Do all Bluetooth headphones work with Apple Watch

Do all Bluetooth headphones work with Apple Watch

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What once was an optional accessory has now become the prime motivator for living a healthier life for many. And that is Apple Watch. With Series 3 and beyond, users are able to purchase an LTE variation that fully sets Apple Watch free from its iPhone counterpart.

This includes being able to listen to music or podcasts, or taking a phone call on the go. Of course, Apple Watch doesn’t have any physical input for wired headphones, so it relies solely on Bluetooth for audio.

Follow along to learn how to pair Bluetooth headphones on Apple Watch…

  1. On Apple Watch, head into Settings > Bluetooth.
  2. Turn on your headphones and enable pairing mode. This varies from headphone to headphone, most will have you hold the power button for a few seconds, while others (such as AirPods) will have a dedicated pairing button you press for a few seconds.
  3. Wait until you see your Bluetooth headphone on Apple Watch, tap on the Bluetooth device to pair.
  4. Wait a few seconds so Apple Watch can pair to your Bluetooth headphones.
  5. If successful, you’ll see “Connected” next to your Bluetooth device.

Note that AirPods or certain Beats product don’t need to pair with Apple Watch as those make use of Apple’s W1 technology that automagically pairs your headphones with all devices in your iCloud account, including Apple Watch and Apple TV.

If pairing fails, try again. If it continues to fail, you may need to contact your headphone manufacturer. The same process works for connecting to Bluetooth speakers and a small handful of cars.

For more help getting the most out of your Apple devices, check out our how to guide as well as the following articles:

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(CNN) — One of the most underused features of the Apple Watch is its ability to let you listen to your favorite music or podcasts while on the go. And no, we aren’t talking about using its tiny speaker to jam out to your Spotify Wrapped playlist. We mean connecting your Apple Watch to a pair of wireless headphones or earbuds like AirPods.

Regardless of the type of device you want to use, the pairing process only takes a few seconds. Below you’ll find instructions for pairing your Apple Watch to Apple’s AirPods and more generalized instructions for pairing it with standard Bluetooth headphones.

Regardless of whether you have AirPods, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, connecting your earbuds or headphones to the Apple Watch follows the same process. And here’s the best part: If you’ve already paired your AirPods with another Apple device — like your iPhone, iPad or Mac — then they’re already set up and ready to be used with your Apple Watch.

You just need to put the AirPods on, then press play in an app on your Apple Watch and, magically, the music will begin streaming to your ears.

In fact, the same can be said for any Beats products that use the same H1 or W1 chip that AirPods use — you’ll be able to use them in the same way. And yes, that includes Beats Fit Pro, our pick of an earbud for Apple users.

Moral of the story? Pair your AirPods to your iPhone first, then they’ll magically work with your watch. To do that, you’ll need to open the AirPods charging case next to your unlocked iPhone and follow the prompts. The entire process takes just a few seconds.

If you have a pair of Bluetooth earbuds or headphones like the EarFun Air or Anker SoundCore Q35, then the process of connecting them to your watch will be a little different. The first thing you’ll want to do is put your earbuds or headphones into pairing mode. Each device maker has a different process or steps, but generally, if you hold the power button for a few seconds while powering them up, they’ll enter pairing mode.

Alternatively, for wireless earbuds that lack a power button but have a charging case, you can usually long-press a button located somewhere on the charging case to enter this mode. It’s always a good idea to check your user manual for the most accurate directions.

Once your earbuds are in pairing mode, open the Settings app on your Apple Watch and then select Bluetooth from the list of options. You’ll see a list of currently paired Bluetooth devices and their respective connection status, along with a list of available devices that you can pair with the Apple Watch. Scroll down and find your earbuds or headphones on the list and then tap on them. A few seconds later, the two devices should be paired and you’re ready to stream.

With your earbuds or headphones connected to your watch, you’re able to start listening to your favorite music or podcasts using an app on your watch.

Some apps, like Apple Music, allow you to store music files directly on the watch, while other apps like Spotify and Apple Podcasts allow Apple Watch with cellular to stream music or shows directly on the watch without an iPhone anywhere nearby.

Open the app, be it Spotify or Apple Music, and select what you want to listen to. If your earbuds are already connected, it should start playing without any issues. However, you may see a prompt asking which device you want to listen on; select your paired headphones.

If for some reason you don’t see a prompt to connect to your device, tap on the AirPlay icon and then select your earbuds.

You can connect Bluetooth headphones to your Apple Watch in just a few steps, whether you have AirPods or a third-party pair. Shutterstock

You can use your Apple Watch to play music, podcasts, and other audio you've stored on the watch for whenever your iPhone isn't in range. 

Before you can do that, though, you'll need to connect your watch to Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. 

You can use AirPods (which sync with your Apple Watch automatically) or any standard set of Bluetooth headphones. Here's how to do it. 

1. Put your headphones or earbuds in pairing mode. The specific method varies depending upon what model you own, but generally you simply need to press and hold the power button for six to ten seconds until the status light starts flashing. Refer to your headphones user guide for details. 

2. On your Apple Watch, press the Digital Crown and start the Settings app.

Tap the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. Tap " Bluetooth ."

The Bluetooth page lists all the devices that are in range and ready to pair. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. In the list of devices on the Bluetooth page, tap the headphones when they appear. If you don't see them, make sure your headphones are still in Pairing mode, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on at the bottom of the screen on the Apple Watch (swipe the button to the right if needed).

After pairing, the headphones should appear connected and ready for use. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

The headphones should pair automatically and you'll be ready to listen to audio through your Apple Watch.

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