As an AirPods owner, I was curious to know if I could use them with Alexa. I had heard a few different things, so I decided to do some research to find out if AirPods could actually work with Alexa. After a bit of digging, I discovered that there are, in fact, a few ways to connect AirPods to Alexa. In this blog post, I’m going to share what I found and how I was able to connect my AirPods to Alexa so that other AirPods owners can also benefit from this knowledge.
You can connect AirPods to Alexa using the Alexa app on your phone.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| AirPods can be connected to Alexa using the Alexa App on your phone. |
| You can add your AirPods to your Alexa App by opening the case lid and holding down the button for 3 seconds. |
| Low battery charge, Bluetooth issues, residue, and software updates can all cause issues with connecting AirPods to Alexa. |
| You can ask Alexa to change the volume of your AirPods, or use manual methods such as a volume dial or buttons. |
| Echo Buds may be cheaper than AirPods, but the decision should ultimately come down to your needs. |
Table of Contents
How to connect AirPods to Alexa?
When it comes to connecting to Alexa, you are connecting to it through various devices usually. By far the most common Alexa device is the Amazon Echo, which has gone through multiple designs.
There is no way to use wired earbuds or headphones with the device, so your best option are Bluetooth alternatives like AirPods.
In order to connect your AirPods to Alexa through an Amazon Echo, you will need to use the Alexa App on your phone.
First, ensure that your AirPods are in Bluetooth discovery mode. Next, hold the small button on the back of the case for three seconds; this will cause the AirPods to be discovered with your phone through the Alexa App. Make sure that the Next, say “Alexa, pair my AirBuds”.
At this point, Alexa will pair your AirBuds automatically, and make the Alexa device play sound through your AirPods or AirPods Pro.
You can also add your AirPods to your Alexa App. In doing so, you can have the device registered as something for devices connected to your Alexa App to be able to identify.
You can do this by opening the case lid and the Alexa App and then holding down the button on the case for three seconds. After the blue light flashes, a pop-up notification will appear on the Alexa App.
Read more: does Fitbit work with AirPods?
Connecting AirPods with Amazon Echo Show
Unlike the regular Amazon Echo, the Amazon Echo Show does not require the Alexa App to do.
This is because Amazon Echo Show devices have a screen, and the operating system has a section where you go to pair Bluetooth devices with it.
To do this, you must first begin the pairing process with your AirPods as mentioned in the earlier section.
Next, you must go to the Settings section on the Echo Show’s screen by swiping down and selecting the icon.
After that, select the Bluetooth icon. If you have done it correctly, you will see the AirPods as an option to connect. Select that, and it should connect.
Read more: Can you use AirPods in the sauna?
Why Won’t my AirPods connect to Alexa?
As is common with technology, sometimes it will not work as you expect it to. Sometimes it can be due to unclear instructions, and other times it may just well be technology having issues with interfacing.
As far as Bluetooth is concerned, having no physical interfacing can create these complications, although AirPods is noted for its relative ease of connectivity.
One of the most common causes of your AirPods not being able to connect is due to low battery charge.
If your AirPods have a low battery, this may cause some of their features, including Bluetooth connectivity, to not work as they should.
Be sure to keep them charged, either through the charging case or the Lightning cable that the AirPods are compatible with.
There are three indicators to look out for. First off, a green light when it is in the charging case is indicative of a full charge.
When the light is amber while in the charging case, that means it still has time to charge. Meanwhile, an amber light when out of the charging case is indicative of it needing to be charged.
Another issue is that the Bluetooth may not be working. This is a simple fix, as you just need to check the Bluetooth settings on the device you are trying to connect to.
Other issues that might be causing your Bluetooth connectivity issues may be due to residue on either your AirPods and/or their charging case.
Another issue that may be rearing its head is software updates. You should make sure that both devices you are trying to connect to are fully up-to-date.
If they are not, you may not be able to use the Bluetooth feature. Some devices do not pair with AirPods despite those devices having Bluetooth, though that is not the case with Alexa devices.
Sometimes, the AirPods get stuck in Pairing Mode, which is an all too annoying thing to have happen, especially when you do not know how to get it unstuck.
In order to get out of this, you first need to unpair the AirPods from your Amazon Echo device. To do this, you first have to go into the Bluetooth setting on either your Alexa App or your Echo Show. You then have to select the AirPods, and then select “Forget This Device”.
Next, you must put the AirPods in the charging case, open the lid, and then hold the setup button until the status light begins to flash amber (this usually takes anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds).
Release this button only once the amber light has flashed three times. Next, hold the button until the status light begins to flash white. At this point, you will see your AirPods listed in the App or device’s Bluetooth settings.
Can you control AirPods volume using Alexa?
Being that AirPods are meant to produce sound, it makes sense that you would want to be able to control the volume of the sound coming out of them.
Thankfully, this can be done through multiple means. AirPods typically use Siri to control how high or low the volume is, but when it comes to Amazon Echo devices, you will likely want to use Alexa voice control for this.
You can ask Alexa to turn the volume higher or lower, and you can change the level of volume. While this is a common method, it is not the only method available for Alexa devices.
For example, the first generation of Amazon Echo has a dial at the top that allows you to control manually by turning it, with a light around it that will indicate volume.
Other kinds of Amazon Echo devices, like certain Echo Dots, have buttons on the top that control the volume. With the Echo Show, you can control the volume using buttons on the top, or an on-screen slider by dragging down.
Do Echo Buds work better with Alexa than AirPods?
While AirPods are the leading type of wireless earbuds, there are other ones you can choose instead. One of these brands are the Echo Buds, the Amazon-made brand of wireless ear buds.
While the Echo Buds are produced by Amazon, just as Alexa and the devices are, that does not make them inherently superior to Apple AirPods. When it comes to preference, it will ultimately come down to your needs.
The Echo Buds are considerably cheaper than the AirPods, which means that if you are working on a budget, this may be your best bet.
However, if you can afford to go for the more expensive option, the AirBuds have all the good parts of Ear Buds, and then some.
- Pros:
- Can be connected to Alexa using the Alexa App on your phone.
- Can ask Alexa to change the volume of your AirPods.
- Relatively easy to connect.
- Cons:
- Low battery charge, Bluetooth issues, residue, and software updates can all cause issues with connecting AirPods to Alexa.
- More expensive than other alternatives.
