Share audio with AirPods and Beats headphones from iPad

While you wear AirPods or compatible Beats headphones, you can share what you’re listening to with a friend who’s also wearing AirPods or compatible Beats headphones. Both sets of headphones must be paired with iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. (On supported models; iOS 13.1, iPadOS 13.1, or later required; iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, or later required for AirPods Max.)

Start sharing audio when your friend’s headphones are in their charging case

Your AirPods or Beats headphones should be connected to your iPad, and your friend’s AirPods Pro, AirPods (1st and 2nd generation), or Beats headphones should be inside their charging case.

While you’re wearing your headphones, move your iPad close to your friend’s open charging case.
On your iPad, tap Temporarily Share Audio.
Follow the onscreen instructions.

Share audio with your friend’s AirPods Max or Beats over-ear headphones

Your AirPods or Beats headphones should be connected to your iPad.

While you’re wearing your headphones, move your iPad close to your friend’s headphones.
Do one of the following:
- If your friend has AirPods Max: Ask your friend to press the noise control button on the right headphone.
- If your friend has Beats over-ear headphones: Ask your friend to turn them on, then briefly press (for less than 1 second) the power button on their headphones.
On your iPad, tap Temporarily Share Audio, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Share audio when your friend is wearing AirPods or Beats headphones

If your friend is wearing AirPods or Beats headphones connected to their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can share the audio that’s playing on your iPad.

Wear your AirPods or Beats headphones.
On your iPad, tap on the Lock Screen, in Control Center, or in the Now Playing controls for the app you’re listening to.
Tap Share Audio (below the name of your headphones).
Bring your iPad close to your friend’s iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Tap Share Audio on your iPad.
Ask your friend to tap Join on their device.

Change the volume or noise control modes

If you and a friend use AirPods or Beats headphones to share audio from your iPad, you can set a different volume level for each set of headphones. When the headphones support noise control, you can also choose a different noise control mode for each set.

On your iPad, open Control Center, then touch and hold the volume control.
To change the volume, drag the volume sliders.
To change a noise control mode (AirPods Max and AirPods Pro), tap one of the Noise Control buttons at the bottom of the screen, then choose an option.

Stop sharing audio

On your iPad, tap in the Now Playing controls, on the Lock Screen, or in Control Center, then tap the name of your friend’s headphones to turn off the connection.

The iPad screen showing two pairs of connected AirPods.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide