Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro are a great way to listen to music, video, podcasts, and more without the annoying wired tether. As expected, they work with most Bluetooth-enabled iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS devices.
And while they’re easy to pair with an iPhone and iPad, how do they connect with a Mac? The good news is that AirPods have a pretty intuitive connection process. Our guide will help you get your AirPods connected in mere minutes.
For AirPods already paired with an iPhone
Using AirPods on a Mac that are already paired with an iPhone is easy. Just make sure both the iPhone and the Mac are signed in to iCloud using the same Apple ID. But if your iPhone gets used by multiple people or you need a different account for your Mac at work, this option may not be possible.
Step 1: Turn the AirPods on, and pop them into your ears.
Step 2: On your Mac, click the Bluetooth icon located on the Menu Bar — it’s next to the battery icon on Big Sur and next to the Wi-Fi icon on Catalina. Alternatively, click the Volume Control icon next to the battery icon (Catalina) or the Output button next to the sound bar in the Control Center (Big Sur).
Step 3: Select the AirPods listed on the drop-down menu. They typically appear as [Your Name]’s AirPods. A chime plays when the AirPods connect.
No other setup is needed! If the AirPods do not show up on the Bluetooth and Volume Control menus, however, move on to the next section.
For brand-new AirPods on MacOS
The first time you connect to AirPods on your Mac, you may notice it has more steps, taking a bit more time to set up. Still, the steps are easy to follow and relatively foolproof.
Step 1: Open System Preferences by either clicking the Gear icon on the Dock or by clicking the Apple logo in the top-left, then clicking System Preferences.
Step 2: Click Bluetooth, and verify that it’s turned on.
Step 3: Move to the AirPods, and place them in the charging case. Make sure the lid remains open, as shown below.
Step 4: On the back of the AirPod case, find the Setup button. Select and hold this button until the status LED flashes white. The AirPods are now in pairing mode.
Step 5: On the Mac, locate the Bluetooth menu. Under Devices, find the AirPods. Click the Connect button.
You’ll have to navigate to the Bluetooth menu to reset your AirPods if they still don’t work. You can then set AirPods as the output.
Perhaps you can’t connect the AirPods to your device.
Connection problems will most likely occur at some point on iCloud. You might see an error pop-up that says, “Couldn’t connect to this device.” AirPods often do not register on a Mac as a connectable device.
There are various solutions, as you’ll see below.
Reset Bluetooth
Step 1: Click the Bluetooth icon, followed by the toggle on the drop-down menu to switch Bluetooth off.
Step 2: Wait a few moments, and then toggle Bluetooth back on.
Reboot devices
Step 1: Power down the Mac and AirPods.
Step 2: Turn the Mac back on, and wait for it to boot into macOS.
Step 3: Turn the AirPods back on.
Reset the AirPods
Step 1: Open Settings on iOS or iPadOS and tap Bluetooth.
Step 2: Tap the “I” icon listed next to the AirPods.
Step 3: Tap Forget This Device.
Step 4: With the AirPods in the case, open the lid and press and hold the Setup button for 15 seconds.
Step 5: Reconnect the AirPods.
