How to turn off AirPods auto-switching feature in iOS 14 on iPhone, Mac

After updating to iOS 14 or macOS 11 Big Sur you’ve probably experienced your AirPods arbitrarily switching between your Apple gadgets. The new automatic switching feature should make your life simpler, yet for some – including yours really – it’s irritating.

In theory, the new feature would have the option to recognize which Apple gadget you want to use your AirPods in real-time.

For example, in case you’re streaming music on your iPhone and you begin playing a video on your iPad, the AirPods should switch to your iPad. Yet, in reality, the feature is fairly finicky.

Fortunately, there’s a method to turn the feature. Simply ensure you follow the plot of the step outlined below on each Apple gadget that you use your AirPods with, or at least, the gadgets you don’t want your AirPods to automatically switch between.

Turn auto-switching off on iPhone, iPad

With your AirPods connected to your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap Bluetooth.

3. Tap the “i” icon next to the name of your AirPods.

4. Scroll down through the options until you discover the option marked Connect to this iPhone/iPad; tap it.

5. Select When Last Connected to This iPhone/iPad at that point back out of the Settings app.

Turn auto-switching off on a Mac

Connect your AirPods to your Mac, at that point follow these steps:

1. Open System Preferences.

2. Select Bluetooth.

3. Click Options next to the name of your AirPods.

4. Click on the dropdown marked Connect to This Mac.

5. Select When Last Connected to This Mac and afterward click Done and close System Preferences.

With automatic switching turning off on the entirety of your Apple gadgets, your AirPods will connect with the last gadget they were connected to when you put them on, much the same as they did before iOS 14.

At that point, if you want to begin using them with another of your Apple gadgets, you can switch to them by selecting them in the AirPlay section of the Control Center.