Your AirPods Max are probably stuck in pairing mode or paired to the wrong device
AirPods Max fail to connect for one of three reasons: they're still trying to pair with a device you don't want them to connect to, Bluetooth is turned off on your target device, or the headphones need to be reset. Most of the time, the problem is that your AirPods Max paired successfully with your iPhone or Mac at some point, and now they keep trying to reconnect to that device instead of the one you're holding. This happens because Bluetooth devices remember every device they've ever paired with and will automatically reconnect to the strongest signal from that list.
The second most common issue is that Bluetooth is straightforward off on the device you're trying to connect to. This sounds obvious, but it's worth checking first because the fix takes five seconds. On iPhone and iPad, swipe down from the top right corner and tap the Bluetooth icon. On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar. On Windows, open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, and make sure Bluetooth is toggled on.
Key Takeaways
- AirPods Max usually won't connect because they're paired to a different device and reconnecting to it automatically — forget that device from the headphones' memory first.
- Check that Bluetooth is actually turned on for the device you want to connect to; it's off by default on many devices after a restart.
- If forgetting the device doesn't work, hold the noise control button and the digital crown simultaneously for 15 seconds until the LED flashes amber and white to perform a full reset.
- After a reset, your AirPods Max will forget all previous pairings and appear as a new device in your Bluetooth list, ready to pair fresh.
How to forget a device from your AirPods Max
Your AirPods Max remember every device they've ever paired with. When you turn them on, they scan for any of those devices and connect to whichever one has the strongest Bluetooth signal. If you want them to connect to a new device instead, you have to tell the headphones to forget the old one.
On an iPhone or iPad that the AirPods Max are currently paired to, go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods Max in the list, tap the information icon (the small circle with an "i"), and select "Forget This Device." On a Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods Max, click the three dots next to them, and choose "Remove." On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices, find your AirPods Max, click the three dots, and select "Remove device."
Once you've forgotten the device, turn your AirPods Max off and back on. They should no longer try to reconnect to that old device. Now they're ready to pair with whatever you're holding.
Putting your AirPods Max into pairing mode
After you've forgotten the old device, you need to put your AirPods Max into pairing mode so they'll accept a new connection. Hold down the noise control button (on the left ear cup) and the digital crown (the dial on the right ear cup) at the same time. Hold them for about three seconds — you'll hear a chime and see the LED on the back of the right ear cup turn white. That white light means the headphones are now discoverable and ready to pair.
On your new device, open Bluetooth settings and look for "AirPods Max" in the list of available devices. Tap or click it to connect. The LED will turn solid green once the connection is complete, and you'll hear another chime in the headphones.
When forgetting the device doesn't work: performing a full reset
If you've forgotten the old device and put the AirPods Max into pairing mode but they still won't connect to your new device, the headphones may have a deeper connection problem. A full reset clears all pairing history and restores the headphones to factory settings.
To reset your AirPods Max, hold the noise control button and the digital crown simultaneously for 15 seconds. The LED will flash amber and white, which means the reset is in progress. Keep holding until the LED flashes white again — this usually takes about 15 to 20 seconds total. Once the LED turns solid white, the reset is complete and your AirPods Max have forgotten every device they ever paired with.
After a reset, your AirPods Max will appear in your device's Bluetooth list as if they were brand new. Go through the pairing process again: put them into pairing mode (noise control button and digital crown for three seconds), find them in your Bluetooth settings, and tap to connect.
Checking for software updates on your device
Sometimes connection problems happen because your iPhone, Mac, or other device is running outdated Bluetooth software. Apple releases updates to Bluetooth drivers and pairing protocols regularly, and an old version can cause compatibility issues with newer headphones.
On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update. On Windows, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Restart your device after the update completes, then try pairing your AirPods Max again.
Interference from other Bluetooth devices
Bluetooth operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency, which is also used by Wi-Fi, microwaves, baby monitors, and wireless mice. If you have many Bluetooth devices in the same room, they can interfere with each other and prevent your AirPods Max from connecting cleanly.
Try moving away from other Bluetooth devices or turning them off temporarily. If your AirPods Max connect successfully when other devices are off, you've found the source of the problem. You can then move your other devices farther away or use them in different rooms. If the problem persists even when other devices are off, the issue is likely with the AirPods Max themselves or the device you're trying to connect to, not interference.
When to contact Apple Support
If you've forgotten the device, performed a full reset, checked for software updates, and your AirPods Max still won't connect to any device, there may be a hardware problem with the headphones or with your device's Bluetooth radio. At this point, contacting Apple Support is the right move. They can run diagnostics to determine whether the problem is with the AirPods Max, your device, or something else entirely.
Before you contact them, have the following information ready: the model of your AirPods Max, the device you're trying to connect to, the exact steps you've already taken to troubleshoot, and whether the headphones have ever connected successfully to that device. This information helps Apple Support narrow down the problem faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my AirPods Max keep disconnecting after they connect?
Disconnection usually means your device's Bluetooth radio is weak or there's interference in your environment. Try moving closer to your device, away from Wi-Fi routers and other Bluetooth devices. If disconnections happen only with one specific device, forget that device from your AirPods Max and re-pair it. If it happens with all devices, perform a full reset on the headphones.
Can I pair my AirPods Max to multiple devices at once?
No. AirPods Max can be paired to multiple devices in their memory, but they can only maintain an active connection to one device at a time. When you want to switch to a different device, you manually select your AirPods Max from that device's Bluetooth list. They'll disconnect from the previous device and connect to the new one.
What does the LED color mean on my AirPods Max?
White means the headphones are in pairing mode or connected. Amber means they're charging or in low-power mode. Amber and white flashing together means a reset is in progress. If the LED is off, the battery is likely dead or the headphones are powered down.
Do I need to re-pair my AirPods Max every time I turn them on?
No. Once paired, your AirPods Max will automatically reconnect to any device in their memory when you turn them on and that device has Bluetooth enabled. You only need to manually select them from the Bluetooth list if they don't connect automatically, which usually means they're trying to connect to a different device instead.
Will resetting my AirPods Max delete my settings?
Yes. A full reset erases all pairing history, noise control preferences, and any other settings you've customized. After a reset, your AirPods Max will be in their factory state, and you'll need to re-pair them and adjust your preferences again.