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Short answer: Yes, for game sound. The Nintendo Switch 2 supports Bluetooth audio, so AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max pair under System Settings > Bluetooth Audio. But the AirPods’ microphone won’t work, because Nintendo says Bluetooth microphones can’t be used on the Switch 2. You can only connect two wireless controllers while they’re paired, and Nintendo warns of possible audio delay. For GameChat, use the console’s built-in mic, or get a headset with a USB-C dongle such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5.
Check the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 on Amazon →
How we put this together: this guide is based on Nintendo’s and Apple’s support pages and published reviews (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. See how we choose products.
How to connect AirPods to a Switch 2
- Update the Switch 2 to the latest system version, and make sure no more than two controllers are connected wirelessly (a pair of Joy-Con 2 counts as two).
- Put your AirPods in pairing mode. For AirPods 1, 2 or 3 and AirPods Pro 1 or 2: with the AirPods in the open case, press and hold the setup button on the back for about 5 seconds, until the light flashes white. For AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3: double-tap the front of the case until the light flashes white. For AirPods Max: press and hold the listening mode button for about 5 seconds (Apple).
- On the Switch 2, go to System Settings > Bluetooth Audio > Add Device, and select your AirPods. Searching can take a few seconds.
Once they’re connected, all console audio plays through the AirPods (Nintendo). Next time, they may reconnect on their own when you take them out of the case near the console; if not, select them in Bluetooth Audio and choose Connect.
The limits of AirPods on Switch 2
| What | With AirPods on Switch 2 |
|---|---|
| Game sound | Yes, handheld and docked |
| Mic for GameChat | No: “Bluetooth microphones cannot be used” |
| Wireless controllers | Up to two while Bluetooth audio is connected |
| Audio devices at once | One (up to 10 can be saved) |
| Local wireless multiplayer | Bluetooth audio disconnects during local communication |
| Delay | Possible, depending on the device; no Game Mode like on an iPhone |
| Noise cancelling | Yes, switch modes on the AirPods themselves |
All of these come from Nintendo’s Bluetooth audio page (Nintendo). The two that matter most:
- No mic. Your friends won’t hear you through the AirPods. The workaround is to leave the AirPods on for game and chat sound and talk through the Switch 2’s built-in microphone.
- Delay. Nintendo warns “you may experience audio latency depending on your Bluetooth device”. On an iPhone or Mac, Apple’s Game Mode reduces AirPods’ delay, but that’s an Apple feature, so on the Switch 2 they work as plain Bluetooth earbuds. That’s fine for Zelda, Animal Crossing or Mario Kart against the computer, but you may notice it in rhythm games or competitive play. Our Bluetooth headphones for gaming guide explains why.
One more catch: the two-controller limit. With AirPods connected, a second player with their own pair of Joy-Con 2 means three or four controllers, which isn’t allowed. For couch multiplayer, use the console speakers or wired headphones.
Can you use AirPods Max on Switch 2 with a cable?
The AirPods Max play lossless, “ultra-low latency” audio over their USB-C cable, but Apple describes that for iPhone, iPad and Mac (our AirPods gaming guide has the details). We found no source confirming it on a Switch 2, so treat the AirPods Max as Bluetooth headphones on the console. AirPods and AirPods Pro have no cable option at all.
What about the original Nintendo Switch?
AirPods work on the first Switch too, with the same limits. Update the console, put the AirPods in pairing mode as above, then go to System Settings > Bluetooth Audio > Pair Device. Nintendo’s rules for the original Switch match the Switch 2: one Bluetooth audio device at a time (up to 10 can be saved), “Bluetooth microphones cannot be used”, no more than two wireless controllers while it’s connected, and Bluetooth audio disconnects during local wireless multiplayer. Nintendo also warns of possible audio delay (Nintendo).
The only difference you’ll notice is the menu name: “Pair Device” on the Switch, “Add Device” on the Switch 2.
Better options for Switch 2 gaming
If you play online with friends, you need a mic that works in GameChat, and that means a USB-C dongle or a wired headset. The Switch 2 has a headphone jack on top of the console and on the Switch 2 Pro Controller (not on the Joy-Con 2), and its top USB-C port takes a wireless dongle in handheld or docked mode.
| Pick | Best for | Connection | Mic in GameChat | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 | Best Switch 2 headset for most people | USB-C dongle (low-latency 2.4 GHz) | Yes | Check price |
| Sony INZONE Buds | Earbuds instead of AirPods | USB-C dongle, plus Bluetooth LE Audio for phones | Not confirmed by Sony for Switch 2 | Check price |
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 | Budget, no batteries | 3.5 mm wired | Yes | Check price |
The Arctis Nova 5‘s dongle plugs straight into the console, so you get low-latency wireless sound and a working GameChat mic. The Sony INZONE Buds skip Bluetooth with their own USB-C dongle for lower delay in earbud form, though Sony doesn’t confirm their mic for Switch 2 GameChat, so pair them with the console mic. On a budget, a wired headset like the Arctis Nova 1 plugs into the console or the Pro Controller and does everything. See our best headphones for Nintendo Switch 2 for the full list.
Check the Sony INZONE Buds on Amazon →
Specs from the makers, side by side
Every figure below comes from the manufacturer’s own spec page, taken from our earbuds and headphones spec database. “Not stated” means the maker doesn’t publish it, not that the feature is missing.
| Model | Battery | Weight | Codecs | Connection | Maker doesn’t state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless | 60 h | 265 g | Not stated | 2.4 GHz dongle + Bluetooth; Bluetooth 5.3 | latency, quick charge, Xbox |
| Sony INZONE Buds (WF-G700N) | ANC on: 11 (dongle) / 18 (LE Audio) ANC off: 12 (dongle) / 24 (LE Audio) with case: 24 (dongle, NC off) / 48 (LE Audio, NC off) | 6.5 g | LC3 | 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle + Bluetooth LE Audio only (no classic Bluetooth); Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio only) | multipoint, case weight |
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 | Not stated | 253 (an image on the same page says 236) | Not stated | wired 3.5 mm | — |
Our verdict
AirPods work on the Switch 2 for game sound, and for single-player games in handheld mode they’re a perfectly good option you already own. Know the limits: no mic, only two wireless controllers, and some delay without Apple’s Game Mode. If you play online with friends or local multiplayer, a headset with a USB-C dongle, such as the Arctis Nova 5, or a wired headset is the better tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use AirPods on the Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes, for game sound. Pair them in System Settings > Bluetooth Audio > Add Device after putting the AirPods in pairing mode. Their mic won’t work, and only two wireless controllers can be connected while they’re paired.
Does the AirPods mic work on Switch 2?
No. Nintendo says Bluetooth microphones can’t be used on the Switch 2. You can listen through AirPods and talk through the console’s built-in mic, or use a headset with a USB-C dongle or a wired headset.
Is there lag with AirPods on Switch 2?
There can be. Nintendo warns of possible audio latency with Bluetooth devices, and Apple’s Game Mode doesn’t work on the Switch 2. It’s fine for casual games but may show in rhythm or competitive games.
Why does my Switch 2 only allow two controllers with AirPods?
Nintendo limits the console to two wireless controllers while a Bluetooth audio device is connected. A pair of Joy-Con 2 counts as two controllers.
Why do my AirPods disconnect during multiplayer on Switch 2?
Nintendo says Bluetooth audio disconnects during local communication, such as local wireless multiplayer between consoles. Use the speakers or a wired headset for those sessions.
Can you use AirPods on the original Nintendo Switch?
Yes, for game sound, after updating the console: pair them in System Settings > Bluetooth Audio > Pair Device. As on the Switch 2, the AirPods mic doesn't work, only two wireless controllers can stay connected, and Bluetooth audio drops during local wireless multiplayer.
