AirPods Won’t Connect to MacBook

Apple excels at creating products that work and fit in with its technology. The AirPods are one such product, and they're wonderful, straightforward to use and provide an experience unlike any other. AirPods deliver excellent sound quality and noise cancellation, making all of your movie and music experiences remarkable.

But having a new set of AirPods only to realize that they don't work with your Mac is a real letdown. You might be having trouble connecting your AirPods to your Mac but don't worry, you can certainly fix the problem and start having a flawless experience with your AirPods.

Why Won’t My AirPods Connect to My MacBook?

There might be many reasons why your AirPods aren't syncing with your Mac. Some issues may appear from time to time and disrupt your experience, however, the majority of the issue is with the connection.

Here are some of the most likely causes why your AirPods aren't connecting to your Mac:

• macOS is out of date and requires an update
• Your Mac is incompatible with AirPods
• Bug issues that can disrupt the connection
• Mac Bluetooth is switched off
• Your AirPods are out of battery
• AirPods are not synced with your Macbook
• Hardware issue with your AirPods or Mac

One of the most prevalent issues about the AirPods is that they aren't suitable with all versions of macOS. You might assume that the connection is Bluetooth and AirPods would work even with older Macbooks, but this is not the case. To check for compatibility issues:

• Apple AirPods (1st generation) requires macOS 10.12 or later
• Apple AirPods (2nd generation) requires macOS 10.14.4 or later
• Apple AirPods Pro requires macOS 10.15.1 or later

How To Connect AirPods to MacBook

There's really no reason for keeping your AirPods bound to your iPhone; they can be connected to a variety of other devices, including your Mac. Based on how you're currently using your AirPods, you can link them to your Macbook in two ways.

If the AirPods are Not Connected to Other Devices

If your AirPods aren't currently synced with your iPhone or other mobile devices, you could still connect them to your Mac:

• Lift the lid while the AirPods are still in the charging case, but do not take out the AirPods.
• Push and hold the button on the case's rear until the status light begins to flash.
• On your Macbook, tap the Apple menu, then hit "System Preferences."
• Select "Bluetooth" in the System Preferences pane.
• Select the AirPods you wish to connect with the Mac in the list of devices, then press "Connect." When the connection is established, the AirPods will display at the top of the Devices list and will be ready to use.

If the AirPods are Connected to Your iPhone

Your AirPods are meant to automatically sync to your Mac if the Macbook is using the same Apple ID as your iPhone:

• Open your AirPods case in the same way you would to link them to your iPhone.
• On your Macbook, tap the Volume icon, which should look like a speaker, in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
• Choose your AirPods in the "Output Device" section of this menu.

If this does not work, you should check that certain settings are enabled:

• Tap the Apple symbol in the menu bar, then select "System Preferences."
• Select "Apple ID" in the System Preferences box to ensure you're logged in and using the same ID as your iPhone.
• Hit "General" in the System Preferences window, and then tick the box next to "Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices."
• Turn on the Volume icon if it doesn't appear in the menu bar. To do this, tap "Sound" in the System Preferences window, then tick the box next to "Show volume in the menu bar."

What To Do if AirPods Won’t Connect to Your MacBook?

AirPods that appear to be malfunctioning can be aggravating and disappointing, but there are a few ways to sync them to your MacBook so you can play music and videos with seamless and top-quality sound.

Charge Your Apple AirPods

Your Apple AirPods might just be out of juice. Make sure they are completely charged, as well as their charging case, before reconnecting them to your MacBook. You could also check the battery level of your AirPods at any moment.

Update Your Macbook's Operating System

Operating system updates can provide compatibility for newer Mac gadgets, such as AirPods, as well as boost the performance and security of your MacBook.

Enable Bluetooth

Before connecting your AirPods, your MacBook must have Bluetooth enabled. Tap the Bluetooth icon in the upper-right corner of the screen to begin. This appears to be two triangles stacked on top of one another.

Set Your AirPods as the Sound Output Device

If you've previously linked your AirPods but still hear sound from your MacBook's speakers, tap the Bluetooth or volume icon and select your AirPods as the output device.

Sign in Using the Same Apple ID

If you've already linked your AirPods with another Apple device, such as an iPhone, logging into your MacBook with the same iCloud account will immediately pair them.

Disconnect and Reconnect Your AirPods

Disconnect your AirPods if they are linked to your MacBook but aren't playing any audio:

• Go to System Preferences.
• Navigate to the Bluetooth list.
• Remove your AirPods from the list.
• Finally, reconnect them as you would sync a new device.

Reset Your AirPods

Resetting your AirPods is a good way to get rid of any bugs or issues that are interfering with their device connectivity. However, once the reset is complete, you must reconnect them to all of your devices.

Reboot Your Macbook

A simple restart can resolve a multitude of issues, including AirPod connectivity issues.

Having troubles with your AirPods is bound to be aggravating, and we understand the frustration. You bought your AirPods with great hopes and didn't anticipate any problems. Nevertheless, nothing is perfect, and no matter how smooth and easy Apple appears to make the process, there will be some flaws in the final product. With these tips, we hope you were able to connect your AirPods to your MacBook and get back to enjoying a seamless listening experience.