Connecting AirPods to your Mac can be a regular thing for you to do daily. Listening to music, watching movies, or skype-ing can be more enjoyable when you have your AirPods and Mac connected. Moreover, sometimes your AirPods not connecting to Mac at some point. So, if you’re one of those people who struggles to fix the problem, then this article is for you.
Table of Contents
Make Sure You’ve Charged the AirPods and the AirPods Charging Case
Before we proceed into procedure or troubleshooting steps, one thing you should check first is the battery life. As we know, your AirPods only work if it’s charged. So, you might forget to charge it and it appears that the AirPods not connecting to Mac.
In this case, you can make sure that your AirPods is charging on its charging case if the status light is on. Thus, it will turn green if it’s fully charged. Also, another important thing to check is the charging case of your AirPods. Because it can’t charge your AirPods unless you charge it too.
Make Sure The Mac Software You’re Using Is Up-To-Date
Another important thing to make sure is the version of your Mac. You know that AirPods only work with the latest version of the Mac software or operating system. In this case, you have to use at least the macOS Sierra version. So, if you think it’s been a while since you updated the software, then it might be the cause for AirPods not connecting to Mac.
You can check your software version you’re currently using by clicking the Apple logo in the left corner of the screen. Then, click on ”About This Mac”. If you want to update it, you can just click on “Software Update”. However, if you’ve updated the software and iOS, the battery is full, but it still didn’t work, then keep reading.
Troubleshooting Steps You Can Try
If you’ve already checked the list above but it still didn’t work, then there must be a minor problem to your AirPods. Now, we’re going to dive into the next methods that require some steps:
1. Connect Them Manually Via Bluetooth
As we know, AirPods usually connect to Mac automatically once you take them out of the case. However, if your AirPods not connecting to Mac automatically, you can still connect them manually using Bluetooth. Here are the simple steps:
- First of all, you need to turn on the Bluetooth on your Mac. Also, you have to make sure you take the AirPods out of its charging case.
- After that, choose “System Preferences”. Next, a pop-up will appear, and you can click on “Bluetooth”.
- Thus, try to find your AirPods name on the list of devices, then double-click it.
- Finally, your AirPods should be connecting to your Mac with just fine now.
2. Make Your AirPods As Your Mac Output Device
It might be a case when your Mac is connected to another output device instead of your AirPods. So, it might appear that your AirPods not connecting to Mac. In this case, all you need to do is to make your AirPods as your output device. All you have to do:
- First, you have to make sure that you take the AirPods out from the case.
- Next, enable or turn on the Bluetooth on your Mac. Now, go to “System Preferences”.
- After the pop-up appeared, you can click on “Sound”, then choose “Output”.
- Now select your AirPods and make it as your Mac output.
- If you still can’t find your iPod on the “Output” tab, then your AirPods has never been connected to your Mac before.
3. Forgetting your AirPods From Your Mac Output
Forgetting the AirPods from the Mac output can erase all of the history of using and data. Basically, it restarts your AirPods connection with your Mac. Then, if you reconnect them it’s like you connect them for the first time. Here are the steps you can follow:
- From your Mac, head to the “System Preferences” then click on “Bluetooth”.
- Now, on the Bluetooth menu, you can one-click on your AirPods from the “Devices” menu.
- Thus, scroll over your AirPods and click the “X” button.
- Next, there will be a confirmation alert about forgetting your AirPods. Then you can click on “Forget Device”.
- After that, wait a few minutes and you can connect your AirPods to your Mac back.
4. Try to Reset Your AirPods
You can reset your AirPods for a new fresh start and to fix a few minor issues. In this case, you would get a chance to fix the AirPods not connecting to the Mac problem. Here are simple steps you need to follow to restart your AirPods:
- First, you need to press the set-up button on the back of your AirPods charging case. Then, hold it until the status light blinks a few times. Wait until it flashes white, then release it.
- Now, you’ve reset your AirPods.
- Next, you can reconnect your AirPods to your Mac just like the first time you connect them.
5. Unfortunately, Repair Your AirPods
It might also be the case if there’s a problem with the hardware of your AirPods. If you’ve tried all the methods but it didn’t work, then the last choice is to repair your AirPods. Furthermore, you can go to Apple’s online support to ask for a repair. Also, you can contact your local Apple store.
Now you know what to do if your AirPods not connecting to Mac. That said, you can follow one step after another until it works. If there’s just a minor problem with your AirPods, then one of the methods would fix it. Furthermore, you can visit AirPods Support on https://support.apple.com/AirPods to discuss the problem more with the AirPods community.
