Can Two Different AirPods Work Together?

Unlike wired earbuds, AirPods don’t connect in any physical way. You can use the find my AirPods feature to find them if you misplace one or both, but only if they have enough battery life to sound the alarm. If you lose an AirPod and have given up ever finding it, you can buy a replacement from Apple. However, it won’t work with your old AirPod right out of the box. You can use two different AirPods together even if they weren’t originally part of a matched pair, but only if they’re the same type of AirPod. You can’t use an AirPod 1 and AirPod 2, or one AirPod 2 and one AirPod Pro. They have to be the same type and generation, or they won’t connect and work together.

How to Reset My AirPods After Replacing One

To connect a replacement AirPod to your existing AirPod, you need to reset the original one to work with the new one. Resetting turns the old and new AirPods into a matched pair, and you can then connect the AirPods to your iPhone. Here’s how to connect a replacement AirPod to an existing one:

Why Won’t My Replacement AirPod Connect?

While Apple will sell you a replacement AirPod, it won’t automatically connect to the AirPod you already have. Unlike the AirPods you usually buy, which come in matched pairs, replacement units are unpaired AirPods and won’t work right out of the box. To connect your replacement AirPod, you need to follow the process outlined in the previous section: place the old AirPod in your case with your new AirPod, reset both AirPods, and pair them with your phone. If your replacement AirPod still doesn’t connect, try a factory reset of the AirPods: