How to Pair Skullcandy Wireless Earbuds & Headphones (Step by Step)

To pair your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones, turn them OFF and back ON while holding the power button/controls or simply waiting for pairing mode to initiate automatically.

Skullcandy made activating pairing mode different for multiple models. Fortunately, there are tricks that usually work. Learn how to connect them to all devices. Or how to reset them in case of pairing problems.

Step 1: How to Activate Pairing Mode on Skullcandy Wireless Earbuds & Headphones

Activating pairing mode is different on headphones vs. earbuds.

Fortunately, it’s a simple process. Most Skullcandy headphones and earbuds automatically jump into pairing mode after failing to connect to a device.

How to activate pairing mode on Skullcandy earbuds

Skullcandy earbuds use various methods to trigger the pairing mode depending on the model.

But, for the most part, the universal solution is to:

1. Put the Skullcandy earbuds into the charging case and close the lid.
2. Ensure all Bluetooth devices you already paired your Skullcandy earbuds have Bluetooth OFF.
3. Reopen the lid and take the earbuds out.
4. Observe the LED lights on them. You know they’re in pairing mode when they start flashing red and blue.

Another method to put Skullcandy earbuds into pairing mode is to:

1. Take the Skullcandy earbuds out of the charging case.
2. Press and hold their touch/physical control for a few seconds until they shut OFF.
3. Then, press and hold their touch/physical controls again. Keep holding after they turn back ON (for around 4 seconds).
4. Observe when the LED lights start flashing red and blue. That’s when they’re in pairing mode.

How to activate pairing mode on Skullcandy headphones

Pairing Skullcandy headphones works similarly to earbuds (in terms of automatically initiating the pairing process). So, basically:

1. Turn OFF your Skullcandy wireless headphones.
2. Disable the Bluetooth function on all devices previously paired to your Skullcandy headphones.
3. Turn your Skullcandy headphones back ON and wait a few seconds.
4. Observe the LED light under the ear cup. Skullcandy headphones are in pairing mode when it starts flashing red and blue.

Another way of activating pairing mode is to:

1. Turn your Skullcandy headphones OFF.
2. Turn your Skullcandy headphones back ON while holding the Power button for another 4-5 seconds.
3. Skullcandy headphones are in pairing mode when their LED status light blinks red and blue.

Once you’re in pairing mode, jump to the device you want to connect to below and follow the instructions:

• iOS (iPhone, iPad)
• Android (all other smartphones, tablets)
• Windows 11 & 10 (PC laptops)
• MacOS (Mac, MacBook)
• TV
• Gaming console (Nintendo Switch)

Step 2: How to Pair Skullcandy Earbuds & Headphones to an iPhone & iPad (iOS)

Skullcandy earbuds and headphones are non-Apple devices, so there’s no fancy animation when pairing them to an iPhone or iPad.

Fortunately, the pairing process isn’t too complicated:

1. Unlock your iOS device and find the “Settings” app on your home screen. Tap on the app’s icon.

2. In Settings, tap “Bluetooth” and enable it by tapping the toggle (so it turns green).
3. Now, follow the instructions above to activate pairing mode in your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
4. Look back on the screen. Your Skullcandy earbuds should soon appear under the “OTHER DEVICES“. Click on their name.

5. They’re connected when they move to the “MY DEVICES” and have “Connected” written on their right side.

Step 2: How to Pair Skullcandy Earbuds & Headphones to an Android Phone (Android)

Pairing earbuds to an Android device is simple, as the operating system guides you through the process. 

The only unfortunate thing is that Skullcandy’s earbuds and headphones lack Google Fast Pair support, which would make pairing even more effortless.

Here’s how you pair your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones to an Android:

1. On your Android device, swipe from the top to access “quick settings“. If you don’t see a Bluetooth symbol, swipe again to expand the quick settings.
2. Enable the Bluetooth mode by tapping on the symbol.

3. The notification bar will automatically close and open the quick Bluetooth settings window. If you accidentally close it, simply swipe again from the top, find the Bluetooth symbol, and tap & hold it to go into the main Bluetooth settings. Your device is now searching for headphones.
4. Follow the instructions above to activate pairing mode in your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
5. Scrolling down to “Available devices“, you should see the name of your Skullcandy earbuds. Tap on them.

6. Click “Pair” when getting the “Bluetooth pairing request” message.

7. Your earbuds should move to the “Pair devices” and have “Connected” written under their name.

Step 2: How to Pair Skullcandy Earbuds & Headphones to a PC & Laptop (Windows)

Pairing headphones to a Windows device takes a few more steps, depending on the headphone model.

Not all Windows devices have a Bluetooth module built-in to support wireless connectivity:

• Laptops usually have Bluetooth support.
• Desktops usually DON’T have Bluetooth support (they require you to buy a Bluetooth adapter).

Here are all the steps for pairing Skullcandy wireless earbuds and headphones to a Windows machine.

Windows 11

1. Left-click the “Wi-Fi/Speaker/Battery” icon on your desktop. It opens “quick settings“.
2. Right-click on the Bluetooth symbol and select “Go to Settings“.

3. Inside Bluetooth & devices settings, enable Bluetooth by clicking the “Off” toggle (and turn it to “On“).
4. Click on “Add device” anywhere in the window.

5. Now, follow the instructions above to activate pairing mode in your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
6. Select the “Bluetooth” option to let Windows focus on audio devices.

7. It can take 10 or 30 seconds before Windows finally finds your Skullcandy earbuds. When you see their name, click on them.
8. Skullcandy earbuds or headphones are connected when it says “Your device is ready to go!” on top of the window.

Windows 10

1. On your desktop, left-click on the Notification icon. Below notifications, there are “quick settings“.
2. Enable Bluetooth by clicking the Bluetooth tile so it turns into the color of your user interface (red in our example).
3. Then, right-click on the Bluetooth tile and select “Go to Settings“.

4. In Bluetooth & other devices settings, click on “Add Bluetooth or other devices“.

5. Now, follow the instructions above to activate pairing mode in your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
6. Pick the first “Bluetooth” option to let Windows know what kind of device you want to pair.

7. Depending on the headphone model, it can take 10 to 30 seconds for your Skullcandy to appear on the screen. Click on them when they do.
8. Your Skullcandy earbuds or headphones are connected when it says so under their name (you also get “Your device is ready to go!” written on the top.

Step 2: How to Pair Skullcandy Earbuds & Headphones to a Mac, MacBook (macOS)

As mentioned in the iOS section of this guide, as a non-Apple device, Skullcandy earbuds and headphones don’t have the benefits of seamless connectivity between devices.

You need to take a longer path to pair them to a Mac or MacBook. Fortunately, the process is super simple:

1. Go to the menu bar on top of the screen and click the Apple logo (on the left side of the screen).
2. Select “System Preferences…“.

3. Inside the System Preferences window, locate and click the “Bluetooth” logo.

4. In Bluetooth settings, click “Turn Bluetooth On” if it isn’t turned ON yet.
5. Now, follow the instructions above to activate pairing mode in your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
6. In the “Devices” list, you should see a new entry with a headphone icon and a MAC address. Click “Connect” next to it.

7. When connected, the name of your Skullcandy earbuds or headphones will be displayed in full.

How to Pair Skullcandy Earbuds & Headphones to Other Bluetooth Devices

Now that we’ve covered the most common devices to pair your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones to let’s have a look at a few interesting ones:

• TV
• Gaming console

Pair Skullcandy earbuds and headphones to a TV

There are many smart TV operating systems. We’ll cover the most popular ones:

• Tizen OS (Samsung)
• webOS (LG)
• Android TV (Sony, TCL, Philips, Hisense)

Tizen OS

1. Press the “Home” button on your remote controller to open Tizen’s user interface.
2. Tap all the way to the left and select “Settings“.

3. Then, click “Sound” and select “Sound Output“.

4. Follow the instructions above to activate pairing mode in your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
5. In the Sound Output window, select the “Speaker List” (with a Bluetooth symbol in it).

6. Inside Speaker List, TV is searching for Bluetooth audio devices. Select your Skullcandy earbuds or headphones’ name when it shows up.

7. Confirm “Pair and connect“.

8. Skullcandy earbuds or headphones are now successfully connected. Confirm by pressing “OK“.

webOS

1. Using a remote controller, press the “Settings” button.
2. Enter “Sound” and then select “Sound Out“.

3. In Sound Out settings, pick “Use Wireless Speaker“.

4. Then, click the ‘3 vertical dots’ next to the “Bluetooth device” option.

5. Now, follow the instructions above to activate pairing mode in your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
6. Observe when your Skullcandy earbuds’ name appears under “Connectable Devices“. When they do, select them.

7. When you see “[*Skullcandy earbuds or headphones name*] is connected“, you know you’re connected.

Android TV

1. Go into your Android TV Home screen and select “Settings” at the top (near the clock).

2. Go down to “Remote & accessories”, where you click the “Add accessory” option (big Bluetooth symbol next to it).

3. Now, follow the instructions above to activate pairing mode in your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
4. Click your Skullcandy headphones or earbuds when they appear at the top of the screen.

5. You have successfully connected your Skullcandy when it says “Paired” under their name.

Pair Skullcandy earbuds and headphones with a gaming console

Now, we’ll show you how to pair Skullcandy wireless earbuds and headphones with a Nintendo Switch. This is the only gaming console with a built-in Bluetooth module (currently).

Pairing Bluetooth headphones to PlayStation or Xbox requires buying a Bluetooth pairing dongle.

Here’s how you pair your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones to a Nintendo Switch:

1. Enter your Home screen and select “System Settings” (an icon resembling a sun).

2. Go down and select “Bluetooth Audio“.
3. Follow the instructions above to activate pairing mode in your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
4. Go back to your Switch and select “Add Device“.

5. Your Skullcandy earbuds or headphones’ name should appear on screen in a few seconds. Select it.
6. Press “OK” to finalize the pairing process.

If you feel like you don’t get enough loudness out of your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones, do the following:

1. Go to “System Settings“.
2. Scroll all the way down to “System“.
3. In there, turn Off the “Lower Maximum Headphone Volume” option.

Activating Pairing Mode on Different Skullcandy Models

While we described the most common ways to activate pairing mode on Skullcandy earbuds and headphones, here are some more specific ones:

• Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2: While turned ON, hold the Power button for 1 second or until you see the status light flashing red/blue.
• Skullcandy Dime: Take them out of the charging case, hold the controls to turn them OFF, and then hold them again to turn them back ON. Hold for another 4 seconds or until you see an LED flashing red/blue.
• Skullcandy Push Ultra: Place them into the charging case until the LED on both earbuds shows red. Then, take them out. After a while, the LED on the left earbud will start flashing red/blue.

How to verify the earbuds/headphones are in pairing mode?

Something that all Skullcandy earbuds and headphones have in common is how to recognize they’re in pairing mode.

• LED lights in all Skullcandy models flash red and blue when in pairing mode.
• Audible feedback is also present on some models (in Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2), where you can hear a voice prompt saying “Pairing”.

Connecting Skullcandy Wireless Earbuds & Headphones After Pairing

Already connected Skullcandy earbuds and headphones can reconnect automatically or manually. Let’s see what happens in both cases.

Automatic reconnection

When you already paired your headphones to a device, they should automatically reconnect the next time you use them.

All you need to do is to:

1. Enable Bluetooth on a device to which you want to pair your Skullcandys.
2. Turn on Skullcandy headphones or put the Skullcandy earbuds out of the charging case.
3. The device should automatically reconnect to your headphones.

Manual reconnection

Sometimes, automatic reconnect doesn’t work due to various reasons:

• You paired headphones to another device.
• Headphones connected to a different device with Bluetooth enabled.

If any of that happens:

1. Ensure to turn OFF Bluetooth on all devices except the one you want to pair your headphones to.
2. Turn on your Skullcandy headphones or remove Skullcandy earbuds from their charging case.
3. Go into Bluetooth settings on your device, find the name of your Skullcandy earbuds/headphones, and tap on it.
4. The device should connect to your headphones.

Troubleshooting Pairing Issues on Skullcandy Earbuds & Headphones

Bluetooth devices such as earbuds and headphones can sometimes refuse to pair. Here are some troubleshooting tips to get them to pair again.

But before searching for solutions, you need to pinpoint where the problem originates:

• Try pairing your Skullcandy earbuds or headphones with a different device than you want to originally.
  • If you have trouble pairing them to multiple devices, there has to be something wrong with Skullcandy’s.
  • If they successfully pair to other devices, something must be wrong with your first device.

Restart Bluetooth

Sometimes, features like Bluetooth startup with an error affect its ability to establish a Bluetooth connection.

A simple turning OFF & ON could solve the issue.

• Turn OFF & ON the Bluetooth on your device.
• Turn OFF & ON your Skullcandy earbuds and headphones.
  • You turn OFF earbuds by placing them in the charging case.
  • You turn OFF headphones by holding the Power button.

Insufficient battery charge

An empty battery could be another reason your earbuds refuse to activate pairing mode. Give them a little boost by plugging them into a charger.

• On headphones, press the Power button and observe the LED light indicator:
  • 4 white blinks mean 100% charge
  • 3 white blinks mean 75%
  • 2 white blinks mean 50%
  • 1 white blink means 25%
  • Solid red light means below 5%
• On earbuds, place the earbuds in the charging case and observe the LED light. Use the same logic as with headphones.

Software error

If switching Bluetooth OFF & ON doesn’t help, the reason might be a software glitch encountered when the device is turned ON. You need to either reset or update your device.

• Resetting your device should clear up any errors that occur during the turning-on process. Reset Skullcandy earbuds or headphones and the device you want to pair to.
• Updating software on the device should clear up any reoccurring pairing issues resulting from a faulty code.

How to Reset Skullcandy Earbuds & Headphones

Like in other wireless audio gadgets, earbuds and headphones use different methods and buttons to perform a reset (resetting the earbuds or clearing all custom settings and connected devices).

Let’s start with earbuds. You generally reset Skullcandy earbuds by turning them OFF and then back ON by holding the controls for 10 seconds or more. But there are a few exceptions.

This is how you reset Skullcandy Indy ANC true wireless earbuds:

1. First, turn the earbuds OFF by taking them out of the charging case and holding the touch controls for 6 seconds. You should hear them powering OFF.
2. Then, hold the touch controls for at least 15 seconds or until you see the LEDs on the earbuds glow in solid blue.
3. Now, double-tap on the touch controls.
4. If the LEDs flash purple, you have reset your Skullcandy earbuds.

This is how you reset Skullcandy Dime earbuds:

1. Take them out of the charging case. Ensure they’re ON and not connected to any device. If they don’t turn ON automatically, hold the button on the earbuds for a few seconds or until you see the glowing LED on the side of the stems.
2. Now, double-press the button on the earbuds and hold for 2 seconds. You can reset them individually if it’s too difficult to handle both simultaneously.
3. The earbuds are now reset.

Now, let’s see how you reset Skullcandy headphones like Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2:

1. Turn the headphones ON.
2. Press and hold the Volume Down button for 6 seconds or until you hear a tone and an LED flashing purple.
3. Skullcandy headphones are now reset.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

More pairing guides:

• How to pair JLab earbuds
• How to pair Sony headphones and earbuds

Conclusion

We hope our instructions helped you successfully pair your Skullcandy earbuds to your device.

If you have further questions on the matter, please let us know in the comments, and we’ll help you as best we can.

• In the meantime, check the currently best Skullcandy headphones on the market, in our opinion.
• Furthermore, take a look at how to pair Bose, Sony, Apple AirPods and AirPods Max, and TOZO earbuds and headphones.