AirPods work seamlessly with Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, and it's also possible to connect them to an Apple TV. Apple's ecosystem is notoriously close-walled, and that's true for AirPods to a certain degree. While AirPods work like any other Bluetooth headphones, users will miss out on key features when using them with non-Apple devices. Features like Spatial Audio, one-touch pairing, changing playback controls, in-ear detection, and automatic ear switching aren't available when using AirPods with Android or Windows devices.
Apple TV users don't have this problem though, and connecting AirPods to the streaming device is quite straightforward. To begin, press the TV button on the Apple TV remote and go to Settings. Scroll down to 'Remotes and Devices' and select 'Bluetooth.' Open the AirPods case, and press and hold the button on the back for five seconds until the status light starts flashing white. Look for the AirPods under 'Other Devices' on the Apple TV and select them to pair. Users can now use Apple TV and play audio on their AirPods instead of the TV speakers.
Share Apple TV Audio With Two AirPods
As if connecting one pair of AirPods to Apple TV wasn't convenient enough, Apple also makes it possible to connect two AirPods at the same time and share audio. This feature is only available on the Apple TV 4K though, and anyone with an Apple TV HD or older model won't be able to share audio with AirPods. To share AirPods audio with Apple TV 4K, press and hold the TV button to open Control Center. Select the AirPlay icon (mountain with radiating waves), go to 'Headphones' and choose the AirPods that need to be used. Select 'Share Audio,' and follow the instructions onscreen to pair the second pair of AirPods.
Once sharing audio is enabled, two people will be able to listen to audio from the Apple TV at the same time. This feature isn't just restricted to AirPods, and is also compatible with Beats headphones. This means users can share audio with two AirPods, two Beats headphones, or a pair of AirPods and a pair of Beats phones. The only caveat here is that Spatial Audio and head-tracking aren't supported when sharing audio.
The ability to share audio with two pairs of earphones means two people can watch the same TV show or movie on Apple TV without disturbing sleeping kids or house guests. Once a pair of AirPods are connected to an Apple TV, they'll connect automatically the next time the user opens the case, provided the Apple TV uses the same Apple ID.