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How to Connect AirPods to Apple TV (With Photos)

connect airpods to apple tv

How to Connect AirPods to Apple TV (With Photos)

Apple is known for having a suite of products that integrate together seamlessly. It’s kind of their thing, to be honest. From pairing your Apple Watch to your iPhone, using your iPad as an extension of your MacBook, or AirPlaying videos from your iPhone to your Apple TV, it’s remarkably simple to link together two Apple devices for optimal convenience.

As it turns out, you can connect AirPods to Apple TV with this same ease. You just have to know how to do it. Thankfully, we’re here to walk you through it — step by step, complete with photos.

Why Connect AirPods to Apple TV?

Now, you know that you can connect AirPods to Apple TV, but you might be wondering why you’d want to do such a thing in the first place. As a matter of fact, there are a couple of reasons why connecting your AirPods to your Apple TV makes for a useful skill to have in your arsenal.

Convenience

Firstly, there’s convenience. Apple is known for remarkable convenience and relative ease in all its products, and this is a great way to emphasize that fact. It’s just plain convenient to be able to channel your Apple TV’s audio through your AirPods.

Whether you’re streaming the latest buzz-worthy series on Netflix, listening to music through the Spotify app, or renting a big blockbuster action movie through iTunes, it’s so nice to be able to amplify the Apple TV’s sound quality by bringing it right to your ears. This is especially convenient if your home theater setup has less-than-optimal sound quality.

Whether you just haven’t gotten around to buying a soundbar or haven’t taken the time to set up that surround sound system you’ve been meaning to get to, connecting your AirPods to your Apple TV is the next best thing to a theater-quality sound system. Not to mention, newer AirPods even boast Dolby Atmos sound quality — that’s something some older soundbars and speaker systems can’t even provide.

Quiet Listening

Another added benefit of knowing how to connect AirPods to Apple TV? The ability to listen quietly. Anyone with roommates, family members, or friends that share a common area can agree. Sometimes, you don’t really feel like being distracted by what other people are doing, saying, or listening to.

By connecting your AirPods to your Apple TV, you can tune out others with remarkable ease. Not to be rude, but sometimes you just want to focus on what you’re watching without having to also train your brain to ignore outside noise.

The inverse is also true. If your friend, roommate, family member, or partner is watching something you haven’t seen yet (or simply don’t want to), they can connect their AirPods and save you the trouble of having to plug your ears yourself.

This brand of quiet listening is such an underrated benefit of owning both AirPods and an Apple TV. They can enjoy their show, you can enjoy some peace and quiet, and you can both still be in the same room while doing so. Let’s hear it for the joys of modern convenience.

How to Connect AirPods to Apple TV

Remember how easy it was to pair your AirPods to your iPhone? It’s just as simple to connect AirPods to Apple TV. In just a few steps, you’ll be enjoying the convenience of quiet listening. Before we begin, make sure your AirPods are handy and in range and that your Apple TV is powered on and ready.

Step 1: Go to Settings on Apple TV

connect airpods to apple tv
To connect AirPods to Apple TV, go to Settings on the Apple TV homepage.

Firstly, you’re going to want to return to the Apple TV homepage. If you’re already there, then stay there. If you’re watching something, hit Menu and return home. Scroll over to Settings and hit Select on the remote. This will open up the Settings app.

Step 2: Navigate to Remotes and Devices

connect airpods to apple tv
Scroll down to Remotes and Devices to connect AirPods to Apple TV.

Secondly, scroll down to Remotes and Devices and hit Select. You’ll find this section beneath AirPlay and HomeKit and above Accessibility. On the Remotes and Devices page, scroll down to the Bluetooth tab underneath the Other Devices heading. Now, you can set the remote down. You’re going to need your AirPods for this next step.

Step 3: Connect AirPods to Apple TV

connect airpods to apple tv
AirPods are now connected to AirPods TV.

Lastly, grab your AirPods (with the earbuds in the case and the case opened) and press down on the pairing button. This part of the process is the same as when you first connected your AirPods to your iPhone. You should soon see your AirPods pop up under the Other Devices heading on the Bluetooth page.

Select your device and watch as the pinwheel spins. This means it’s working! After a few seconds, your AirPods will officially connect and you’ll see a rundown of your Device Information as well as some device management settings. You can disregard all of this and simply hit Menu until you return to the homepage. You’re all set! Your AirPods are now connected to your Apple TV.

If you’re wondering how to enjoy a seamless audio experience while using your Apple TV, check out this informative video tutorial! Learn the step-by-step process of connecting your AirPods to your Apple TV, and elevate your viewing with wireless convenience and crystal-clear sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you pair your AirPods to your Apple TV?

Yes, you can pair your AirPods to your Apple TV. The process can be done in the Apple TV settings, not unlike when you paired your AirPods to your iPhone.

Can you plug headphones into the Apple TV?

No, you cannot plug headphones into the Apple TV. The device does not have a headphone jack.

Why do AirPods die faster when connected to the Apple TV?

While there’s no real way to determine exactly how fast or slow the AirPods battery dies from one task to another, we do know for a fact that different tasks use different amounts of battery.

For instance, phone calls drain the AirPods battery faster than listening to music. It’s because of this that AirPods connected to the Apple TV might not last as long as they do when simply listening to music on your iPhone.

How many AirPods can be connected to the Apple TV at one time?

The Apple TV allows for up to two Bluetooth devices to share audio at one time. In other words, you can connect two AirPods to the Apple TV at once.

Will my Apple TV remember my AirPods?

After connecting for the first time, your Apple TV will remember your AirPods whenever they’re charged and in range. You might even see a pop-up notification in the corner telling you to simply press and hold the Apple TV home button to connect with ease.

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