Unable To Connect AirPods To Mac (7 Fixes That Work)

If you are an AirPod user, you might be, at some point, asking yourself, “Why aren’t my AirPods connecting to Mac?” Although, this issue is not common among AirPods users, however, it still exists.

As AirPods are connected via Bluetooth, it can result in pairing failures. Ultimately, it can affect AirPods, AirPods 2, AirPods Pro, and the recently released AirPods Max. 

In case your AirPods keep disconnecting from your Mac, reconnecting them may fix the problem. And it takes only a few steps! Make sure after each step, test your AirPods, and see if they are functioning well. 

How To Fix AirPods Not Connecting To Mac Issue

Follow these fixes to solve the issue of your AirPods not connecting to your Mac.

Let’s start with the first step…

1. Restart Your Mac

First thing first. Most often, restarting the Mac fixes the problem. To restart, go to the Apple menu> Restart. Remember, you may need to restart your Mac twice before your AirPods work fine. 

2. Turn On Bluetooth And Charge AirPods:

If your AirPods not working, you need to check if Bluetooth is turned on as well as the AirPods are charged. To turn Bluetooth on, you simply need to tap on the Bluetooth status icon in the menu bar.  And in case the icon does not appear, go to System Preferences> Bluetooth> Show Bluetooth. You can turn off the Bluetooth on your Mac, wait for ten seconds at least, and turn it on again. 

Now, you also need to place the AirPods in the charging case for charging, if AirPods keep disconnecting from Mac. 

3. Update Mac

One of the reasons for AirPods not working is that your Mac is not updated. If your AirPods are the first generation, your macOS should be running on Sierra or later. And if they are second-generation or newer, ensure that your macOS is updated to Mojave 10.14.4 or later version. And for AirPods Pro, your Mac should have macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or newer. 

In order to check your AirPods generation:

• Check the AirPods model number by going to Settings> General> About> AirPods
• You can also check the model number of AirPods printed on them. 
• If the model number says A1523/A1722, these are first-generation
• And A2032/A2031 are second-generation.

To update your Mac:

• For macOS Mojave or later: Go to System Preferences> Software Update. Follow the instructions if there is any update. 
• For macOS High Sierra or older: go to App Store> Updates. Click Update if there is an update available. 

4. Remove AirPods from the Bluetooth List

If your AirPods keep disconnecting from your Mac, follow the steps below to remove and then re-add AirPods with your Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences
2. Bluetooth. A list of Bluetooth devices will appear.
3. If AirPods don’t appear in the list, you probably need to set up AirPods with Mac. 
4. And if they appear in the list, select them.
5. Click the ‘X’ icon to remove AirPods. 

To re-add:

1. Place AirPods in the charging case
2. Ensure your AirPods are in range with your Mac.
3. Open the charging case
4. Go to System Preferences> Bluetooth. 
5. Select the AirPods in the device list, and click Connect.

5. Set Up AirPods In Mac 

In case you don’t see AirPods in the list of devices, you need to set up AirPods. For this purpose, follow the steps below:

1. Go to System Preferences> Bluetooth
2. Turn on Bluetooth
3. Put AirPods in the charging case 
4. Open the lids of the charging case 
5. Now press and hold the setup button on the back of the case. Wait until the status light flashes white, and then release the button.
6. On Mac, you should see the AirPods in the Bluetooth devices list, and click Connect. 

6. Try Reset AirPods

In case the connectivity issue still exists, you should know how to reset AirPods Mac with AirPods. And if you don’t know, that’s okay. Just follow the steps below:

1. Put AirPods in the charging case. Both of these devices should have sufficient charge.
2. Close the lid for 30 seconds and open it again.
3. Now find the setup button on the back of the charging case, press it, and hold for 15 seconds. Wait till you see the status light flashing white and amber. 
4. Your AirPods are reset now. 
5. You can now set up AirPods with Mac. 

7. Reset Mac Bluetooth Module

Before trying to reset, make sure that the Bluetooth status menu appears in the menu bar. If not, go to System Preferences> Bluetooth> and click Show Bluetooth in the menu bar option.

1. On the keyboard, press and hold the Shift + Option keys together.
2. Keep holding the keys, and click Bluetooth status in the menu bar
3. When a new menu displays, select Debug. 
4. Now click Reset the Bluetooth Module
5. And then, restart your Mac. 

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