Pairing your AirPods with your iPhone is seamless – you simply open the case near your phone and tap Connect. But getting AirPods to work with your Mac isn‘t as straightforward due to differences in Bluetooth settings access.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll provide expert-level instructions for connecting your AirPods (all models) to your Mac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac. You‘ll also learn troubleshooting tips and how to manage AirPods connectivity after the initial setup.
Prerequisites for Pairing AirPods to Mac
Before pairing, ensure the following:
- The AirPods case has ample charge. According to Apple, you‘ll need at least 30% case battery to complete setup.
- Both AirPod earbuds are seated properly inside the case with the lids closed. Having only one inside will prevent pairing mode from initiating.
- You are within Bluetooth range of your Mac, which is up to 30 feet or 10 meters, per the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.
Meeting these conditions allows your AirPods and Mac to discover each other for pairing. If the case lacks sufficient power or an earbud is missing, the process won‘t initiate.
Putting Your AirPods into Pairing Mode
The first step to pairing AirPods is making them visible to your Mac. This pairing mode is characterized by a white flashing status light, but the way to enable it differs by model:
Original AirPods and AirPods Pro
For AirPods where both earbuds are wireless, open the case and press and hold the small setup button on the back of the case for 5-6 seconds until you see flashing white.
AirPods Max
The over-ear AirPods Max model does not have a charging case. Instead, press and hold the noise control button (the elongated pill-shaped one near the Digital Crown) until pairing mode activates, indicated by the pulsing white light.
Once your selected AirPods model enters pairing mode, the status light will flash white periodically. This visibility window is brief, so move on to connecting with your Mac quickly.
Pairing AirPods to Your Mac, Step-by-Step
With your AirPods discoverable nearby, follow these instructions to connect them to your Mac:
1. Click on the Apple Menu
Unlike iPhone where you access Bluetooth settings directly, Mac requires an extra click to get into its System Preferences. Start by clicking the Apple icon on the top left of your screen to open the menu.
2. Select System Preferences
A dropdown will appear under the Apple icon. Choose System Preferences, usually the first option.
3. Click on Bluetooth
In your Mac‘s System Preferences pane, you‘ll see various icons for hardware and settings management. Click the Bluetooth icon, which looks like a B symbol inside a circle.
4. Select Your AirPods
With Bluetooth settings now open, you will see a list of available devices at the bottom under Discovered Devices. Your AirPods should be visible – click on them while they‘re still in pairing mode.
5. Verify the Connection
You‘ll hear an audible chime when your AirPods successfully connect to your Mac. The Bluetooth menu will also update their icon color to blue, and show the current battery level.
Additionally, with your AirPods now paired, wearing them will automatically route sound output to them instead of your Mac‘s speakers. Try playing music or a video to confirm.
Reconnecting Your AirPods to Your Mac
Once paired the first time, your AirPods will reconnect to your Mac automatically in most cases. However, your iPhone often takes precedence if it‘s powered on and nearby.
To manually reconnect to your Mac again, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Wear your AirPods or open the case lid near your Mac
- Click the Bluetooth icon in the Menu Bar to see devices and select your AirPods
- Re-trace the pairing steps if your AirPods disappeared from the list
If completing these don‘t restore connectivity, consult Apple support for advanced troubleshooting.
Customizing Your Connected AirPods
With your AirPods now working wirelessly with your Mac, you can customize their settings and functionality even further in Bluetooth preferences:
- Rename – If your AirPods retained a previous device‘s name, you can edit it by right-clicking and selecting Rename
- Change tap controls – Choose single/double tap actions like Play/Pause, Next Track, Previous Track, and Siri
- Enable Auto-Switching – Have your AirPods intelligently switch connections between your Mac, iPhone, iPad and more
- Make Siri always listening – Available on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, turns on hands-free "Hey Siri" without tapping
Adjust these and other preferences by selecting your connected AirPods and choosing Options. Configure them to best suit your usage across devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common troubleshooting questions when pairing AirPods to your Mac:
Why don‘t my AirPods automatically connect to my Mac?
If your iPhone is nearby and unlocked, it will usually take connectivity precedence over your Mac. You can manually switch the output back by going into your Mac‘s Bluetooth settings.
What if only one AirPod is showing up in Bluetooth settings?
Both the left and right AirPod must be inside the case in order to initiate pairing mode. If one is missing, the Bluetooth settings will only show a single connected bud which won‘t route audio properly. Locate the other earbud and try again with both present.
I don‘t see my AirPods listed in Bluetooth – what should I check?
First, ensure your AirPods are in pairing mode with the case open nearby your Mac. Next, see if they show up under a different name – they may have retained the Bluetooth name of a previously paired device like your iPhone.
You can also try resetting your AirPods by opening them near your iPhone, navigating to Bluetooth settings, finding your AirPods, and selecting Forget This Device. Then redo the Mac pairing process.
As a last resort, reboot both devices and test connectivity again. Reach out to Apple support if issues persist afterwards.
Conclusion
Connecting your AirPods to your Mac wirelessly provides a great way to privately listen, take calls, enjoy entertainment, and more on your computer. While the initial pairing process differs from iPhone, this guide covered the steps, best practices, and troubleshooting to help you get set up.
With both devices now working hand-in-hand, you can customize your AirPods even further to best suit your needs across any of your Apple products. Take advantage of auto-switching, easy access to Siri, and controls that follow you everywhere for maximum productivity and enjoyment!
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