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boast

macrumors 65816
Nov 12, 2007
1,411
868
Phoenix, USA
I don't have AirPods yet, but auto-switching with the Bose QC35 is fine as implemented. Doesn't auto switch until you pause audio on one device and just two devices connected max. Don't see why the AirPods could not do the same.
 

adityashah1989

macrumors 6502
Dec 11, 2008
363
5
I don't have AirPods yet, but auto-switching with the Bose QC35 is fine as implemented. Doesn't auto switch until you pause audio on one device and just two devices connected max. Don't see why the AirPods could not do the same.

I was hoping for exactly THIS feature from the Bose QC35's on the Apple Airpods.

Bit disappointed that Apple did not give this simple yet very handy feature!

My fault for assuming the Airpods would have the same feature as the QC35's.

QC35's are hands down the best headphones in the market!
 

dancj

macrumors 6502
Mar 15, 2012
295
16
I just got my AirPods yesterday and this is very disappointing. My crappy £18 Anker bluetooth earphones do the switch perfectly, but the AirPods don't - That's crazy.

Couple this with the hour I spent in chat with Apple Support getting them to connect to my iPad at all - and the stuttering they did as I listened to them this morning, they're really not living up to the advertised seamless connectivity.
 

dancj

macrumors 6502
Mar 15, 2012
295
16
With iOS 11/watchOS4 and macOS High Sierra this actually seems to work now. :)
Not for me. I still have to manually switch between my iPad and iPhone - both running the latest version of iOS 11
 

geekiemac

macrumors 65816
Feb 13, 2016
1,232
3,977
They automatically switch ONLY between iPhone and Apple Watch. Otherwise you have to use the control center to switch between devices. Which isnt too bad in itself. Takes about 3 seconds
With iOS 11/watchOS4 and macOS High Sierra this actually seems to work now. :)
Not for me. I still have to manually switch between my iPad and iPhone - both running the latest version of iOS 11
Same issue here - and with iOS 11 and the redesigned control center, things seem to have become even more complicated as the output source is not so easily selectable. With iOS 10, it was swipe up then swipe right and change the output device. Now, it's swipe up, tap on the Music playback and then change the output device.

For me AirPods should automatically connect to whichever device I'm currently using and that's not always the case. Like, I'm using them a lot for gaming on my iMac, I should be able to quit the game, take my iPad to watch a video on youtube and the AirPods should automatically follow, and they don't.
 
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Aston441

macrumors 68030
Sep 16, 2014
2,607
3,948
Not for me. I still have to manually switch between my iPad and iPhone - both running the latest version of iOS 11

Same here, except have to switch manually between my touch 6 and my iPhone 6s plus when trying to use Watch S3 to control.
 

bradleybikeboy

macrumors newbie
Sep 26, 2014
3
1
I am having a hell of time with this. The things connected to my iPad as that was the last device but refuse to switch to my iPhone even though I have switched bluetooth on my iPad off.


I'm having same issues. If I'm connected to my iPhone 7 and only connect to that: First time connection is manual, then seamless after as long as i'm using iPhone 7. When I get to my Mac Pro at work and want to use Airpods with the Mac I had to manually switch on the Mac to connect, then seamless as I continue to use the Mac. Then when I leave work I have to Manually connect to the iPhone 7 again, then it is seamless as I continue to use iPhone 7(meaning when I put my Airpods away then put them back on later they connect automatically to my iPhone 7). My guess is my iPhone 7 is Bluetooth vs 4.2 and my Mac is Version 4.0

My guess is that the iPhone 8 and X are both Bluetooth 5.0 and I have read Bluetooth 5.0 can be connected to two devices at the same time. So maybe that true "seamless switching" can be done on iPhone 8 and X
 

eyeseeyou

macrumors 68040
Feb 4, 2011
3,390
1,595
Whenever I open the case to pull out my airpods, there is no pop up notification indicating the airpods are connected (and showing battery remaining). In fact, often times they aren't connected at all and I have to select them as an audio source by swiping up from the bottom and pulling up the menu.

In the promo videos, it shows the user opening the case, and instantly there is a pop up window that shows that the airpods are connected and battery life remaining.

Anyone have any suggestions on how I can get this feature to work?

I have my idevice on before opening the case, but nothing.

I thought that opening the case and prompting the pop up meant that audio would be routed to that device but this isn't the case.

Using my airpods I'm listening to music on my macbook then get up to do some random task. I open up the case and see the prompt on my iphone showing the battery life and assume that it has connected to my iphone yet when I press play music is coming out of my iphone speaker.

Honestly this isn't that much more convenient than standard bluetooth headphones.
 

dbonneville

macrumors newbie
Mar 16, 2009
15
1
Providence RI
I have headphones that do this and they work perfectly. It's simple, if sound is coming from one device, it will stay on that device and not switch even if sound comes from the second device. However, if no sound is coming from a device, it will automatically switch to whatever device has sound. So, in your example it would not switch unless you paused the MAC.

What headphones do you have that do this? Just got off with Apple support and they confirmed there in no auto switching between mac and phone. I really thought that was the whole point.
 

RMSko

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 3, 2010
365
46
What headphones do you have that do this? Just got off with Apple support and they confirmed there in no auto switching between mac and phone. I really thought that was the whole point.
Actually many if not most non-Apple Bluetooth headphones now do this excluding full wireless versions - it’s called Multipoint. I have 4 brands of headphones - some very cheap - and they all do it. When buying, just search either multipoint or “simultaneous” or something similar to see. And if you’re looking for fully wireless versions, while the new Bose buds don’t have multipoint, it’s pretty close because all you have to do is tap the button on the left earbud and it cycles through all paired devices so if you have only paired two devices switching is really simple and fast.
 

TMRJIJ

macrumors 68040
Dec 12, 2011
3,530
6,713
South Carolina, United States
I'm having same issues. If I'm connected to my iPhone 7 and only connect to that: First time connection is manual, then seamless after as long as i'm using iPhone 7. When I get to my Mac Pro at work and want to use Airpods with the Mac I had to manually switch on the Mac to connect, then seamless as I continue to use the Mac. Then when I leave work I have to Manually connect to the iPhone 7 again, then it is seamless as I continue to use iPhone 7(meaning when I put my Airpods away then put them back on later they connect automatically to my iPhone 7). My guess is my iPhone 7 is Bluetooth vs 4.2 and my Mac is Version 4.0

My guess is that the iPhone 8 and X are both Bluetooth 5.0 and I have read Bluetooth 5.0 can be connected to two devices at the same time. So maybe that true "seamless switching" can be done on iPhone 8 and X
By manual connect did you mean just selecting the AirPods via Bluetooth/Control Center or did actual re-pairing?
All of my devices (iPhone 7, iPad Air 2, and MBP mid 2010) are able to ‘seamless switch’ without the need to restarting the pairing process.
 

Sheldonsmith

macrumors 6502
May 14, 2011
302
68
When I switch from my iPhone to iPad I sometimes have to activate the EarPod in bluetooth settings.... No bid deal...
 

Ralfi

macrumors 601
Dec 22, 2016
4,373
3,101
Australia
When I switch from my iPhone to iPad I sometimes have to activate the EarPod in bluetooth settings.... No bid deal...
A slightly quicker way is to swipe up > tap top left of music player within Control Centre > Select Airpods (not "Earpods" :D ).
 

nternal1

macrumors newbie
Oct 24, 2017
7
8
Vancouver
When I switch from my iPhone to iPad I sometimes have to activate the EarPod in bluetooth settings.... No bid deal...

I've had two pairs of these (because Apple ca and they NEVER switch automatically (even between my iPhone 8 plus and Apple Watch Series 3). How is that no "bid" deal? My Jaybirds switch faster and easier and the WHOLE sales pitch of the AirPods is the "automatic" switching. Having to manually switch is bad enough but, even manually, it's slower than my Jaybirds (that are instant). This is no oversight or bug... this is FLAT OUT false advertising and a complete ripoff.
 

boast

macrumors 65816
Nov 12, 2007
1,411
868
Phoenix, USA
I love it when my left AirPod finally connects to my iPhone but the right one is still stuck connected to my iPad.
 
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