How do I stop my earbuds from going into pairing mode accidentally?

Accidental pairing mode is almost always caused by holding the button too long. Make sure you're just tapping to play/pause, not holding. Some earbuds let you customize button hold functions via their companion app — consider disabling the pairing mode hold gesture if you rarely need it.

Why won't my earbuds show up in Bluetooth even though they're in pairing mode?

Common reasons: your phone's Bluetooth is off; the earbuds are too far from the phone (stay within 3 feet for initial pairing); another device is actively connected to the earbuds; or the earbuds need a firmware update. Try turning the phone's Bluetooth off and back on, then hold the earbuds 1 foot from the phone during pairing.

Can I pair my earbuds to two devices at the same time?

This depends on whether your earbuds support 'multipoint' connection. Earbuds with multipoint (many Sony, Jabra, Anker models) can stay connected to two devices simultaneously. Without multipoint, you must disconnect from device A to use with device B. Check your earbuds' spec sheet for multipoint support.

Red-blue alternating pairing mode, or blue-red alternating — is there a difference?

No practical difference — the sequence just determines which color comes first. The meaning is the same: pairing mode is active.

Earbuds Red and Blue Alternating Light (Pairing Mode)

Earbuds alternating red and blue LED — what it means, how to complete Bluetooth pairing, and brand differences across Sony, Jabra, Anker, JLab, and more.

Alternating

red & blue

Quick info

Device typeEarbuds & Headphones

Colorred / blue

PatternAlternating

Blink rate1 Hz

Locationcase lid or earbud body

StatePairing mode / discoverable

Visual description

The LED on your earbuds (or on the charging case) alternates rapidly between red and blue — typically at about one switch per half-second. Some earbuds show this on both earbuds simultaneously; others show it only on the right earbud. The pattern is distinct from a slow blink or solid color and is specifically engineered to stand out as a 'find me' signal for Bluetooth.

What it means

Red-blue alternating is the near-universal Bluetooth pairing signal across the consumer earbud market. When you see this pattern, your earbuds are broadcasting their Bluetooth identity and waiting for a new device to pair with them. No audio will play; the earbuds are simply advertising themselves to any nearby device with Bluetooth scanning enabled.

Pairing mode activates in two scenarios: (1) the earbuds have been manually put into pairing mode by holding a button, or (2) the earbuds are new (out of the box for the first time) and have never been paired. The mode times out automatically — usually after 3 minutes — to save battery if no device connects.

Once paired, the LED will transition to a solid or slow-blinking white or blue to indicate a successful connection.

Brand & model variations

The same light pattern can mean different things across manufacturers.

Brand / Model	What red alternating means	Recommended action
Sony WF-1000XM5, WF-C700N	Sony earbuds flash blue-red alternating when in pairing mode. On the WF series, hold the button on both earbuds simultaneously for 7 seconds to enter pairing mode. Sony's case LED shows solid white when charging and off when full.	Open Bluetooth on your device and select the Sony model from the list.
Jabra Elite 4, Elite 85t	Jabra uses blue-red alternating for pairing mode, same as the industry standard. Pairing mode is entered by holding the button for 3 seconds when the earbuds are disconnected.	Open Jabra Sound+ app for guided pairing, or pair directly via Bluetooth settings.
Anker / Soundcore Liberty 4, Space A40	Anker earbuds use the same red-blue alternating pattern. To enter pairing mode, remove from case and hold touch controls for 3 seconds, or use the Soundcore app.	Pair via Bluetooth settings or Soundcore app.
JLab Go Air, Epic Air	JLab's pairing mode uses rapid blue-white alternating, not red-blue. But some JLab models do show red-blue on first use. Check the quick-start guide.	For JLab: triple-tap the right earbud to cycle connection modes if device doesn't auto-appear.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, Buds Pro	Samsung Galaxy Buds do NOT use a visible external LED for pairing mode — they use a subtle light inside the case or no visible indicator. Pairing happens via Samsung's popup system on Galaxy phones, or through Bluetooth settings.	No red-blue pattern on Samsung — see the Galaxy Wearable app for pairing.

Diagnose your issue

Answer a few questions to narrow down the cause.

Diagnose Your Issue

Why are the earbuds in pairing mode?

Safe next steps

Ordered from least to most involved. Check each step as you go.

Ensure both earbuds are out of the case and powered on.
Open Bluetooth settings on your phone or device.
If the earbuds already show red-blue alternating, they should appear in the 'Available Devices' or 'New Devices' list within 30 seconds.
If they don't appear, hold the pairing button (usually on the right earbud) for 3–7 seconds until the light pattern becomes red-blue alternating.
On your device, tap the earbuds' name to pair. Accept any pairing confirmation if prompted.
The LED will change to solid or slow-blinking white/blue once successfully connected.
If pairing fails, delete the earbuds from your device's Bluetooth list, restart Bluetooth on your phone, and try again.

When it resolves on its own

Condition: If no device connects

Expected time: Pairing mode automatically exits after 3 minutes on most earbuds to preserve battery. The earbuds will power off or return to idle.

When to escalate

Stop troubleshooting and contact your ISP or manufacturer if:

Earbuds remain in pairing mode but never appear in any device's Bluetooth list — Bluetooth chip may be malfunctioning.
Pairing mode activates but the connection drops immediately every time — possible firmware issue, try updating via the companion app.
One earbud shows pairing light but the other is unresponsive — likely a dead internal battery on one unit.