Just got some AirPods for Christmas? Here’s what you need to do first

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This is the ultimate cheat sheet for setting up your new AirPods

A pair of Apple AirPods Pro 3
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

So, you got AirPods for Christmas. What now? Well, even though these are some of the best wireless earbuds and the perfect companion for your iPhone, they need to be set up correctly so you can enjoy all the benefits of having a new addition to your Apple ecosystem.

Having the right setup means you’ll have the best experience when using the earbuds and the best sound quality possible. These are some of the steps you can take as soon as you get your new AirPods to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Step 1. Give them a unique name

A pair of Apple AirPods Pro 3

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Obviously, the first thing you’ll need to do is connect the AirPods via Bluetooth to your device. This is straightforward enough, as your Apple device will automatically recognize the earbuds as soon as you open the case.

Making sure you name the AirPods on their first connection is essential, as you’ll be able to recognize them when you move on to connecting to more devices. I also like to set up multipoint connection with my most used devices.

Multipoint connection allows you to switch seamlessly between audio from multiple devices. I love using this feature while I’m working to switch between video calls on my laptop and music on my phone. It’s super handy, and if you set it up right away, it avoids any fuss when you’re rushing to switch over.

Step 2. Turn on Find My...

A pair of Apple AirPods Pro 3

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Make sure you allow Find My to track your AirPods. This makes them so easy to find if you ever misplace them. And you may think that won’t be an issue, but I find myself pinging my AirPods on the Find My app more than I care to admit — and I’d say I’m pretty organized.

You can also set up an alert for the app to alert you if you ever leave your AirPods behind. I find this feature especially useful, and I often forget to throw them in my bag as I head out the door, so it reminds me to turn around and grab them.

Step 3. Run the fit test

A pair of Apple AirPods Pro 3

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

With new models, like the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods Max, you can run a fit test to make sure you’re getting optimal sound performance. This ensures you’re getting the best ANC (active noise cancellation) and transparency mode performance.

Not getting the best results? You can try the different-sized ear tips that come with the buds to see which ones give the best seal for noise cancellation.

New features on the AirPods 3 will also perform better with a more accurate eartip fit too. These buds have sensors for health tracking, and these metrics will be far more accurate with a better fit.

Step 4. Make sure you're listening to lossless audio

A pair of Apple AirPods Pro 3

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

For the audiophiles out there, the most important step in setting up your new AirPods will be enabling lossless audio. It’s going to use up a lot more mobile data, so be aware of that, but if you want the best quality audio possible with your music, you need to enable this high fidelity setting in your music streaming app(s).

You’ll get a better performance with this feature if you use Apple Music for streaming (and you should get 3 months free with an AirPods purchase at Apple), but Spotify recently upgraded its streaming platform to offer lossless streaming to iPhone users.

But the most important thing is to enjoy the music you listen to with these earbuds, as they are going to soundtrack your life for you. From train journeys to long walks, my AirPods come everywhere, and I think you’re going to love using yours with the right setup.

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Ashley Thieme
Ashley Thieme
Staff writer, Reviews

Ashley is a staff writer on the the Reviews team at Tom’s Guide. She has a master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and a BA in Journalism, Media and Sociology. She has written for titles including Women’s Health UK, writing health and wellness stories, and Virgin Radio UK, specializing in entertainment news and celebrity interviews. She has reported on a variety of topics including music, literature, motorsport, entertainment and health. She has previously reviewed live music events, books, and wellness products but discovering the top audio equipment on the market is what she does best. When she is not testing out the latest tech, you can find her either curled up with a cup of tea and a good fantasy novel or out hiking.

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