when using the same pair of AirPods to switch between an iOS device and a Mac.

  • How is pairing/switching done?
  • Can the experience be called “seamless”?
  • Are there any caveats that should be known from a user-perspective?

Note: This is not a buying recommendation question, the goal is to produce an objective description of the pairing/switching process between iOS/macOS devices.

Best Answer

They will have seamless switching as of iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and macOS Big Sur.

When your other devices are signed in with the same Apple ID as your iPhone, AirPods automatically switch between your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. For example, if you’re listening to another device with your AirPods but you want to listen to your iPhone instead, start playing music, a podcast, or other audio on your iPhone. Your AirPods switch to iPhone automatically. Your AirPods also switch to iPhone when you make or answer a call on iPhone.

More details here: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/switch-airpods-automatically-iph08b253c17/ios

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