You've enjoyed your music, podcasts, or calls on your iPad with your AirPods, but now you're ready to switch to another device, or simply put them away. Disconnecting your AirPods from your iPad is a straightforward process, but there are a few different ways to do it, depending on your needs. This comprehensive guide will walk you through each method, ensuring you can seamlessly manage your audio connections.
Step 1: Let's begin! Do you want to temporarily pause your AirPods connection or completely forget the device?
This initial question helps us determine the best path forward. If you just want to stop using your AirPods with your iPad for now, but plan to use them again later, a temporary disconnect is what you need. If you're giving away your AirPods, selling your iPad, or having persistent connection issues, then completely forgetting the device is the more appropriate solution.
Step 2: Temporarily Disconnecting Your AirPods (The Quick and Easy Methods)
Sometimes, you just need to put your AirPods away or switch to another audio output without fully unpairing them. Here are the simplest ways to achieve a temporary disconnect:
Method 2.1: Putting Your AirPods Back in Their Case
This is by far the easiest and most common way to temporarily disconnect your AirPods.
- Open the Lid: Gently open the charging case of your AirPods.
- Place AirPods Inside: Carefully place both AirPods back into their respective slots in the charging case. You'll feel a slight magnetic pull as they settle into place.
- Close the Lid: Close the lid of the charging case.
What happens now? When the lid is closed, your AirPods will automatically disconnect from your iPad (and any other device they were actively connected to). They will go into a low-power mode, ready to reconnect the moment you open the case again near a paired device. This is ideal for quick switches between devices.
Method 2.2: Disconnecting via iPad's Control Center
The Control Center on your iPad offers a convenient way to manage your audio output without navigating through the Settings app.
- Access Control Center:
- For iPads with a Home button: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
- For iPads without a Home button (Face ID models): Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
- Locate the Audio Card: In the Control Center, look for the audio card (it usually shows what's currently playing, or an AirPlay icon).
- Tap the AirPlay Icon: Tap the small AirPlay icon (a triangle with concentric circles) usually found in the top-right corner of the audio card.
- Select a Different Output: A list of available audio outputs will appear. To disconnect your AirPods, simply tap on "iPad" or "Speakers" (if you want to use the iPad's internal speakers), or any other connected audio device.
Voilà! Your audio will now switch to the selected output, effectively disconnecting your AirPods from being the active audio source. They remain paired, but not actively connected.
Method 2.3: Disconnecting via iPad's Bluetooth Settings (Temporary)
While this method can also be used for a more permanent disconnect (covered in Step 3), it can be used for a temporary one as well.
- Open Settings: Tap the Settings app icon on your iPad's Home screen.
- Tap Bluetooth: In the left-hand sidebar, tap on Bluetooth.
- Locate Your AirPods: Under "MY DEVICES," you'll see your AirPods listed. They will show as "Connected" if they are currently active.
- Tap the 'i' Icon: Tap the information icon (a circled "i") next to your AirPods' name.
- Tap Disconnect: On the next screen, you'll see several options. Tap on Disconnect.
Important Note: This method disconnects them, but they remain paired. If you want to reconnect them, you'll need to tap their name again in the Bluetooth settings, or simply put them in your ears (if Auto-Connect is enabled).
Step 3: Completely Forgetting Your AirPods (Unpairing Them Permanently)
If you no longer want your iPad to recognize your AirPods, perhaps because you're selling them, upgrading, or troubleshooting, you'll want to "Forget This Device." This action removes the pairing record from your iPad.
Method 3.1: Forgetting Device via Bluetooth Settings
This is the definitive way to unpair your AirPods from your iPad.
- Open Settings: Tap the Settings app icon on your iPad's Home screen.
- Tap Bluetooth: In the left-hand sidebar, tap on Bluetooth.
- Locate Your AirPods: Under "MY DEVICES," find your AirPods. It's a good idea to have them out of their case and near the iPad for this step, though not strictly necessary if they've been connected recently.
- Tap the 'i' Icon: Tap the information icon (a circled "i") next to your AirPods' name.
- Tap Forget This Device: On the next screen, you'll see the option Forget This Device. Tap it.
- Confirm: A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm. Tap Forget Device again.
What happens now? Your AirPods are now completely unpaired from your iPad. They will no longer automatically connect, and your iPad will treat them as a new device if you try to connect them again in the future. This means you'll have to go through the initial pairing process (holding the button on the case) to use them with this iPad again.
Step 4: Confirming the Disconnection
After performing any of the above steps, it's always a good idea to confirm that the disconnection was successful.
- Check Bluetooth Settings: Go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPad. If you performed a temporary disconnect, your AirPods should no longer show "Connected." If you "Forgot This Device," they should no longer appear in the "MY DEVICES" list at all.
- Try Playing Audio: Attempt to play some audio on your iPad. If your AirPods are disconnected, the sound should come from your iPad's internal speakers or another selected audio output.
By following these steps, you can confidently and effectively disconnect your AirPods from your iPad, whether temporarily or permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions about Disconnecting AirPods from iPad:
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to disconnecting AirPods from your iPad, with quick answers:
How to temporarily disconnect AirPods from iPad?
Put your AirPods back in their charging case and close the lid, or switch the audio output from Control Center to "iPad" or "Speakers."
How to permanently unpair AirPods from iPad?
Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the 'i' icon next to your AirPods, then tap "Forget This Device" and confirm.
How to stop AirPods from automatically connecting to my iPad?
To stop automatic connection, you can either put them back in their case or go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the 'i' icon, and turn off "Automatic Ear Detection" (though this just stops auto-play, not the connection itself). For true cessation of automatic connection, you need to "Forget This Device."
How to disconnect AirPods from one iPad and connect to another?
Ensure your AirPods are disconnected from the first iPad (by putting them in their case). Then, on the second iPad, open the AirPods case near it, and they should appear as a new device to connect to.
How to troubleshoot AirPods that won't disconnect from iPad?
Try restarting your iPad. If the issue persists, "Forget This Device" for your AirPods and then re-pair them if you wish to use them with the iPad again.
How to disconnect AirPods when they are not in the charging case?
You can disconnect them via the iPad's Control Center by selecting a different audio output, or by going to Settings > Bluetooth, tapping the 'i' next to your AirPods, and tapping "Disconnect."
How to disconnect AirPods if I don't have the iPad nearby?
You can't directly disconnect AirPods from an iPad if the iPad isn't nearby. The disconnection process occurs on the iPad itself. If you're using them with another device, they will switch automatically.
How to prevent my iPad from trying to connect to my AirPods?
The only way to prevent your iPad from attempting to connect to your AirPods is to "Forget This Device" for your AirPods in the iPad's Bluetooth settings.
How to quickly switch AirPods between iPad and iPhone?
Ensure both devices are signed into the same Apple ID. When you want to switch, simply select the AirPods as the audio output from the Control Center on the device you wish to use.
How to reconnect AirPods to iPad after disconnecting them?
If you temporarily disconnected them, just open the AirPods case near your iPad or select them from the Bluetooth list. If you "Forgot This Device," you'll need to go through the initial pairing process again (hold the button on the back of the AirPods case until the light flashes white, then select them on your iPad).
