Are my AirPods supposed to automatically connect?

[steve62388]

Are my AirPods Pro supposed to automatically connect to my iDevices?

When I open the case up the battery level picture shows up fine. I take them out of the case and put them in my ears but inevitably I always have to go to my Bluetooth settings (typically via Control Panel) and select them to connect.

Is this working as intended? Am I missing something?

 

[JBGoode]

I find that they will automatically connect to the last device that I used them with and I have to manually connect if switching to a different device. On at least one occasion I did not manually connect them and just waited and they actually did connect to the new device after a few seconds but this doesn't always work.

 

[Paco II]

I find I need to manually select if switching to a different device they were last connected to. This is still leaps ahead of regular Bluetooth headphones that allow connecting to one device, where you have to turn off the device they connected to before being able to switch to a new one. So I'm ok with it.

 

[Tanbam]

I find I need to manually select if switching to a different device they were last connected to. This is still leaps ahead of regular Bluetooth headphones that allow connecting to one device, where you have to turn off the device they connected to before being able to switch to a new one. So I'm ok with it.

I disagree. I’ve had both AirPod generations and was considering getting some Pros. After demoing them along with some of the other competitors, I ended up getting the Sony buds. After installing iOS 13, I’m glad I made that choice.

Starting with iOS 13, they’ve linked AirPods with Gamecenter for some reason. I play a game that uses two different Gamecenter accounts, so I switch profiles a couple of times a day. With the latest iOS, my AirPods will disconnect and I have to re-pair them to my device. Every single time. It got to the point that I rarely use them anymore because it means I have to pull them out of my ears, put them back in the case, and press that stupid button.

My Sonys don’t care which Gamecenter profile I use; they’re linked to the device. I don’t need to turn off any device when I go from one to the other, I just connect them in the Bluetooth settings on the current device in my hand and they switch over just fine without having to remove them from my ears.

 

[Paco II]

Many (most?) Bluetooth headsets do not allow connecting to more than one device at a time. It sounds like yours does. Otherwise the headsets would connect to whichever device it sees first, and if you wanted to use them with a different device, you'd need to first disconnect them from the original device to allow them to connect to the second device.

I disagree. I’ve had both AirPod generations and was considering getting some Pros. After demoing them along with some of the other competitors, I ended up getting the Sony buds. After installing iOS 13, I’m glad I made that choice.

Starting with iOS 13, they’ve linked AirPods with Gamecenter for some reason. I play a game that uses two different Gamecenter accounts, so I switch profiles a couple of times a day. With the latest iOS, my AirPods will disconnect and I have to re-pair them to my device. Every single time. It got to the point that I rarely use them anymore because it means I have to pull them out of my ears, put them back in the case, and press that stupid button.

My Sonys don’t care which Gamecenter profile I use; they’re linked to the device. I don’t need to turn off any device when I go from one to the other, I just connect them in the Bluetooth settings on the current device in my hand and they switch over just fine without having to remove them from my ears.

 

[Tanbam]

Many (most?) Bluetooth headsets do not allow connecting to more than one device at a time. It sounds like yours does. Otherwise the headsets would connect to whichever device it sees first, and if you wanted to use them with a different device, you'd need to first disconnect them from the original device to allow them to connect to the second device.

Yes, they’ll only connect to one device at a time, automatically to the last device used, but I can just connect to a new device without doing anything on the old one. The handoff is done by the buds. I’ll actually hear the voice say disconnected, followed by connected. I can do the same thing in my car, so it’s not unique.

I only have one device that overrules all connections, which is a 3.5mm-to-Bluetooth dongle. As long as it is powered, it will always force a connection to its paired device. It took me a while to figure that one out, because there isn’t a display on it. After I paired it to my buds so I could listen to an old iPod, I didn’t turn it off - and it’s got a long range. I couldn’t figure out for a couple of days why my buds quit working when I got home.

 

[dschaap]

Are my AirPods Pro supposed to automatically connect to my iDevices?

When I open the case up the battery level picture shows up fine. I take them out of the case and put them in my ears but inevitably I always have to go to my Bluetooth settings (typically via Control Panel) and select them to connect.

Is this working as intended? Am I missing something?

If you are using different devices then it’s normal but if you use the same one over and over again it’s extraordinary and shouldn't happen

 

[one more]

I ended up getting the Sony buds.

Which model?