How to Connect AirPods to a Yealink T53

Apple AirPods can be paired with a Yealink T53 over Bluetooth, so you can take and place EMAK Telecom calls using AirPods as your headset. The Yealink T53 needs an external Bluetooth dongle (such as the Yealink BT41) to discover and pair Bluetooth devices.

Step 1: Put Your AirPods Into Pairing Mode

1. Place your AirPods in the charging case.
2. Keep the lid of the charging case open.
3. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case.
4. When the status light begins to flash white, your AirPods are in Bluetooth pairing mode.

Step 2: Turn On Bluetooth on the Yealink T53

1. On the idle screen, press the Menu soft key at the bottom of the display.
2. Use the navigation keys to highlight Basic and press OK.
3. Use the down arrow to scroll to #7 Bluetooth and press OK.
4. In the Bluetooth menu, use the right arrow (>) to set Bluetooth to On and press OK.

Step 3: Pair the Yealink T53 With Your AirPods

1. From the Bluetooth menu, navigate to #2 Paired Bluetooth Device.
2. Press the Scan soft key at the bottom of the display to search for nearby devices.
3. When your AirPods appear in the discovered list, highlight them and press the Connect soft key.

Once paired, the Yealink T53 will route call audio through your AirPods. To swap between the AirPods and the handset or speakerphone during a call, use the audio source button on the Yealink.

AirPods + Yealink T53 FAQ

Do I need any extra hardware?

Yes — the Yealink T53 does not have built-in Bluetooth. You need a compatible Bluetooth USB dongle, such as the Yealink BT41, plugged into the back of the phone. Without it, the Bluetooth menu will not appear or will not be able to discover devices.

Why can’t the Yealink see my AirPods in the scan results?

Make sure the AirPods are in pairing mode (status light flashing white) and are within a few feet of the Yealink. If the scan still does not find them, close the AirPods case for ten seconds, reopen it, hold the setup button until the light flashes again, and re-run the scan on the Yealink.

Can I take cellular calls on my iPhone through the AirPods while paired with the Yealink?

The AirPods can only be actively connected to one device at a time. While they are paired with and active on the Yealink, your iPhone will route audio to the iPhone’s own speaker until you switch the AirPods back to the iPhone in your iPhone’s Bluetooth settings.

Audio quality is poor — what can I do?

Bluetooth call audio is more compressed than wired headsets. If you are doing back-to-back calls and need the best quality, a wired or USB headset is more reliable. For the AirPods specifically, keep them within a few feet of the Yealink and away from other 2.4 GHz interference.