How to Pair Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Headphones to iPhone, Android, Windows 10, and MacOS
By Robert Jones · 2021-11-19
Just got some Skullcandy Crusher Wireless headphones and having a right old faff trying to get them connected? Don't worry, it's a common headache, but I'll walk you through pairing them with your iPhone, Android, PC, or Mac.
Right, so you've just got yourself a pair of Skullcandy Crusher Wireless headphones, haven't you? Or maybe you've had them rattling around for a bit and are having a proper mare trying to get them hooked up to your phone, laptop, or whatever. It's a common enough problem, honestly, so don't fret. We've all been there with a new bit of kit, staring at flashing lights and wondering if we've bought a dud. **Quick Verdict:** _Decent bass for the money, but Bluetooth pairing can be a bit fiddly across different devices if you don't know the knack._ ### Who it's for: * Folks who love a good wallop of bass without breaking the bank. * Anyone needing a robust, everyday pair of wireless headphones for commuting or casual listening. * Those who aren't fussed about pinpoint audio accuracy but want an engaging sound. ### Who should skip it: * Serious listeners after neutral, analytical sound for critical listening. * Anyone expecting premium build quality or advanced features found on pricier headphones. * If you primarily listen to acoustic music or classical where nuanced mids and highs are paramount. I've had a few sets of these come through the workshop over the years, usually from mates or their kids asking "How do I get these to work, Robert?" They're popular, these Crushers, mainly because they offer a thumping good bass experience for a price that won't make your eyes water. But getting them connected? That's where some people hit a snag. Let's get stuck in and sort it out, shall we?  *How to Pair Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Headphones to iPhone, Android, Windows 10, and MacOS — tested in the SpeakersMag workshop.* ## Getting Started: The Basics of Bluetooth Pairing Before we even think about specific devices, we need to understand how these Skullcandy Crushers talk to anything else. It's all down to Bluetooth. Think of it like a tiny, invisible radio signal. For two devices to chat, they both need to be listening on the same frequency, and they need to be introduced, so to speak. That's what "pairing" is. Your Crushers, like most Bluetooth headphones, have a specific "pairing mode." This is usually indicated by a flashing light – often blue and red, or just blue, depending on the model and what mood it's in. It's the headphones shouting, "Hello! Is anyone out there? I'm ready to connect!" If they're not in this mode, your phone or computer won't even see them, no matter how hard you refresh. First things first, make sure your Crushers are charged up. Nothing's more annoying than trying to pair a flat battery. You'll usually get a little LED indicator light to let you know if they're low on juice or fully charged. Give them a good hour or so if you're unsure. Also, a bit of a classic mistake, but one I've seen countless times: make sure they're not already connected to something else. If your headphones are trying to talk to your tablet in the kitchen, your phone won't be able to find them. Turn off Bluetooth on any other nearby devices you've previously paired them with, just to be safe. It saves a lot of head-scratching. ## Pairing with Your iPhone: The Apple Way Right, iPhone users, this is usually pretty straightforward, but there are a couple of things to watch out for. Apple likes to keep things simple, but even simple can get muddled. 1. **Power On & Pairing Mode:** Grab your Skullcandy Crusher Wireless headphones. Find the power button – it's usually on the right earcup. Press and hold it for about 3-5 seconds. You'll hear the familiar "Power On" voice prompt. Keep holding it _past_ that. You need to keep holding until the LED indicator light starts flashing blue and red (or sometimes just a rapid blue flash). This means they're in pairing mode. 2. **Open iPhone Settings:** Now, pick up your iPhone. Go to the "Settings" app. It's the one with the grey cogs. Tap on it. 3. **Bluetooth Menu:** Inside Settings, you'll see "Bluetooth" listed. Tap on that. Make sure the Bluetooth toggle at the top is switched "On" (it'll be green). 4. **Scan for Devices:** Your iPhone will now start scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices. Give it a few seconds. You should see "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless" (or something very similar, like "Crusher ANC" if that's your model) appear under the "Other Devices" list. 5. **Connect:** Tap on "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless." Your iPhone will then try to establish a connection. The LED on your headphones should stop flashing blue and red and might go to a solid blue for a moment, or just turn off, and you'll hear a "Connected" voice prompt in the headphones. Boom. Done. If it asks for a PIN, which is rare these days, try "0000" or "1234". ### Troubleshooting iPhone Pairing: * **Not showing up?** Make sure the headphones are definitely in pairing mode (flashing blue/red). Turn Bluetooth off and on again on your iPhone. Sometimes a quick reboot of the iPhone helps too, believe it or not. * **"Connection Unsuccessful"?** Try "forgetting" the device if it partially showed up before. In the Bluetooth menu, tap the "i" icon next to the Crusher entry and select "Forget This Device." Then start the process again from step 1. * **Too many devices?** If you've got loads of old Bluetooth stuff paired, it might be worth decluttering your iPhone's Bluetooth list. It just makes things cleaner. ## Pairing with Your Android Phone: A Bit More Variety Android is a bit like the Wild West compared to Apple's walled garden; there's a lot more variety in how menus look, depending on who made your phone (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.) and what version of Android you're running. But the core process is much the same. 1. **Power On & Pairing Mode:** Just like with the iPhone, get your Skullcandy Crusher Wireless headphones into pairing mode. Press and hold the power button until you hear "Power On," then keep holding until the LED starts flashing blue and red. 2. **Open Android Settings:** On your Android phone, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel. You'll usually see a Bluetooth icon there. You can long-press this icon, or tap the cogwheel for full settings, then look for "Connected devices," "Bluetooth," or "Connections" depending on your phone's manufacturer. 3. **Bluetooth Menu:** Once you're in the Bluetooth menu, ensure Bluetooth is turned "On." 4. **Scan for Devices:** Your phone should automatically start scanning. If not, look for an option like "Pair new device," "Scan," or a refresh icon. You should see "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless" pop up in the list of available devices. 5. **Connect:** Tap on "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless." Your phone will connect, and you'll hear "Connected" in your headphones. The LED will stop flashing. Easy peasy. ### Troubleshooting Android Pairing: * **Can't find it?** Again, confirm those headphones are flashing blue/red. Some Android phones have a "Visibility timeout" setting for Bluetooth. Make sure it's not set to "Never visible" or a very short time. Try toggling Bluetooth off and on, or restarting your phone. * **Refusing to connect?** If the headphones appear but won't connect, try "forgetting" them from your Android's list (if they partially connected before) and then restarting the pairing process. You might find this under a gear icon next to the device name, then "Forget" or "Unpair." * **Developer Options?** On some older or heavily customised Android versions, there are "Developer Options" which can sometimes mess with Bluetooth. If you've been dabbling in there, it might be worth resetting them or checking for any strange settings. ## Pairing with Your Windows 10 PC: A Desktop Affair Connecting to a Windows 10 machine can sometimes be a bit more finicky than a phone. PCs are often packed with more background processes, and Bluetooth drivers aren't always the most reliable things in the world. Still, it's perfectly doable. 1. **Power On & Pairing Mode:** Get those Crushers flashing blue and red, just as before. Hold that power button down until they scream "I'm ready to connect!" 2. **Open Windows Settings:** On your Windows 10 PC, click the "Start" button (the Windows logo in the bottom left). Then click the "Settings" cogwheel icon. 3. **Devices Menu:** In the Settings window, click on "Devices." This is where you manage printers, mice, keyboards, and, crucially, Bluetooth devices. 4. **Add Bluetooth or other device:** Make sure the "Bluetooth & other devices" tab is selected on the left. Now, check that the Bluetooth toggle switch is set to "On." Then, click on "Add Bluetooth or other device." 5. **Choose Bluetooth:** A small pop-up window will appear. Select "Bluetooth" (the first option) as the type of device you want to add. 6. **Scan and Connect:** Your PC will start searching. After a few moments, "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless" should appear in the list. Click on it. Windows will then attempt to connect. You'll hear the "Connected" prompt in your headphones, and Windows will confirm it's "Ready to go!" ### Troubleshooting Windows 10 Pairing: * **"Could not connect" or not found?** This is the most common issue. First, check your headphones are in pairing mode. Second, ensure your PC actually has Bluetooth. Some older desktop PCs might not have it built-in. If not, you'll need a cheap USB Bluetooth dongle. I've got a box full of them in the workshop, they're indispensable. * **Drivers, drivers, drivers!** If Bluetooth is on but nothing's happening, it might be a driver issue. Go to "Device Manager" (search for it in the Start menu), expand "Bluetooth," and look for any yellow exclamation marks. Right-click and "Update driver." Sometimes completely uninstalling the driver and rebooting the PC forces Windows to reinstall a fresh one. * **Restart Bluetooth Service:** In the Windows search bar, type "Services." Find "Bluetooth Support Service," right-click it, and select "Restart." Sometimes that kicks it back into life. * **Forget and Re-pair:** If they show up but won't connect, go back into "Bluetooth & other devices," click on "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless," and select "Remove device." Then restart the whole pairing process. ## Pairing with Your macOS Device: The Mac Way Macs are usually pretty slick with Bluetooth, much like iPhones. They tend to just work, but if they don't, it can be a right pain because Apple often gives you fewer options to tinker with. Still, the process is straightforward. 1. **Power On & Pairing Mode:** You know the drill by now. Hold that power button on your Crushers until they're flashing blue and red, indicating they're ready to pair. 2. **Open System Settings/Preferences:** On your Mac, click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select "System Settings" (on newer macOS versions) or "System Preferences" (on older ones). 3. **Bluetooth Menu:** In the System Settings/Preferences window, look for "Bluetooth" in the sidebar or main panel and click on it. Make sure Bluetooth is turned "On." 4. **Scan for Devices:** Your Mac will automatically start searching for nearby Bluetooth devices. Keep an eye on the list. You should see "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless" appear under "Devices." 5. **Connect:** Click the "Connect" button next to "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless." Your Mac will establish the connection. You'll hear "Connected" in your headphones, and the status next to them on your Mac will change to "Connected." ### Troubleshooting macOS Pairing: * **Not showing up?** Double-check the headphones are in pairing mode. Try toggling Bluetooth off and on again on your Mac. Sometimes, just leaving the Bluetooth window open for a minute or two helps the Mac find new devices. * **Still no luck?** If your Mac is being stubborn, try resetting the Bluetooth module. This is a hidden option. Hold down **Shift + Option** keys, then click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. You should see a new option: "Reset the Bluetooth module." Click it, then try pairing again. This often works wonders for persistent Mac Bluetooth issues. * **Remove and Re-add:** If they previously connected but aren't now, or are having trouble, click the "X" or "Disconnect" button next to the device name in the Bluetooth settings, then restart the pairing process from scratch. ## General Tips and Tricks for Skullcandy Crusher Pairing Even after all those specific steps, sometimes you just hit a wall. Here are a few universal bits of advice that often sort out those stubborn connection problems: * **One Device at a Time:** I cannot stress this enough. If your Crushers were last connected to your tablet, and you're trying to get them on your phone, turn off Bluetooth on that tablet first. Headphones get confused when multiple devices are trying to talk to them. * **Factory Reset Your Headphones:** If things are really going pear-shaped, a factory reset on the headphones themselves can be the silver bullet. For most Skullcandy Crushers, this involves holding down both the volume up and volume down buttons simultaneously for about 3-5 seconds while they're powered on, or sometimes pressing and holding the power button and the middle button (if they have one) for 10-15 seconds until the lights do something different. Check your specific Crusher model's manual, as it can vary slightly. This wipes all previous pairing memory. * **Clear Bluetooth Cache (Android):** On some Android phones, you can clear the Bluetooth cache. Go to Settings > Apps > Show system apps > Bluetooth > Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data. This can fix some weird behaviour. * **Keep them Close:** During pairing, keep the headphones and the device you're trying to connect to within a metre or so of each other. Once connected, you usually get a good 10-metre range, but for the initial handshake, closeness helps. * **Interference:** Other wireless devices, especially Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, or even other Bluetooth devices, can cause interference. Try pairing in a different room if you're really struggling. * **Firmware Updates:** While less common for headphones, occasionally, manufacturers release firmware updates for their devices that can improve Bluetooth stability. Check the Skullcandy website or their app (if one exists for your model) for any updates. ## The Skullcandy Crusher Experience: Worth the Hassle? So, once you've got them paired, are these headphones any good? Well, it depends entirely on what you're after. These aren't designed to be studio monitors, that's for sure. They're built for fun. The standout feature, obviously, is the haptic bass. It's not just a boosted bass; it's actual vibration you feel on your head. For certain types of music – hip-hop, EDM, action movie soundtracks – it's a genuinely immersive experience. It adds a physical dimension to the sound that most headphones simply can't replicate. The sound quality otherwise is decent enough for the price. The mids can be a bit recessed, and the highs aren't the most sparkly, but for casual listening, they hold up. The build quality is mostly plastic, as you'd expect, but they feel pretty durable for everyday knocks and bumps. Comfort is generally good, with soft earcups, though they can get a bit warm after a long session. Battery life is usually excellent, easily getting you through a few days of commuting or a long-haul flight. And the wireless range, once connected, is pretty standard Bluetooth stuff – 10 metres or so, line of sight. Dropouts are rare unless you're pushing that boundary or there's heavy interference. For the money, especially if you can snag them on an Amazon deal for under £100, they're a solid buy for anyone who prioritises that deep, visceral bass. If you're into bass-heavy genres, they're genuinely fun. If you listen to jazz, classical, or anything where subtlety is key, then you'd be better off looking elsewhere, honestly. But for what they are, they deliver on their promise. ## Comparison: Skullcandy Crusher Wireless vs. Other Budget Bass Headphones Let's be honest, there are other headphones out there claiming big bass. How do the Crushers stack up against a couple of common alternatives in a similar price bracket? | Feature | Skullcandy Crusher Wireless | Sony WH-CH520 | JBL Tune 720BT | | :---------------- | :------------------------------ | :------------------------------ | :----------------------------- | | **Bass Type** | Haptic (Vibrating) Bass | Elevated (Boomy) Bass | Elevated (Punchy) Bass | | **Sound Profile** | Very bass-heavy, recessed mids | Warm, slightly boomy, decent highs | V-shaped, punchy bass, clear highs | | **Comfort** | Good, over-ear, can get warm | Good, on-ear, lightweight | Good, over-ear, lightweight | | **Battery Life** | Excellent (20-40 hours typical) | Exceptional (50+ hours) | Very Good (35-50 hours) | | **Build Quality** | Decent plastic, durable | Lightweight plastic, foldable | Lightweight plastic, foldable | | **Connectivity** | Bluetooth 4.2/5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.3 | | **Price (approx)**| £80-£120 | £40-£60 | £50-£70 | | **Special Features**| Adjustable Sensory Bass | DSEE Upscaling, Multi-point | Multi-point, customizable EQ | As you can see, the Crushers really stand out with that haptic bass. If that's your main draw, nothing else in this price range offers it quite like they do. Sony and JBL offer a more traditional, albeit still bass-focused, sound. The Sonys are fantastic for pure battery life and a balanced-warm sound for the money. The JBLs offer a bit more clarity in the highs with their bass. But if you want to _feel_ the bass, the Crushers are the only real game in town here. ## FAQ: Your Pairing Questions Answered ### Q1: My Crushers connect, but I don't hear any sound. What gives? A: This is a classic. On your device, check the volume levels – both the headphones' own volume (there are buttons on the earcup) and the device's volume. Also, on Windows, sometimes it connects as a "Headset" (for calls) rather than "Headphones" (for music). Go to your sound settings, and make sure "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Stereo" is selected as the output device, not "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Hands-Free AG Audio." ### Q2: How do I disconnect my Skullcandy Crushers from a device? A: Go to the Bluetooth settings on the device they're currently connected to. Find "Skullcandy Crusher Wireless," and there should be an option to "Disconnect" or "Forget This Device." "Forget" is better if you don't want them to automatically connect next time. You can also just power off the headphones, and they'll disconnect. ### Q3: Can I connect my Skullcandy Crushers to two devices at once? A: Most Skullcandy Crusher Wireless models (like the original Crusher Wireless or ANC) don't support "multi-point" Bluetooth, meaning they can't maintain an active connection to two devices simultaneously. Some newer, higher-end Skullcandy models might, but it's not a standard feature on the Crushers. You'll need to manually disconnect from one device before connecting to another. ### Q4: The LED light is just solid red, and they won't turn on or pair. What's wrong? A: A solid red light usually means the battery is critically low or completely dead. Pop them on charge for a good hour or two. If they still don't respond after charging, try a hard reset (power button + volume up/down or power + multi-function button, depending on model) while they're plugged in. If that fails, it might be a battery fault, which unfortunately means a repair or replacement might be needed. ### Q5: My audio keeps cutting out or skipping. What can I do? A: This is often down to interference or distance. Try staying closer to your connected device. Move away from other strong wireless signals like Wi-Fi routers. If you're in a busy area with lots of Bluetooth devices, that can also cause issues. Make sure your device's Bluetooth drivers are up to date, especially on Windows PCs. A quick restart of both your headphones and your device can often clear up minor glitches. ## Final Word There you have it. Getting your Skullcandy Crusher Wireless headphones paired up shouldn't be a dark art. It's usually a matter of getting them into the right mode and knowing where to look on your phone or computer. They're a cracking pair of headphones if you're after that distinctive, rumbling bass, and honestly, once they're connected, they tend to stay connected without much fuss. If you've followed these steps and are still having a nightmare, don't give up. Go through the troubleshooting bits again, or consider that factory reset. Sometimes, a fresh start is all you need. Happy listening, and enjoy that bass!", seoTitle=