How to Connect AirPods to a TV: Compatibility, Troubleshooting, & More

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Listen to shows directly from your Apple TV or smart TV on your AirPods

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: September 14, 2024 Fact Checked

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Pairing with an Apple TV

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Pairing with a Samsung Smart TV

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Pairing with an LG TV

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Pairing with a Vizio TV

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Pairing with a Sony TV

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Pairing with a Streaming Device

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Troubleshooting Tips

Do you want to use your AirPods while you watch TV? If your TV supports Bluetooth audio (and most do), you can easily pair your AirPods with your TV. This wikiHow article will show you how to pair your AirPods with some of the most popular Smart TV models and streaming devices like Roku, Fire TV, and Chromecast. We’ll also go over tips to solve common connection problems.

Connecting AirPods to a TV: Fast Facts

You can connect your AirPods to Bluetooth-compatible TVs and many streaming devices, such as Roku, Fire TV devices, and Chromecast.
Before connecting your AirPods to a TV, put them in pairing mode by putting them in their case with the lid open, then holding down the button on the back of the case.
Your AirPods will need to be charged, in range, and away from other devices that might interfere with a Bluetooth connection.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Pairing with an Apple TV

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1
Update your Apple TV. To make sure that your AirPods connect properly with your Apple TV, make sure you have the latest version of tvOS installed.^{[1]
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- Press the TV/Control Center button on your Siri Remote, then select Settings. Navigate to System > Software Updates and select Update Software. If there’s a new update available, select Download and Install.^{[2]
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- During the update process, your Apple TV will restart a couple of times.
- To enable automatic updates on your Apple TV, go to Settings > System > Software Updates and turn on the Automatically Install option.
This is the button that looks like a TV screen.

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You’ll need to scroll down to find it.
6
Open your AirPods case and press and hold the setup button. For all models of AirPods and AirPods Pro, open your case and press the round setup button on the back of the case for about 5 seconds. Once the status light begins to flash white, you can connect your AirPods to your Apple TV.
- If you’re using AirPods Max, press and hold the noise control button on top of your right headphone instead. Wait for the status light to start flashing white.
In the Bluetooth menu on your Apple TV, look for your AirPods under the Other Devices header. Select them to connect.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Pairing with a Samsung Smart TV

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1
Put your AirPods in Pairing Mode. To do this, open the case and press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 3-5 seconds, or until the LED starts blinking white.^{[3]
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- If you’re using AirPods Max, press the noise control button at the top of the right headphone instead.
2
Open Settings on your Samsung. The right way to do that depends on your TV model. For most current TVs (2020 and newer), press the Menu button on your remote, then select Settings. Some remotes might also have a Settings button.^{[4]
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- For some older Samsungs, go to Home > Settings or just open the MENU.
On most Samsung Smart TVs, you’ll find Sound in the Settings menu. For some older models, go to MENU > Sound.
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Navigate to Sound Output and press OK. The "OK" or "Select" button is the center button in the directional pad.
- If you don’t see Sound Output, look for something like Expert Settings or Additional Settings.
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Navigate to Bluetooth Speaker List and press OK. Your TV will begin searching for Bluetooth devices.
- On some earlier models, you may need to go to Wireless Speaker Manager > Bluetooth Audio Devices, Additional Settings > TV Sound Connect, Additional Settings > Bluetooth Audio, or similar.
  - For a full list of possible menu paths, see this article from Samsung.
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Navigate to the AirPods displayed on your TV and press OK. If your AirPods were blinking white, you'll be able to pair them with your TV.
- Press OK on your remote to pair and connect your AirPods.
- A success message will display on your screen when they have connected.
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Press OK on your remote and close the Settings menu. To do this, navigate over "Close" and press the OK button again, then you'll see that your AirPods are selected as the "Sound Output." Continue navigating to "Close" and pressing OK until you're out of the menus.^{[5]
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- Your AirPods will stay connected to your TV until they run out of power or until you manually disconnect them using the same steps.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Pairing with an LG TV

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To do this, open the case and press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 3-5 seconds, or until the LED starts blinking white.^{[6]
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It looks like a gear icon. A menu will open on the right side of the screen.
Navigate down to the ⋮ option in the Settings menu. This will take you to the All settings menu.
A popout menu will open.
Another menu will expand.
This will be one of the options in the Use Wireless Speaker menu.
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Navigate to your AirPods under "Available Devices" and select them. Your TV will immediately begin connecting to them, and you'll see a notification in the top right corner that they've connected.
- Your AirPods will stay connected to your TV until they run out of power or until you manually disconnect them using the same steps.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Pairing with a Vizio TV

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To do this, open the case and press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 3-5 seconds, or until the LED starts blinking white.^{[7]
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Press Settings or Menu on your remote. Many newer Vizio TV models can connect to Bluetooth devices. If you have a Bluetooth compatible model, press Settings or Menu on your remote to get started.^{[8]
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- If you don’t have a Bluetooth-enabled TV, you’ll need to get a Bluetooth audio transmitter and plug it into your TV, then connect to that.
The exact location of this option in the menu will depend on your model of Vizio TV. If you’re having trouble finding it, consult your user manual.
If your AirPods are in pairing mode, you should be able to find them on the list of devices. Select them to connect. You may need to select More Devices to expand the list.

Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Pairing with a Sony TV

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To do this, open the case and press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 3-5 seconds, or until the LED starts blinking white.^{[9]
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You can do this by pressing the gear or wrench icon on your remote. If your remote doesn’t have one of these Quick Settings buttons, press Home, then select Settings.^{[10]
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You'll probably need to scroll down the menu to find Bluetooth settings in the "Network & Accessories" section.
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Toggle Bluetooth on
(if it's not already). Some TV remotes use Bluetooth for some functionality, so this may already be switched on. If that's the case, skip this step.
- You can toggle it on by pressing Enter on your remote.
Your TV begins to search for nearby Bluetooth devices.
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Press ↵ Enter if only your AirPods are in the list. If there are multiple devices, navigate to your AirPods first, then press Enter. It'll take a few seconds for your TV to connect with your AirPods. Once they are paired, you'll see a notification at the bottom of your screen.^{[11]
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- Your AirPods will stay connected to your TV until they run out of power or until you manually disconnect them using the same steps.
- The Sony Bravia model XBR43X800H does not have Bluetooth audio capabilities, and the Bluetooth only shows non-audio devices, like remotes and keyboards.

Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Pairing with a Streaming Device

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1
Connect to a compatible Roku device. While not all Roku devices are compatible with Bluetooth, several of them are. Check this list to see if you have a compatible Roku. If so, use the following steps to connect:^{[12]
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- Press Home on the Roku remote.
- Scroll down and select Settings.
- Select Remotes & devices, then choose Wireless headphones.
- Select Add new wireless headphones.
- Put your AirPods in pairing mode by pressing and holding the setup button with the case open until the status light flashes white.
- Wait for your Roku device to find your AirPods, then select them from the list of available devices. Your AirPods should now be paired, but you’ll still need to connect them.
- To connect, go back to Home > Settings > Remotes & devices > Wireless headphones > [your AirPods] and select Connect.
  - If you’re already in the middle of watching something and want to connect, press * on your Roku remote, then scroll down and select Wireless headphones > [your AirPods]. Select Connect.
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Connect to an Amazon Fire TV device. You can connect your AirPods to a Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, or Amazon Fire TV. To do so:
- Put your AirPods in pairing mode by pressing and holding the button on the back of the case.
- Press the Home button and navigate to Settings.
- Select Controllers & Bluetooth Devices or Remotes & Bluetooth Devices.
- Select Other Bluetooth Devices > Add Bluetooth Device.
- Select your AirPods from the list of available devices.
3
Connect to a Google Chromecast. If you have a Chromecast and Google TV set up on your TV, you can connect your AirPods to the Chromecast and listen to your TV that way. Here’s how to do it:^{[13]
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- Put your AirPods in pairing mode by pressing and holding the button on the back of the case until the status light flashes white.
- Go to the Google TV home screen, then select your Google account > Settings.
- Select Remote & Accessories > Pair remote or accessory. Find your AirPods and select them.
- Select Pair on the pairing request screen.
- Once the AirPods are paired, go to Settings > Remote & Accessories > Accessories, then select your AirPods and select Connect.

Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Troubleshooting Tips

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If your AirPods aren’t charged, they won’t connect to your TV. If you think the battery might be drained, charge them for a while, then try connecting them again.
2
Disconnect other Bluetooth devices from your TV. If you have too many other Bluetooth devices paired with your TV, you might not be able to pair your headphones. Go into the settings on your TV and disconnect or unpair any devices you aren’t currently using.
- Check your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to see if other settings on your TV could interfere with a connection. For example, on a Samsung TV, you can’t use Bluetooth headphones and the Wi-Fi Speaker Surround Setup feature or TV SoundConnect at the same time.^{[14]
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If your AirPods are already connected to some other device, that might also prevent them from pairing or connecting with your TV. Make sure they aren’t currently connected to your phone or tablet, for example.
4
Stay in range of your TV. Your AirPods need to be fairly close to your TV to connect. Make sure they’re nearby and that there aren’t any major obstructions (like a wall or large furniture) in the way.
- AirPods need to be within about 200 feet (61 m) of a device to stay connected to it.
There are a lot of electronic devices that can interfere with a good Bluetooth connection. You might need to turn off or move other nearby Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi speakers, microwave ovens, wireless phones, or similar devices.
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Restart your AirPods. If there’s a connection issue, sometimes restarting your AirPods will be enough to fix it. Put your AirPods in the case and close the lid for about 10 seconds. If you have AirPods Max, hold down the Digital Crown and noise control button at the same time for about 10 seconds, then release them both as soon as the status light flashes amber.^{[15]
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- You can also try un-pairing and re-pairing your AirPods if they’re paired, but won’t connect. You can typically do this in your TV’s settings menu, using the same steps you used to initially pair the AirPods.
Power-cycling your TV, or doing a soft reset, may also help resolve connection issues. To do this, simply turn off your TV and unplug it. Leave it unplugged for about 30 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on. Try connecting to your AirPods again.