AirPods Not Connecting To Mac? [Know How To Fix]

Hearing music after a tiring day can rejuvenate the soul. But it can make things worse if you’re halfway through your favorite playlist and your AirPods start to act up and getting disconnect. Well, fret not, you are not the only one who is facing the problem of AirPods not connecting to Mac.

Although this problem is faced by many, not much light has been shed on it. The problem of connectivity can be faced by users of AirPods and AirPods Pro. And the solution is pretty simple, you just have to follow the methods given below.

• How To Fix If AirPods Won’t Reset?
• Mac Bluetooth Not Working?

Methods To Resolve The ‘AirPods Not Connecting To Mac’ Issue

The methods given should be followed in order and do remember to check your AirPods after every method.

Method 1: Restart

The problem may lie where we least expect it. Although the AirPods are not connecting properly, we should also check on the Mac we’re using. It’s an obvious thing that people do, just restart the Mac. You can do it by going to the Apple menu and choosing Restart. This tip might not be obvious but effective when solving the issue of AirPods not connecting to Mac.

Method 2: Bluetooth and Charge

Restarting the Mac will solve most of the issues, including AirPods not connecting to Mac. But if not, we will now check on the Bluetooth aspect. Make sure the Bluetooth is turned on after restarting. You can do it by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the status bar but if you’re having trouble finding it, go to System Preference > Bluetooth > Show Bluetooth.

After setting it up, charge your AirPods by putting them in their case and be sure that they are charging. Once they are charged, try connecting. It will connect when nearby.

Method 3: Update

Although Mac updates are not frequent as Windows, there may be an update waiting for you! Users of first-generation AirPods should have macOS Sierra (or later), while second-generation AirPods users should have macOS Mojave 10.14.4. For AirPods Pro, users should have at least Catalina 10.15.1 Mac version (or later).

If you’re not sure which generation of AirPods you’re using, check the tiny numbers on your AirPods to find out. If the numbers start with A1, they are first-gen, and if the numbers start with A2, they are second gen.

How to Update:

• If you’re using Mojave or later, you can update it in the Software update option. And, if you have macOS High Sierra, you can simply update it from the App Store.

If the problem of AirPods not connecting to Mac persists thereafter, following the methods mentioned below might solve this problem. Please continue reading!

Method 4: Set Up Your AirPods

If you don’t remember pairing your AirPods or they are not on the list of connected devices, then we believe it’s the first thing you should do, just follow the steps given below.

• Press the Bluetooth icon or go to System Preference > Bluetooth.
• Turn your Bluetooth ‘On’ if it is ‘Off’.
• Now, place your AirPods in the charging case (you might wanna leave it for some time) and open the case lid.
• After that, press and hold the setup button (it’s on the back of the case), keep holding the setup button until it flashes a white light which signifies that the setup has begun.
• Now on your Mac, you should be able to see.

Note: Try to keep your AirPods case close to Mac when you are pairing them.

Method 5: Remove and re-enlist the Bluetooth devices in Mac

This method can be followed right after the second method where we will remove the AirPods from the list of Bluetooth devices connected to the Mac (and reconnect them afterward).

To do that go to Bluetooth. You’ll find a list of devices connected to your Mac, look up your AirPods (if they are not on the list, you should pair them first). Next, select your AirPods and disconnect them by pressing the (X) icon on the screen.

 Now, to re-enlist your AirPods, follow this.

• Put your AirPods in the charging case and place them nearby.
• Open the lid case and on your Mac, click Bluetooth.
• From the list of available devices choose your AirPods and click Connect.

This should help with the problem, if not, please continue with the next method.

Method 6: Reset Your AirPods

Although resetting the Bluetooth devices and resetting your AirPods might sound the same but they are pretty different.

• To begin, place your AirPods in the charging case with the case lid open (while you’re at it, make sure it has enough charge in it).
• Close the case lid and wait for 30 seconds at least and then open it.
• With the lid open, reset the AirPods by pressing and holding the setup button (on the back of the case).
• When the status light flashes amber after flashing white, your AirPods have reset.

Now, you have to set up your AirPods, if you don’t know how, kindly follow method 4, labeled as Setup Your AirPods and your issue of AirPods not connecting to Mac will be resolved.

Method 7: Reset Mac’s Bluetooth Module

This is a complicated part and should be a last resort if all the above methods fail to address your problem. Now, before we start resetting Mac’s Bluetooth module, make sure the Bluetooth icon is showing in the menu bar. If it’s not, follow the steps given in the second method, labeled as Bluetooth and Charge.

• Press and hold Shift + Option (Alt) keys together.
• Now, click the Bluetooth status icon bar while pressing the mentioned keys.
• When a drop-down menu appears on the screen, click on the Debug option and further click on Reset Bluetooth Module.

• When you’re done, restart your Mac.

Conclusion

The given steps are mostly related to Bluetooth problems and should be able to tackle any connectivity issue. But if you’re still facing the issue of AirPods not connecting to Mac, contacting customer care would be very much recommended.

There might be an anomaly in the AirPods or your Mac which the customer care will take care of. We also wrote an article on the best AirPods Max alternatives, you can have a look if you are looking for the same.