You have just purchased your AirPods and they are fully charged: now, how to start using them? Here’s a guide on how to pair AirPods or AirPods Pro. It’s easier than you think.
Step 1: Prepare for setup
We show you a couple of steps to take before starting to make the pairing process much easier. First, go to Settings on your iPhone and make sure all available updates have been installed; the absence of updates could cause problems with the pairing process.
Second, make sure you’re signed in to iCloud on your iPhone by heading to Settings , selecting your name at the top, and then iCloud . If you are signed in with iCloud, your AirPods will automatically pair with all your other devices on Apple ID, so you only need to do this once.
Step 2: start pairing
Make sure your AirPods are in its case, unlock iPhone so you can see the home screen, and open your AirPod case near the phone to get started. IPhone will detect new AirPods and ask if you want to start pairing; select Connect to get started.
Step 3: make additional settings
Pairing is usually a quick process, but sometimes you will need to select a few more options in settings. If you haven’t already configured the voice commands “Hey Siri”, Apple will ask you to configure Siri so that your AirPods can use the voice assistant. For newer AirPods, Apple will also ask you if you want to allow Siri to read messages from your iPhone automatically.
If you have AirPods Pro this configuration will be a bit longer, as it will include the additional features of these headphones and may also suggest testing the proper fit of the adapters.
When you’re done, check that your AirPods have the desired name: You can change the name at any time by going to Settings> Bluetooth and selecting the blue “i” next to the connected AirPods.
Step 4: test your AirPods
When the AirPods are paired, try taking them out of the case and putting them in your ears: the AirPods should beep low to let you know they have connected to your iPhone and are ready to go. Put a song or video on your iPhone and check how they sound.
Despite being minimalist, AirPods have a number of on-board control options that you should start trying. Start by double-tapping an AirPod – this should start playing a track or skip forward when a song is already playing (if you turn Siri on by default, don’t worry – we’ll show you how to change this below). Get used to this double-tap feature and how to do it.
Each earpiece has a force sensor on the outer pole: Test with your fingers to locate a recess on the outside and press it to start playing audio. Press it again and the content should pause. 
But there is more. Pressing the sensor twice will skip to the next song, while pressing it three times will skip a track. Finally, try briefly pressing and holding the force sensor and you will switch between active noise cancellation, transparency mode (which allows external noise to enter) and off mode. This may take a little time to get used to, so it’s important to practice the movements the first time you use your AirPods Pro.
Step 5: test Siri commands
AirPods include a small microphone that is activated when you say “Hello Siri”, allowing you to give a series of voice commands to control playback.
Try saying, “Hi Siri, turn the volume down.” This should lower the volume a few steps without needing to touch the phone. Siri can also turn up the volume and run a variety of useful commands like:
- Hi Siri, pause the music.
- Hi Siri: skip to the next song.
- Hi Siri: Play my favorite playlist ”(You can also try naming a specific playlist).
- “Hello Siri, how is the battery of my AirPods?”
Siri can also respond to more generic commands that aren’t related to playback, and even provide directions from Apple Maps if you’re playing sports. If you only have an AirPod, it will automatically become the one that listens to Siri commands.
The exception to this rule is if you have a pair of first-generation AirPods that cannot be activated with a “Hello Siri” voice command. This is where double-clicking becomes even more useful, so let’s go over the customization options.
Step 6: Customize double taps or long press
Your AirPods also have useful customization options so you can change the controls based on how you use them.
First and second generation AirPods
For first and second generation AirPods, you can customize the double tap option. Go to Settings on your iPhone and go to Bluetooth; Find your AirPods in the Bluetooth settings and make sure they are connected; If they are not connected, open the case and select the AirPods in the Bluetooth section to connect. Now press the blue icon “i” to access the settings of your AirPod.
Go to the section that says Double tap on AirPods; You’ll see options for Right and Left AirPods and what is the current default control. Select right or left and you can change the settings to several different commands, such as Next track, Play / Pause and Previous track . Adjust each earphone according to your preference.
AirPods Pro
You can also customize AirPods Pro but only the press and hold option. Follow the same instructions going to setting up AirPods on Bluetooth , but this time look for the section that says Hold the AirPods. You’ll have options for the left and right headphones, including the ability to switch a headphone to manual Siri activation.
