The basic steps to pair AirPods with your Mac
To connect AirPods to a Mac, you turn on Bluetooth on your Mac, put your AirPods in pairing mode, and select them from the Bluetooth menu. The whole process takes about two minutes the first time. After that, your AirPods will reconnect automatically whenever they're near your Mac and turned on.
Start by opening System Settings on your Mac. Click on Bluetooth in the left sidebar. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you'll see a toggle switch at the top of the window. If it's already on, you'll see a list of nearby devices.
Next, put your AirPods in pairing mode. Open the charging case and hold the small button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the light inside flashes white. Your AirPods are now discoverable. They should appear in your Mac's Bluetooth list within a few seconds.
Click on your AirPods in the list and select "Connect". Your Mac will confirm the pairing, and you're done. Your AirPods are now linked to this Mac and will show up in the Bluetooth menu from now on.
Key Takeaways
- Open System Settings, go to Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on before you start pairing.
- Hold the button on the back of your AirPods charging case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white to enter pairing mode.
- Click your AirPods in the Bluetooth list and select Connect — pairing happens automatically after that.
- Once paired, your AirPods will reconnect to your Mac on their own whenever both devices are nearby and turned on.
- If your AirPods don't appear in the Bluetooth list, try putting them back in the case, closing it for 10 seconds, and repeating the pairing mode steps.
What to do if your AirPods don't show up in Bluetooth
If your AirPods aren't appearing in the Bluetooth list after you put them in pairing mode, the most common cause is that they're still connected to another device. AirPods can only pair with one device at a time, though they can be set up to work with multiple devices.
Check your iPhone, iPad, or other Apple devices to see if your AirPods are connected there. If they are, disconnect them first. Open Settings on that device, go to Bluetooth, find your AirPods, and tap the info icon next to them, then select "Forget This Device". Now go back to your Mac and try pairing again.
If your AirPods still don't appear, reset them. Put them in the case, close the lid, and wait 15 seconds. Then open the case and hold the button on the back for 15 seconds until you see an amber light, then white. This erases all pairings and puts them in pairing mode fresh. Now try connecting to your Mac again.
Switching between your Mac and other devices
Once your AirPods are paired with your Mac, you can switch them between your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch without unpairing. Your AirPods will automatically connect to whichever device you're actively using — usually the one playing audio or making a call.
If your AirPods connect to the wrong device, you can manually switch them. On your Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Find your AirPods in the list and hover over them. Click the "Connect" option that appears. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, find your AirPods, and tap them to connect.
You can also control which device your AirPods prefer by opening System Settings on your Mac, going to Bluetooth, and clicking the info icon next to your AirPods. Under "Connect to this Mac", you can choose "Automatically" or "When Last Connected to This Mac". This setting helps your AirPods pick the right device when multiple Apple devices are nearby.
Checking battery level and audio settings on your Mac
Once your AirPods are connected, you can see their battery level in the Bluetooth menu. Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Your AirPods will show their current charge percentage next to their name. If you have an AirPods Pro case or AirPods Max, you'll also see the case battery level.
To adjust audio settings, open System Settings and go to Sound. You'll see a list of output devices. Click on your AirPods to make them your default audio output. If you want to change volume, use your Mac's volume keys or the volume slider in the Sound settings. Some AirPods models let you control volume by pinching the stem, but this varies by model.
If you're not hearing audio through your AirPods even though they're connected, check that they're selected as your output device in Sound settings. Also make sure the volume on your Mac isn't muted — look for the speaker icon in the menu bar. If the speaker has a line through it, click it to unmute.
Fixing connection drops and audio problems
If your AirPods keep disconnecting from your Mac, the issue is usually interference or distance. Move closer to your Mac — Bluetooth works best within about 30 feet, and walls or other devices can weaken the signal. If you have a lot of wireless devices nearby (routers, microwaves, other Bluetooth devices), try moving your Mac and AirPods away from them.
Another common cause is that your Mac's Bluetooth is turning off automatically. Open System Settings, go to Battery, and check if "Low Power Mode" is on. If it is, turn it off — Low Power Mode can disable Bluetooth to save battery. Also check that your AirPods have enough charge. If the battery is very low, they may disconnect.
If audio cuts out or sounds distorted, try disconnecting and reconnecting. Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, find your AirPods, and click the info icon next to them. Select "Disconnect". Wait a few seconds, then click "Connect" again. If the problem persists, restart your Mac and your AirPods — put them in the case for 10 seconds, then take them out and reconnect.
Using AirPods with multiple Macs
You can pair your AirPods with more than one Mac. Each time you pair them with a new Mac, follow the same steps: turn on Bluetooth, put your AirPods in pairing mode, and select them from the Bluetooth list. Your AirPods will remember all the Macs they've been paired with.
When you have multiple Macs, your AirPods will usually connect to whichever one you're actively using. If you want to switch between Macs manually, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar on the Mac you want to use, find your AirPods, and click "Connect". They'll disconnect from the other Mac and connect to this one.
If you want to remove your AirPods from a Mac permanently, open System Settings, go to Bluetooth, click the info icon next to your AirPods, and select "Forget This Device". This removes the pairing but doesn't affect your AirPods or any other Mac they're paired with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to put my AirPods in pairing mode every time I connect to my Mac?
No. After the first pairing, your AirPods will reconnect automatically whenever they're near your Mac and turned on. You only need pairing mode the first time or if you're pairing them with a new device.
Can I use my AirPods with my Mac and iPhone at the same time?
Not simultaneously. AirPods can only play audio from one device at a time. However, they'll automatically switch to whichever device is actively playing audio or making a call. You can also manually switch by going to Bluetooth settings on either device and selecting your AirPods.
Why do my AirPods keep connecting to my iPhone instead of my Mac?
AirPods automatically connect to the device they were most recently used with. If you want them to prefer your Mac, open System Settings on your Mac, go to Bluetooth, click the info icon next to your AirPods, and set "Connect to this Mac" to "Automatically". This tells your AirPods to connect to your Mac first when both devices are nearby.
What should I do if my AirPods are paired but I can't hear anything?
First, check that your AirPods are selected as the output device in System Settings under Sound. Then check your Mac's volume — if the speaker icon in the menu bar has a line through it, your Mac is muted. Also make sure your AirPods have charge. If none of that works, disconnect and reconnect them through Bluetooth settings.
Can I pair AirPods Pro or AirPods Max the same way as regular AirPods?
Yes. The pairing process is identical for all AirPods models. Hold the button on the back of the case until the light flashes white, then select them from your Mac's Bluetooth list. The only difference is that AirPods Pro and Max have additional features you can adjust in System Settings, like noise control and transparency mode.