Which AirPods and Apple Devices Support Automatic Device Switching?

Apple first introduced Automatic Device Switching to AirPods with the release of iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and macOS Big Sur back in 2020. This means your AirPods will automatically switch to whatever device you’re using.

But which Apple products does Automatic Device Switching work with?

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What is Automatic Device Switching?

During WWDC 2020, Apple gave the example of listening to a podcast on your iPhone, then watching a video on your iPad, then joining a conference call on your Mac. With Automatic Device Switching, your AirPods automatically connect to each device as you start using it.

This is an exciting continuity feature that will make it easier to use AirPods with other Apple devices. No more will you need to enter the Bluetooth settings to pair with your AirPods each time you switch devices.

Which AirPods Support Automatic Device Switching?

Now that Automatic Device Switching is available, you might be wondering which AirPods support this feature. Here’s the full list of compatible AirPods models:

• AirPods (2nd and 3rd generation)
• AirPods Pro (all generations)
• Powerbeats
• Powerbeats Pro
• Beats Solo Pro

Unfortunately, this means that the original AirPods don’t support Automatic Device Switching.

Which Apple Products Support Automatic Device Switching

As far as we know, Automatic Device Switching should work with any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch running iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS Big Sur, or watchOS 7.

Broadly speaking, that means Automatic Device Switching works with these devices.

• iPhone 6S or later
• iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad (5th generation), or later
• All iPad Pro models
• MacBook Pro (Late 2013), MacBook Air (Late 2013), iMac (2014), MacBook (2015), or later
• Apple Watch Series 3 or later

This means Automatic Device Switching doesn’t work with Apple TV boxes. And you may need to upgrade your other devices if they don’t work with the new software releases.

How to Use Automatic Device Switching With Your AirPods

While Automatic Device Switching is meant to be enabled and available without any setup, this might not be the case for everyone, even if you have updated to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, or watchOS. For one, you might need to update the firmware of your AirPods, but the only way to do so is to put the AirPods in its case, connect it to a power source, then pair the AirPods with your iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple does not allow users to manually check for, or install, updates on the various models of AirPods.

Provided that all of your devices are updated to the latest version available, you also need to make sure that you sign in to the same iCloud account on each device. After that, you should be able to just continue using your device as normal. Your AirPods will switch between each device as you start using it without you needing to do anything. For example, if you start out listening to music on your iPhone but start watching a YouTube video on your Mac, your AirPods will switch across automatically.

However, there is a way to kind of “force” your AirPods to automatically switch between your different Apple devices in order to actually use Automatic Device Switching. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone.
2. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
3. Tap Bluetooth.
   • Alternatively, the name of your AirPods model might appear from the main Settings app. If so, just tap the option to view the appropriate settings.
4. Under the My Devices section, locate the name of your AirPods.
5. Tap the I button to the right of your AirPods.
6. Scroll down and tap Connect to This iPhone.
7. Tap Automatically. 

Now, you are able to fully use Automatic Device Switching with your AirPods or Beats, and your other Apple devices. It’s one of those features that we often forget about, as it’s been around since it was unveiled in 2020 alongside the release of iOS 14.

New AirPods Features Are Always Exciting

Since the unveiling of Automatic Device Switching at WWDC 2020, Apple has continued to put effort into implementing new and exciting features for owners of AirPods. This includes the continued support of the AirPods (2nd Generation), along with the introduction and subsequent release of the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022. Here’s to hoping that the trend continues and that Apple keeps improving the overall experience and cohesion when using different Apple devices together.

Dan Helyer

Dan writes tutorials and troubleshooting guides to help people make the most of their technology. Before becoming a writer, he earned a BSc in Sound Technology, supervised repairs at an Apple Store, and even taught English in China.