Why won’t my AirPods connect to my Mac?

AirPods are an essential gadget nowadays, and their value is only going to further upsurge in Apple's ecosystem with an increasing focus on going wireless by the tech giant. Mac and AirPods are often used together by Apple enthusiasts.

If you are experiencing that problem of your Airpods not connecting with Mac, then don't worry. In this article, I will explore why won’t my AirPods connect with my Mac and provide a step-by-step guide on how to connect Airpods with the Mac.

What are AirPods?

AirPods are Apple’s wireless Bluetooth connected in-ear headphones. AirPods have technically replaced the corded earphones. With the exclusion of the headphone jack in iPhone 7 and devices onwards, you can not use a regular 3.5 jack to connect a regular pair of headphones; instead, you have to buy AirPods for your device to enjoy the audio experience.

The issue that can occur with the AirPod connectivity

AirPods are Bluetooth devices, and sometimes users experience difficulty connecting the AirPods with the Mac. The issue sometimes arises due to the Bluetooth's connectivity loss, and the following methods can resolve it.

It's not every day that you will find trouble connecting the AirPods with the Mac as Apple proudly markets the flawlessly smooth connectivity. But AirPods were initially designed for the iPhone and Macs, and other devices are just add-ons afterward; hence you may suffer few hiccups in seamless connectivity.

If your AirPods are synced with the iCloud account, your AirPod will appear on all the devices using the same iCloud. If your Mac is synced with the same iCloud account, then ideally, there should be no issue, and AirPods should connect by default; however, it may not occur in all the scenarios. Macs use a different operating system, and that may hinder the connectivity.

The first step that we at Planet iPhones suggest is to get the latest update installed on your Mac. The updates fix many issues, and you won’t have to consider extra options to connect your Airpods with your Mac.

Connect via iCloud

Make sure that your AirPods are registered on the iCloud. All the devices that are synced on the iCloud are connected.

Use the same iCloud account on your Mac; once you are done syncing, turn on your Airpods, and they will automatically appear on your Mac. Connect the device from the window.

Connect via Bluetooth

Airpods are Bluetooth devices, and the connectivity is dependent on the case in which they are enclosed. The case is essential hardware for the Airpods as it encases the earphones when not in use, charges them, and helps pair them with other devices.

The first step is to turn on the Bluetooth on your Mac.

• Go to System Preference
• Click in the Bluetooth icon.
• Press the Turn Bluetooth ON It will turn the Bluetooth ON. Once it's on, the Bluetooth icon on your Mac's display will turn black, indicating that the Mac's Bluetooth is working and ready to pair with the devices.
• Your Mac will communicate that Blue tooth is on.

The second step is to make sure that your AirPods are ready to pair and connect. Follow these steps to ensure.

• Place the AirPods back into the charging box.
• Please do not close the lid of the casing; keep it open during the pairing process.
• On the rear side of the charging case, there is a button titled "Setup." Long press this button. Keep pressing gently until the indicator lights start to flash white.
• When the indicator starts flashing white light, it shows that the AirPods are in pairing mode and ready to pair.

Once both the devices are in pairing mode, search your AirPods in your Mac's Bluetooth menu. The setup is now very easy and takes very little time.

• Open System Preferences>Bluetooth on the Mac. Make sure it is on.
• Open the charging case of your Airpods with AirPods sitting inside the case. This essential for Spot-on connectivity. Ensure that AirPods are in pairing mode as above guidelines.
• In System Preferences>Bluetooth, a list of all available devices will appear.
• Choose your AirPods from the list, and you have successfully connected the AirPods with your Mac.

Once the setup is complete, you can enjoy the audio output from Mac on AirPods. But if you still face problems, then consider the following solutions.

The devices are in the range.

If you have placed the devices far apart and try to connect the devices from a long distance, you will face difficulty in pairing Mac devices as the Bluetooth range is usually 15 t0 20 feet.

We recommend keeping your devices very close to each other at the time of pairing for a successful pairing.

Change the output device on your Mac.

If your AirPods are successfully paired, but you still can not hear the sound through your AirPods, it is highly likely that your Mac sends the output signal to some other device. You can change the output setting quickly by following these steps.

• Turn on the Bluetooth on both Mac and the AirPods.
• Keep the AirPods case open and place it close to the iPhone.
• Go to System Preferences application
• Go to Sound menu
• From the output, tab select your AirPods

If you are still facing difficulty connecting your headphones with your Mac, check this guide to connect your headphones with Mac.

Reset your AirPods

Sometimes small system bugs and cache trash can prevent your Airpods from connecting your Mac properly, this can be easily resolved by resetting your AirPods.

You can easily rest your AirPods in five simple steps.

1. Place the AirPods inside the case.
2. Long press the Setup button on the back of the charging case
3. A yellow light will start flashing; after a few seconds, the light will change to white.
4. Congrats, you have successfully reset your AirPods
5. Now you can connect them easily, and this will resolve the issue.

Charge your AirPods and the case

Sometimes low charging is a hindering factor in connectivity. Ensure that both the case and the Airpods are fully charged; if not, then charge the device and the try to connect. The issue will potentially resolve.

In a few rare instances, dirt and debris can accumulate in the case or the earphones that can cause dysconnectivity. Clean your AirPods with a dry cloth or a brush. At Planet iPhones, we recommend using the cotton tips to clean the delicate components. If the problem persists, then contact Apple’s support team immediately or det your device checked by a professional.